25. Product as a Way of Thinking with Brody Clemmer

A Journey from Radio to Product Management and the Essence of Product Thinking   The script features an engaging conversation between the host and Brody Clemmer, a former radio host turned product manager, who shares his unique career path from working in radio to eventually finding a passion for product management and mental health. Brody discusses the accidental nature of many peoples' entry into product management, his own experience transitioning through various roles, and the importance of 'product thinking' across all organizational functions. He emphasizes that product thinking focuses on understanding and solving user problems, distinguishing it from product management which requires execution. Further, Brody shares how he implements product thinking in his current role at Koa Health through initiatives like 'product class,' aiming to foster a culture of problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration. The conversation also touches on mentorship versus coaching, the dynamics of therapy and mental health, and concludes with Brody sharing insights on personal fulfillment and career choices.   00:00 Welcome to the Show: Brody Clemmer's Unique Journey 01:38 From Radio Host to Product Management: A Career Evolution 02:34 Introducing Product Thinking: Beyond Traditional Management 03:37 Product Thinking vs. Product Management: A Deep Dive 09:30 Implementing Product Thinking in Organizations 15:41 The Impact of Product Thinking on Company Culture 19:20 Mentorship vs. Coaching: Brody's Approach to Personal Development 22:53 Therapy, Mental Health, and Product Thinking 29:26 Lightning Round: Personal Insights and Reflections   Tools discussed in episode: Vistaly for consolidating and mapping user feedback https://www.vistaly.com/   Bio: 

Brody Clemmer lives in Philadelphia with his fiancé and their son - and is a generalist at heart. For work, he is currently the Lead Product Manager at Koa Health where he was the first US based Product hire, and is focused on the scalability and delivery of Koa’s products, ranging from mental health education to global clinical networks that support employers, payors, and multinational organizations in delivering mental health care for their members. Brody started his career out of high school, after making the decision to not go to university, first working in Radio, then TV Production, then landing at Apple for five years before starting his own business with a guy he met on Twitter. After selling the business at a personal  loss, he found himself as the first product hire for a few “unsexy” companies in unknown industries like Executive Search, Leadership Consulting, corporate Sales Training, and finally making his way into Healthtech startups.