The evolving velocity playbook, building product taste & exceptional product experiences in the AI era w/ Loïc Houssier #224

Jun 17, 2025

Loïc Houssier, an engineering executive with 20 years of experience, currently leads engineering at Superhuman, optimizing productivity in email applications. He discusses building high-velocity engineering teams and the evolving playbook for achieving speed, particularly in the AI era. Loïc emphasizes the importance of a product mindset and strategies for adapting organizational culture. He also shares insights on enhancing user experience in product design and the role of effective communication in leadership during challenging decisions.

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ANECDOTE

Building a High-Velocity Reputation

Loïc built his reputation by creatively solving problems without asking for more resources.
He consistently did more with less across startups and scale-ups, gaining trust from boards and leaders.

INSIGHT

AI Boosts Engineer Productivity

AI tools are driving a 20-40% productivity improvement for engineers.
These tools enable side projects that improve efficiency beyond core tasks.

ADVICE

Velocity Playbook Essentials

Hire senior engineers comfortable with uncertainty to thrive in startups.
Organize teams by domain with sole ownership to speed decisions and reduce technical debt.

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ABOUT LOÏC HOUSSIER

Loïc Houssier is an engineering executive with 20 years of leadership experience spanning startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises. He specializes in helping high-growth companies scale with speed and discipline, combining technical depth with a strong operational mindset.

He currently leads engineering at Superhuman, the most productive email app ever made, where he joined at a pivotal moment in the company’s growth. Loïc brought a new level of executional rigor — embedding a culture of speed not just in the product (where every interaction happens in under 100ms), but in how the team ships, scales, and makes decisions.

Previously, he held senior engineering roles at Productboard, Firstbase, and DocuSign, where he led global teams through platform expansion, org design, and M&A. With a background in cryptography and early experience as a security researcher, Loïc is also a frequent mentor and speaker on engineering leadership and building resilient, high-velocity teams.

SHOW NOTES:

How Loïc built a reputation for building high-velocity engineering orgs (2:14)
The underweighted value of board member continuity (4:58)
Defining velocity in the AI age (6:23)
Loïc’s evolving playbook that drives velocity (9:10)
Implementing the velocity playbook @ Superhuman (11:04)
An example of incorporating domain focus effectively within an eng team (12:49)
Strategies for changing core principles / managing culture shock (16:17)
Knowing when you made the correct change vs. signals it’s not working (19:06)
Tools & tactics to promote a velocity mindset in engineering orgs (21:10)
Build credibility with influential eng leaders in your org (23:37)
Frameworks for cultivating product thinking within an eng org (27:03)
How to cultivate great product taste inside engineering orgs (30:24)
The importance of having a strong leader who sets the product taste standard (32:20)
Key elements of exceptional product experiences @ Superhuman (34:34)
Loïc’s perspective on navigating product complexity & quality expectations w/ AI (36:28)
The future of productivity tools: paradigm shifts in AI & productivity (39:29)
Rapid fire questions (41:20)

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop - Satoshi Yagisawa’s moving international sensation about new beginnings, human connection, and the joy of reading.
Zone to Win: Organizing to Compete in an Age of Disruption - Geoffrey A. Moore’s high-powered tool for driving your company above and beyond its limitations, its definitions of success, and ultimately, its competitors.

This episode wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our incredible production team:

Patrick Gallagher - Producer & Co-Host

Jerry Li - Co-Host

Noah Olberding - Associate Producer, Audio & Video Editor https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-olberding/

Dan Overheim - Audio Engineer, Dan’s also an avid 3D printer - https://www.bnd3d.com/

Ellie Coggins Angus - Copywriter, Check out her other work at https://elliecoggins.com/about/