Alex Komoroske, a strategic leader with a rich background at Google and Stripe, shares his insights on product development by advocating a 'gardening' mindset over a 'building' one. He highlights the importance of nurturing innovation and fostering open communication within teams, comparing organizational dynamics to the adaptability of slime molds. Alex also discusses the significance of reflection for personal growth and how AI will reshape product creation, urging teams to embrace the 'adjacent possible' for incremental success.

Read the full transcript here. Why do organizations get slower as they grow? What can organizations learn from slime molds? What are the advantages of top-down organization versus bottom-up organization, and vice versa? How can organizations encourage serendipity? What use are doorbells in jungles? Why is it so hard for organizations to set a "north star" that is at once plausible, coherent, and good?Alex Komoroske has over a decade of experience in the tech industry as a product manager focusing on platform- and ecosystem-shaped problems. While at Google, he worked on Chrome's Web Platform PM team, Augmented Reality in Google Maps, and Ambient Computing. He's fascinated by how to navigate the emergent complexity within organizations to achieve great results. You can find some of his public writing at komoroske.com. StaffSpencer Greenberg — Host / DirectorJosh Castle — ProducerRyan Kessler — Audio EngineerUri Bram — FactotumJanaisa Baril — TranscriptionistMiles Kestran — MarketingMusicBroke for FreeJosh WoodwardLee RosevereQuiet Music for Tiny Robotswowamusiczapsplat.comAffiliatesClearer ThinkingGuidedTrackMind EasePositlyUpLift[Read more]

Alex Komoroske, a systems thinker from Google, discusses systems thinking, builders vs. gardeners, AI potentials, and book recommendations. He emphasizes the importance of influencing systems, navigating complexity in organizations, and balancing short-term actions with a long-term vision. The podcast touches on topics like the adjacent possible in design thinking, business innovation insights, and the future of technology.

Alex Komoroske discusses topics like escaping busyness, heroism, different types of magic, paradigm shifts, uncertainty, compression, and more in this fascinating podcast conversation.

Alex Komoroske, product leader at Google Chrome, discusses the future of open platforms and gardening mindsets. Topics include power dynamics, evolving platforms, complex ecosystems, organizational structures, minimizing negative experiences, and accountability in chaotic platforms.