Brought to you by Amplitude—Build better products: https://amplitude.com/ | OneSchema—Import CSV data 10x faster: https://oneschema.co/lenny | Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security: https://vanta.com/lenny—Upasna Gautam is a product manager at CNN Digital, where she works closely with editorial staff and journalists to build their internal content management system. She is also a longtime meditation coach and a board member of the News Product Alliance. In today’s episode, we delve into how product teams are structured and operate at CNN, how CNN uses OKRs and roadmaps, and the unique challenges and opportunities in designing a digital product for journalists. Upasna also shares a story about her team’s product saving the day during the 2020 elections and gives listeners a free mini lesson on meditation.Find the full transcript here: https://www.lennyspodcast.com/an-inside-look-at-how-cnn-builds-product-upasna-gautam/#transcriptWhere to find Upasna Gautam:• Twitter: https://twitter.com/UpasnaGautam• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/upasnagautam/• Website: https://linktr.ee/upasnagautamWhere to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/Referenced:• Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/• News Product Alliance: https://newsproduct.org/• Mindfulness in Plain English: https://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-English-Bhante-Henepola-Gunaratana/dp/0861719069• How to Win Friends & Influence People: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/• The New Product Development Game: https://hbr.org/1986/01/the-new-new-product-development-game• The Mandalorian on Disney+: https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-mandalorian/3jLIGMDYINqD• Ted Lasso on AppleTV+: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso/umc.cmc.vtoh0mn0xn7t3c643xqonfzy• Everything Everywhere All at Once on Showtime: https://www.sho.com/titles/3493875/everything-everywhere-all-at-once• Andor on Disney+: https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/andorIn this episode, we cover:(00:00) Upasna’s background(03:13) How Upasna’s meditation background helps her thrive in the chaotic world of product at CNN(08:55) How PMs at CNN build in buffer time and create backup plans when breaking news hits (10:26) How the product team works with editorial staff and journalists at CNN(15:22) The product org structure at CNN Digital (19:02) OKRs at CNN(20:10) How CNN’s product teams do long-term planning(21:37) Why Upasna involves the tech lead in all product discovery/product review meetings(23:51) How to boost morale with remote teams(27:39) Balancing maintenance with building new stuff(29:21) The time CNN.com went down in 2020 and the new platform saved the day(31:21) How the product team rehearses breaking news(34:22) The superpowers Upasna and her team have cultivated(35:50) Why meditation and honing your communication skills help you excel as a PM(42:01) How to get started on the path of meditation(44:39) The work News Product Alliance is doing and how to get involved(51:54) Lightning roundProduction and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com. Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe

Upasna Gautam, Senior Platform Product Manager at CNN and Chair of the Board of Directors at the News Product Alliance, dives into the transformative role of AI in journalism. She introduces her three-question framework for AI integration and shares insights from building CNN's Stellar platform. Key highlights include empowering editorial teams, fostering collaboration to build trust, and practical strategies for AI implementation in resource-constrained newsrooms. Gautam also discusses evolving content management systems and the critical balance between technology and journalistic integrity.

Sim interviews Upasna Gautam, a product and engineering leader at CNN, who shares her journey to financial independence through index fund investments. They discuss personal branding, maximizing tax-advantaged accounts, and the power of compounding for long-term financial success.