The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20Product: Why Process is Killing Your Product Team and How to Remove it | Three Product Decisions Every Team Needs to Make | Why the Best Companies Build Movements and Lessons from Shopify and Atlassian on How to Do It Right with Jean-Michel Lemieux
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Mar 20, 2024 
Jean-Michel Lemieux, former CTO at Shopify and VP of Engineering at Atlassian, shares insights from his impressive career in product development. He discusses the pitfalls of rigid processes, advocating for movements over mere products. Learn about the critical balance of speed and quality in development and the concept of 'time horizon friction.' Jean-Michel also reveals innovative hiring techniques, like the 'snowboard test,' and addresses the emotional challenges of transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship.
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From Band Class to Computer Science
- Jean-Michel Lemieux's interest in computers began in high school when he used MIDI to create music for a school musical.
- This experience led him to pursue computer science, viewing computers as tools for creative expression.
Building Movements, Not Products
- Both Shopify and Atlassian succeeded by focusing on long-term strategies and community building, creating movements around entrepreneurship and open source.
- This approach prioritized gaining attention and building communities around their products.
Shopify vs. Atlassian: Quality vs. Speed
- Shopify prioritized quality over speed, while Atlassian focused on speed and M&A.
- Both strategies proved successful, but Shopify might have missed opportunities for greater monetization.