Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth

Oji Udezue, Chief Product Officer at Typeform, brings a wealth of experience from Twitter, Calendly, and Atlassian. He discusses his effective frameworks, like 'Where to Fish to Land a Unicorn,' to identify high-potential markets. Oji emphasizes the importance of pinpointing the 'sharpest' problems for product success. He also shares tactics for optimizing onboarding to boost user retention and innovative strategies for increasing product virality. Plus, he introduces the concept of 'forest time' for clearer strategic thinking.

Andy Johns, a former tech executive and VC at giants like Facebook and Twitter, is now a mental health advocate dedicated to helping high achievers and veterans. He candidly shares his journey from burnout to self-discovery, discussing the importance of mental well-being over career success. Listeners will learn about his four-step process for personal transformation, the necessity of acknowledging suffering, and why a writing practice can foster healing. He also offers tips on finding a good therapist and emphasizes the value of self-compassion in the healing journey.

Claire Butler, Figma's first GTM hire and a key player in their growth story, shares fascinating insights into the company's unique approach. She reveals how the bottom-up growth strategy sparks success by prioritizing individual contributors. Claire discusses the vital role of 'designer advocates' in fostering product passion and the impact of their freemium model on growth. Listeners will also discover strategies for spreading adoption within organizations and the importance of community engagement in scaling a startup.

Tim Holley, VP of Product at Etsy, shares insights from over a decade at the company, focusing on navigating corporate culture shifts and adapting during the pandemic. He discusses Etsy's rapid transition to mask production, enhancing buyer experiences, and optimizing conversion rates through experimentation. Holley emphasizes the importance of collaboration in product management and the need for clear guiding principles. He also explores maintaining authenticity in a competitive marketplace while hiring adaptable talent to foster innovation.

Meltem Kuran Berkowitz, Head of Growth at Deel, has played a pivotal role in scaling the company from $0 to $300M in just three years. In this engaging discussion, she reveals how they leveraged low-cost growth channels and why early awareness campaigns in B2B marketing can be counterproductive. Meltem emphasizes the importance of effective SEO strategies and shares her unique 'traffic light' framework. Additionally, she discusses structuring growth teams and building a solid startup culture to support rapid expansion.

Bob Moesta, co-creator of the Jobs To Be Done framework and CEO of The Re-Wired Group, shares his expertise on understanding consumer behavior. He uses relatable examples, like Snickers versus Milky Way, to illustrate the essence of JTBD in product choices. The conversation covers best practices for interviews with B2B and B2C customers, common pitfalls in implementation, and when JTBD might not be the right approach. Moesta emphasizes the importance of context and genuine customer needs in driving effective product development.

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.