EP 342 - Topps Digital Director of Product on Personalizing the User Experience
Nov 8, 2023
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Topps Digital Director of Product, Rudy Saldivar, discusses his journey from investment banking to gaming product management. He explains how his personal gaming experiences shaped his perspective and the importance of accessibility and diversity in product design. Saldivar sees potential for AI to help people with disabilities through personalized experiences.
Data and analytics can be leveraged to identify gaps and improve usability in product design.
AI has the potential to enhance accessibility and personalization in gaming and education.
Deep dives
The Intersection of Data, Gaming, and Product Development
Rudy Saldervar, head of product for TOPS digital, shares his journey from investment finance to the gaming industry and how his passion for gaming and understanding of data and analytics shaped his career. He highlights the importance of immersing oneself in the product and community, leveraging data to identify gaps and improve usability, and the potential for AI to enhance accessibility and personalization in gaming and education.
Creating Accessible and Inclusive Products
Rudy discusses the concept of easy to learn, hard to master in game design, and how it can be applied to make products more accessible and user-friendly. He emphasizes the importance of considering different user needs and experiences, highlighting examples of colorblind settings as well as customizing difficulty levels to cater to a wider range of users. He also discusses the importance of data governance and privacy in AI-driven product development.
The Power of AI in Product Development
Rudy shares his perspective on the potential of AI in product development and the opportunities it presents for personalized experiences. He discusses how AI can assist users by filling gaps in their actions or suggesting optimized approaches, using examples from real-time strategy games. He also explores the role of AI in education, facilitating personalized learning experiences and improving comprehension for students.
Advice for Aspiring Product Managers
Rudy encourages aspiring product managers to follow their passion, lean into their strengths, and actively seek knowledge about product management. He highlights the dynamic and multifaceted nature of product management and emphasizes the value of diverse backgrounds and skills in the field. He also suggests leveraging platforms like LinkedIn to connect with industry professionals and learn from their experiences.
How can product leaders personalize the user experience? In this episode, Neha Shah meets with Topps Digital Director of Product Rudy Saldivar to discuss his career journey from investment banking and private equity into gaming product management. Rudy speaks on his early role helping bring analytics to Blizzard and how his personal gaming experiences shaped his perspective. He also covers how he considers accessibility and diversity in product design today, and sees potential for AI to help people with disabilities through personalized experiences.
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