Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

Keith Coleman, VP of Product at Twitter/X, and Jay Baxter, founding ML engineer, dive into the creation of Community Notes, a groundbreaking crowdsourced fact-checking system. They discuss the innovative algorithm rewarding neutral consensus, the project's survival through leadership changes, and its unexpected chaotic beginnings. Learn how they prioritize rapid, impactful team operations sans traditional project management tools. Finally, they reflect on Community Notes' potential to reshape online misinformation and its adoption by competitors, spotlighting the growing importance of community-driven content verification.

Bob Moesta, co-creator of the Jobs to Be Done framework and author of "Job Moves," shares insights from interviews with over 1,000 career changers. He discusses the four quests driving career transitions and how experiences often outweigh job features like salary. Moesta highlights the importance of recognizing what energizes versus drains you and introduces the concept of a 'jobcation' for career reflection. He also offers guidance on crafting your career story and prototyping potential career paths.

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.