Uri Levine, co-founder of Waze and serial entrepreneur, shares hard-earned wisdom on navigating startup crises. He categorizes crises into cash shortages and losing product-market fit, explaining the importance of quick decision-making and team communication. Levine emphasizes maintaining team morale during tough times and developing a pivot strategy. He also discusses adapting to challenges brought by external factors like COVID-19 and the necessity of transparency and strong leadership in tough financial landscapes.

Karina Nguyen, an AI researcher at OpenAI, previously worked at Anthropic and has contributed to groundbreaking products like Canvas and Tasks. In their engaging conversation, she discusses the evolving role of soft skills in the workplace as AI advances. Karina emphasizes the artistic nuances and challenges of model training, highlights the importance of synthetic data, and explores the need for collaboration in product development. She shares insights on how AI is reshaping human tasks, urging a balance between technological innovation and interpersonal skills.

Tobi Lütke, Founder and CEO of Shopify, shares his unique approach to leadership and entrepreneurship. He emphasizes why complexity can hinder growth and the importance of first principles thinking. Tobi discusses how to approach metrics and decision-making, advocating for joy and qualitative factors over traditional statistics. He also highlights the significance of coding in leadership, encouraging collaboration and curiosity within teams. The conversation delves into the idea of long-term vision and its role in empowering human potential and successful product leadership.

Nan Yu, Head of Product at Linear, shares insights from one of the fastest-growing B2B SaaS companies known for its user-friendly design. The discussion reveals how speed and quality can coexist in product development. Nan emphasizes the need for a deep understanding of user needs and the role of empathy in product management. He also introduces the "double triangle" framework and shares his systematic approach to creativity, offering valuable career advice for aspiring product managers. Expect a blend of innovation strategies and real-world application!

Chandra Janakiraman, CPO at VRChat with a rich history at Meta and Headspace, shares his insights into effective product strategy. He breaks down his five-step process for developing a product strategy, emphasizing clarity and collaboration. Discover the significance of team alignment and how to transform problems into opportunities. Chandra also discusses the impact of AI on future product strategies and offers a personal anecdote from his time at Headspace that reshaped his approach to strategy. Tune in for a masterclass in strategic thinking!

Elena Verna, a sought-after growth advisor with leadership experience at Amplitude, Miro, Dropbox, and SurveyMonkey, shares her insights on ineffective growth strategies. She highlights common mistakes, such as hiring growth roles prematurely and relying too heavily on competition. Elena emphasizes the significance of earned media in marketing, encourages embracing failure, and discusses innovative growth frameworks. Listeners are reminded to balance intuition with data-driven decisions and to explore varied career options beyond traditional paths.

Graham Weaver, a Stanford GSB professor and founder of Alpine Investors, shares his journey of helping students uncover their true paths. He discusses the importance of breaking free from autopilot living and embracing intentional decision-making. Listeners learn about the 'genie methodology' for identifying passions and the transformative 'Nine Lives' exercise for exploring different life possibilities. Graham also highlights the power of overcoming limiting beliefs and the role of resilience in personal growth, offering a fresh perspective on achieving fulfillment in one's career.

Rohini Pandhi is a product leader at Mercury and co-founder of Transparent Collective. In this discussion, she shares insights on recognizing when to hire product managers and the importance of founders taking on this role initially. Rohini emphasizes the need for high-quality product design, particularly in finance, and explores how to attract top talent. She also discusses the transition to multi-product strategies and the value of fostering a customer-centric culture to align offerings with user needs.

Drew Houston, co-founder and CEO of Dropbox, shares his journey leading a service with over 700 million users. He discusses the three critical eras of Dropbox's evolution, from viral growth to competitive challenges. Drew opens up about the emotional toll of tech leadership and the importance of self-awareness. He emphasizes maintaining a growth mindset beyond metrics, adapting to remote work dynamics, and the lessons learned through 18 years of entrepreneurship, including innovative strategies and redefining core business goals.

Alisa Cohn, an acclaimed executive coach and author, shares her insights on navigating difficult conversations at work. She discusses the psychology behind avoiding tough talks and offers specific scripts to make feedback more constructive. Alisa delves into handling defensive reactions and emphasizes the importance of three key questions to conclude meetings effectively. She also touches on leadership myths and the significance of aligning values among founding teams. With a blend of personal anecdotes, she highlights the power of embracing failure for growth.