Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth

Asha Sharma, CVP of AI Platform at Microsoft, has a rich background as COO at Instacart and VP of Product at Meta. In this discussion, she shares the exciting transition from viewing products as static artifacts to dynamic organisms. Asha predicts that by 2026, AI agents will outnumber human employees, reshaping organizational structures. She reveals Microsoft’s innovative planning framework and discusses the rising prominence of post-training investment. Additionally, Asha touches on the evolving landscape of product management and the shift from GUIs to code-native interfaces.

Garrett Lord, co-founder and CEO of Handshake, shares how his career network evolved into a powerful data-labeling business tapping into a vast network of academic experts. He discusses the crucial role of expert data in training AI models, illustrating how PhDs help make models like GPT-5 smarter. The transformation from generalist to specialist labeling has opened new business opportunities. Garrett also touches on the collaboration with AI labs, and how AI technology enhances productivity, likening it to giving junior employees 'Iron Man suits.'

Eoghan McCabe, founder and CEO of Intercom, shares insights on transforming the company into an AI-first powerhouse. He reveals the challenges of pivoting from a plateauing SaaS model, emphasizing how the launch of ChatGPT spurred innovation. Eoghan discusses the tough decisions that led to a staff reduction but resulted in higher employee satisfaction. He also highlights the new pricing model of just $0.99 per resolved ticket and the cultural shifts necessary to thrive in an AI-driven market, underscoring the importance of adaptability in today's tech landscape.

Brian Balfour, founder of Reforge and former VP of Growth at HubSpot, dives into the transformative potential of ChatGPT as a distribution platform. He reveals a four-step cycle that platforms undergo, explaining why ChatGPT has just entered a crucial phase. Balfour emphasizes the urgent need for companies to integrate with ChatGPT or risk falling behind. He shares insights from past platform shifts, illustrating how early movers like Zynga capitalized on Facebook’s rise, and stresses the importance of adapting quickly in today’s fast-paced market.

Matt LeMay, a prominent product leader and author, draws from his extensive experience to discuss the crucial question that can predict team survival in layoffs. He reveals how adhering strictly to so-called best practices can lead to irrelevance. Listeners will discover strategies to align product efforts with business objectives, navigate challenges without saying 'no,' and the importance of curiosity in team dynamics. He also shares a personal anecdote about a controversial music review that shaped his views on accountability and creativity in product management.

Nick Turley, Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, shares fascinating insights from his journey in creating the fastest-growing product in history. He discusses the 10-day sprint that launched ChatGPT, the strategic pricing survey conducted in Discord, and why the team chose to ship unpolished features. Turley reveals how retention metrics ‘smile’ over time and how TikTok comments became an invaluable user research tool. He emphasizes balancing speed and quality in AI development and the impact of ChatGPT on SEO and product discovery.

Chip Conley, founder of Joie de Vivre hotels and the Modern Elder Academy, shares his journey of joining Airbnb at 52, becoming a mentor in a youth-driven culture. He discusses the 'mentor and intern' mindset, blending teaching with curiosity. Chip reveals how AI may benefit older workers and emphasizes that midlife can be a time of renewed purpose. He shares techniques for managing anxiety and offers insights on why our 40s and 50s can be the happiest years. His experiences highlight the power of intergenerational collaboration in the tech landscape.

Bret Taylor, co-founder and CEO of Sierra, has a storied tech career including roles as CTO of Meta and co-CEO of Salesforce. He shares how a critical product review almost derailed his Google career, leading to the creation of Google Maps. Taylor discusses transformative AI agents poised to replace traditional SaaS products, innovative outcome-based pricing models, and lessons from early career missteps. He also reflects on the importance of coding skills in an AI-driven future and the vital question he learned from Sheryl Sandberg that maximizes daily impact.

Madhavan Ramanujam, a pricing and monetization expert, shares his insights from advising over 250 companies, including unicorns. He discusses why AI companies can capture much higher value than traditional SaaS models. Madhavan introduces a 2x2 framework for optimal pricing and highlights negotiation strategies that maximized a founder's deal size. He also emphasizes reframing Proof of Concepts to create business cases and stresses that monetization must be prioritized from the start. His insights reveal crucial strategies for sustainable growth in AI.

Ben Mann, co-founder of Anthropic and former GPT-3 architect at OpenAI, dives into the world of AI's rapid growth and ethical dilemmas. He reveals the challenges of attracting top talent amid fierce competition, spotlighting Meta's staggering offers. Ben predicts that AGI may emerge as soon as 2027-2028, but warns of a looming 20% unemployment rate. He shares his concerns over AI's existential threats and why a focus on safety and human alignment is crucial, while also teaching his kids alternative skills instead of traditional academics.