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20Product: Product Secrets Behind Uber and Opendoor | How AI Changes the Role of the PM & The Product Development Process | How to Hire the Best Product Teams & What No One Does That Everyone Should Do with Brian Tolkin
Feb 7, 2025
Brian Tolkin, Head of Product at Opendoor and former Uber executive, shares his insights on product management. He discusses his experience launching Uber Pool in China, emphasizing the balance between local adaptation and user needs. Tolkin explores how AI is redefining the role of product managers and the importance of agility in product development. Key topics include prioritization strategies, the balance between data and gut instinct in decision-making, and effective sprint management techniques for high-performing teams.
44:54
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Quick takeaways
- Brian Tolkin emphasizes the necessity of balancing user experience with business objectives, highlighting the importance of clarity in product decisions.
- The evolving role of product managers in an AI world underscores the need for strong communication and user insights despite improved efficiency through technology.
Deep dives
Lessons from Launching Uber Pool in China
Launching Uber Pool in China presented significant challenges, particularly when establishing a local data center and ensuring that the technology functioned efficiently amidst tight deadlines. Critical product lessons emerged from the experience, especially regarding the necessity of high-quality mapping and routing data, which posed difficulties due to the absence of reliable tools like Google Maps. The complexity of China’s road infrastructure added to these challenges, as making quality matches between riders needed real-time data to work effectively. Ultimately, acknowledging cultural differences in app design became a paramount insight, highlighting the need for product teams to adapt their strategies to the locales they serve.
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Discover
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