Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

The happiness and pain of product management | Noam Lovinsky (Grammarly, Facebook, YouTube, Thumbtack)

Mar 17, 2024

Noam Lovinsky, Chief Product Officer at Grammarly, shares his vast experience from Facebook, YouTube, and Thumbtack. He discusses the challenges of reviving growth at major platforms and how Facebook's New Product Experimentation team shaped his approach. Noam highlights the importance of knowing when to pivot or abandon projects, and stresses the need for diverse growth channels. He also emphasizes the power of storytelling in product strategy and reflects on the resilience of Grammarly's team in Ukraine, showcasing innovation in large companies.

01:09:34

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Noam Lovinsky

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Quick takeaways

Diversifying growth channels is crucial for sustained success, as seen in Thumbtack's shift from SEO to paid and referral channels.

Inclusive product strategy involving all leadership roles is essential for navigating challenges effectively, as highlighted by Thumbtack's experience.

Pursuing realistic and sustainable innovations internally, rather than seeking 'lottery wins,' can be a strategic approach to product development, as demonstrated at Facebook.

Deep dives

Lessons on Diversifying Growth Channels and Addressing High Friction Experiences

At Thumbtack, the experience of relying heavily on SEO for growth highlighted the importance of diversifying growth channels proactively. The shift from relying solely on SEO to exploring paid and referral channels before the SEO performance declines was critical in sustaining growth. Furthermore, recognizing and addressing a high friction customer experience was essential. Thumbtack's transformation from a delayed customer response model to enabling instant quotes improved customer satisfaction and business performance.

Growth Masks Problems

01:24

Incentives Shape Innovation Within Organizations

02:55

Authenticity and Focus over Networking

01:15

Embracing Change for Transformation

00:54

Intro

4min

Authenticity in Networking: A Personal Approach

2min

Navigating Authenticity and Growth in Tech

28min

Leveraging LinkedIn for B2B Marketing and Leadership Insights in Product Management

4min

Innovative Leadership and Startup Dynamics

21min

Embracing Heritage and Growth

8min

Exploring Favorite Products and Personal Growth Insights

3min

Noam Lovinsky has had a distinguished career in product, leaving an indelible mark at Facebook, YouTube, Thumbtack, and currently as the chief product officer at Grammarly. At Facebook, Noam helped establish the New Product Experimentation team; at Thumbtack, he was chief product officer; and at YouTube, he was one of the early product leaders overseeing the consumer experience. In our conversation, we discuss:

• Challenges and lessons from reviving growth at YouTube and Thumbtack

• Lessons from building Facebook’s New Product Experimentation team

• Insights into Grammarly’s success

• Knowing when it’s time to kill your project

• Why diversifying your growth channels is critical

• The power of visioning and storytelling in shaping product strategy

• How to create space for innovation at large companies

• The resilience and motivation of Grammarly’s team in Ukraine

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