Steve Nash, Director of Product at GumGum and an early team member at Playground XYZ, shares insights on managing product-centricity in a challenging environment. He discusses strategies for effectively communicating with CEOs when disagreements arise, without jeopardizing your job. Nash reveals how Playground’s shift to a product-focused culture fueled innovation and led to its acquisition by GumGum. Additionally, he delves into the evolution of attention tracking in advertising and the critical role that design plays in improving user engagement.
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From Startup Chaos to Product Centricity
Steve Nash shared how their startup grew fast but then slowed due to CEO micromanagement and lack of product centricity.
They proposed a product-centric shift backed by Marty Cagan's principles, gaining CEO buy-in to empower teams.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Navigating Tough CEO Conversations
To address a CEO's tight control, build consensus with other leaders and your team before raising concerns.
Present data and incremental test plans to show benefits without threatening the CEO’s vision.
insights INSIGHT
Autonomy as Innovation Fuel
Shifting to product centricity fueled innovation by empowering teams to make bets that aligned with the company vision.
This autonomy boosted morale, customer engagement, and trust throughout the sales and product teams.
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In 'Inspired,' Marty Cagan provides a detailed and practical guide to product management. The book emphasizes the critical role of product managers in merging technology and design to address genuine customer needs while aligning with business objectives. Cagan discusses key concepts such as the importance of product vision, continuous discovery and delivery, and the need for a user-centric approach. He also highlights the differences between product management and other roles like product marketing, and stresses the importance of having a dedicated team for product development. The book is structured to help both junior and seasoned product managers understand and implement best practices in product management, drawing from Cagan's extensive experience in the tech industry.
Today, we’re talking with Steve Nash, Director of Product for GumGum, an ad-tech platform that matches brands and consumers through AI-powered data and media solutions.
In this episode, Steve talks about:
How to tell your CEO that they’re wrong — and not lose your career
The story behind Playground’s transition to a product-centric culture, and the pace of innovation it unlocked for the team
Why unifying behind Playground’s mission of being “the attention company” led to their successful exit and acquisition by GumGum
Navigating a digital reckoning in art | Elizabeth Van Bergen, Product Experience Lead (Phillips): https://youtu.be/Rf-7r3PMVuo
Unlock revenue with the zone of benefit | Oji Udezue, CPO (Typeform, Twitter, Calendly): https://youtu.be/2WuAGcRwdv0
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:04 Product challenges and shifts at Playground XYZ
04:38 How to implement product centricity
05:18 How to navigate conversations with CEOs
09:23 How to empower product teams and drive innovation
11:05 Adapting during COVID-19
20:08 Attention tracking and creative Insights
27:33 The role of design and raste in product development
33:01 Outro
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LaunchPod | Product Management Podcast 