Nodes of Design#92: Product Maker Mindset by Sheri Panabaker

Sheri Panabaker is an accomplished UX Leader with an impressive 23-year tenure at Microsoft, where she served as the Senior Director of UX Research. While at the tech giant, Sheri played an instrumental role in shaping product and marketing strategies for a diverse range of consumer, enterprise, and employee experiences.

Her extensive expertise in UX research and data analytics enabled her to drive a user-centred culture within Microsoft, significantly influencing the development of innovative experiences across Windows, Surface, and Microsoft Digital (internal) programs. Sheri firmly believes that you are a product maker no matter which disciplines you to represent, and adopting that mindset enhances your strategic influence.

In her post-Microsoft career, Sheri is committed to mentoring and developing diverse talent while continuing to share her insights at speaking events. Additionally, with a focus on applying UX and design thinking to reimagine fan experiences in sports, particularly Formula 1, Sheri is driven to make a lasting impact on that notoriously male-dominated industry. Outside of her professional life, Sheri enjoys Pilates, interior design, and exploring the Pacific Northwest in search of the perfect bubble tea.

In this episode, Sheri Panabaker shared great insights on Product Maker Mindset; we started by defining the word product maker and what it means to have a product maker mindset. We then discussed what strategies to use to collaborate effectively with other team members, such as engineers, marketers, and designers, and how to ensure everyone is aligned around the same goals and priorities. We then discussed the translation of insights to design considerations and working with Design and PM to clarify how to measure product success and what metrics to use to evaluate.

Book Recommendation by Sheri Panabaker

How to win friends and influence people - Dale Carnegie

The 360 Degree Leader- John C. Maxwell

Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone - Satya Nadella

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This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.