Beyond Tech Companies: Product Management in Traditional Industries with Raechel Boston 🛒
In this illuminating episode of Product Driven, host Matt Watson engages with Raechel Boston, a product manager at Kroger, to explore the nuanced landscape of product management and software development within traditional enterprises. Their conversation unveils the stark contrasts between technology practices in established corporations versus startups, examining how bureaucracy, innovation, and customer feedback loops operate in different organizational contexts.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn when exploring how AI might transform the landscape, potentially disadvantaging those who function merely as "order takers" while empowering professionals who understand product vision and can leverage these new tools to move exponentially faster.
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Connect with Raechel Boston:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raechelboston/
Key Discussion Points:
The unique challenges of product management in non-SaaS, traditional industries
How bureaucratic processes impact development velocity and innovation
The disconnection between technical work and tangible customer value in large organizations
Strategies for motivating engineering teams by connecting their work to business outcomes
The evolving role of AI in reshaping software development and product management
The delicate balance between innovation and stability in established enterprises
Episode Chapters:
00:01 - Introduction and Raechel's Background
00:53 - Diversity of Technology Across Industries
02:30 - Startup vs. Enterprise Development Approaches
03:53 - Breaking Free from Corporate Bureaucracy
05:10 - Product Management at a Major Retailer
06:32 - Celebrating Wins and Addressing Negativity Bias
08:47 - Assembly Line Nature of Modern Software Development
11:21 - AI's Impact on Development Roles and Processes
14:05 - Bridging the Gap Between Product and Engineering Teams
16:13 - Internal vs. External Product Development Challenges
18:10 - Fighting Organizational Resistance to Change
19:36 - Innovation vs. Value Delivery in Corporate Settings
21:52 - When Stability Trumps New Features
24:24 - Raechel's TikTok Content on Scrum and Product Management
Whether you're navigating corporate technology environments or building products in startups, this episode offers a valuable perspective on how organizational context shapes product development approaches, team dynamics, and ultimately, customer value delivery.
Product Driven