Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

Camille Hearst, Head of Fan Monetization at Spotify, previously shaped creator experiences at Patreon, YouTube, and Apple. She shares valuable insights on enhancing artist-fan connections and innovative monetization strategies in the creator economy. Camille discusses the emotional challenges content creators face with subscription models and the role of unique fan experiences. She also recounts her memorable meeting with Steve Jobs and offers practical advice for founders navigating company acquisitions.

In this discussion, Austin Hay, Head of Marketing Technology at Ramp and a veteran in the Martech landscape, sheds light on the evolving role of marketing technologists. He explains when companies should hire for Martech roles and shares his favorite tools for success. Austin delves into the complexities of attribution models and the importance of robust data management, while also addressing the balance between individual contributions and team dynamics. He wraps up with practical insights on 'thinking gray' for making better decisions.

Christopher Miller, VP of Product for Growth and AI at HubSpot, shares his journey through one of B2B's biggest growth stories. He discusses the shift to product-led growth, emphasizing customer obsession and radical accountability. Chris highlights key skills for success in product management and the importance of mentorship. He also reflects on how personal connections can open doors, using a party anecdote as an example. Listeners gain insights into HubSpot's innovative growth strategies, AI integration, and the evolving company culture.

Geoff Charles, VP of Product at Ramp, shares insights from his experience building one of the fastest-growing SaaS startups. He discusses how a culture of velocity drives Ramp’s success and how effective writing enhances clarity and creativity. Geoff emphasizes empowering product teams through context sharing and encouraging a first-principles approach to problem-solving. He also reveals unique hiring strategies that contribute to Ramp's innovation and offers advice for those looking to break into product management.

Nicole Forsgren, a developer productivity and DevOps expert currently at Microsoft Research, digs into the intricacies of measuring developer productivity. She discusses frameworks like DORA and SPACE, shedding light on the benchmarks of excellence and frequent pitfalls to avoid. Nicole emphasizes the importance of a healthy developer experience, and her Four-Box framework provides a unique approach to analyzing data relationships. Listeners can expect actionable strategies to enhance team culture and productivity, all while embracing the evolving tech landscape.

Ronny Kohavi, a leading expert in A/B testing with a rich history at Airbnb, Microsoft, and Amazon, shares invaluable insights into the world of experimentation. He emphasizes how fostering a culture of experimentation can lead to significant product innovations. The discussion covers common pitfalls in A/B testing, including sample ratio mismatches, and highlights the importance of trust and data integrity. Ronny also shares surprising results from his experiments and best practices for optimizing testing processes, making data-driven decisions essential for growth.

Noah Weiss, Chief Product Officer at Slack, formerly at Foursquare and Google, shares insightful strategies for product managers. He discusses the top traits that great PMs should possess, from communication to decisiveness. Weiss highlights the unique 'complaint storms' approach at Slack for fostering empathy. He also dives into how AI is reshaping product development and the importance of staying customer-aware, but not obsessed. Valuable lessons on team dynamics and innovative user engagement are also key takeaways from this engaging discussion.

Hari Srinivasan, VP of Product at LinkedIn Talent Solutions and a former CEO, shares his journey in product management. He discusses LinkedIn’s transformation from a networking site to a comprehensive platform focused on skills-based hiring. Hari reveals strategies for job seekers to enhance their visibility to recruiters and emphasizes the importance of networking. He also dives into the complexities of managing interconnected products and offers insights on decision-making processes at LinkedIn, along with tips for newcomers in product management.

Julia Schottenstein, Product lead at dbt Labs and an angel investor, shares her journey from venture capital to product management. She provides invaluable advice for founders on improving M&A outcomes and assessing competition. Julia dives into the significance of aligning product features with customer needs and discusses the challenges of open source versus proprietary elements. With insights on effective pricing strategies and the importance of networking, she emphasizes that building strong relationships can lead to better acquisition deals.

Paige Costello, Head of Core Product at Asana, previously led teams at Intercom and Intuit. She shares insights on Asana's unique product development approach and the evolution of teamwork within tech. Paige emphasizes the double-diamond framework, the value of curiosity and openness in product management, and the importance of authentic communication in building trust. She also highlights strategies for effective feedback using impact statements, along with the significance of mentorship in personal and professional growth.