Glen Coates

Glen Coates, VP of Product at Shopify, shares insights from his journey from game developer to leading e-commerce innovations. He discusses why the best product managers often emerge from gaming backgrounds and the importance of clear product principles. Glen emphasizes the significance of collaborative tools for effective team dynamics and how Shopify's restructuring enhances productivity. He critiques product marketing strategies and outlines the need for engaging messaging across diverse business sizes, all while striving for innovation in a competitive landscape.

Glen Coates, VP of Core Product at Shopify and former founder of the B2B platform Handshake, shares insights on the evolving e-commerce landscape. He discusses Shopify's innovative new AI features designed to assist merchants with everything from product descriptions to marketing. Glen elaborates on their 'copilot' approach to AI, emphasizing collaboration over automation. The conversation also explores the challenges of integrating acquisitions and the complexities of software development, highlighting the importance of user experience amidst rapid technological change.

Glen Coates, VP of Product at Shopify, shares insights into enhancing the developer experience on the platform. He discusses the challenges of maintaining backwards compatibility while introducing new features. The focus shifts to the evolution of Shopify themes, showcasing how AI is simplifying development. Glen also weighs the pros and cons of building versus buying solutions, emphasizing the importance of effective tools. Finally, he highlights community engagement in addressing developer challenges, celebrating the contributions of users in advancing the platform.