Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

Alistair Croll, co-author of the bestselling Lean Analytics and a startup expert, shares insights from his upcoming book, Just Evil Enough. He dives into the power of subversive marketing strategies for startups, highlighting 11 clever tactics used by companies like Netflix and Airbnb. Croll discusses how to ethically exploit market opportunities and the importance of unconventional methods for growth. He also emphasizes the significance of navigating regulatory environments and finding your "zero-day marketing exploit" in a competitive landscape.

Shreyas Doshi, a former product leader at Stripe, Twitter, and Google, now guides founders as an advisor and coach. He discusses the overwhelm often felt by product leaders and how to combat it. Shreyas emphasizes the need for developing good taste and effective listening skills to enhance leadership. He shares insights on avoiding common pitfalls in annual planning, stressing the importance of a clear product strategy. The conversation is both informative and filled with relatable humor, offering valuable advice for aspiring product managers.

Naomi Gleit, Meta’s Head of Product and an early employee, shares her wealth of knowledge from nearly two decades at the forefront of tech innovation. She discusses pivotal growth strategies like Facebook's onboarding tactics that emphasize user engagement. Naomi also explains how product managers act like conductors, ensuring clarity in team communication through structured documentation and collaborative frameworks. Her insights offer valuable lessons on perseverance, leadership, and the importance of sleep hygiene in peak performance.

Explore the hidden power of typography and logos with renowned lettering artist Jessica Hische. She shares insights on why startups often should focus less on logo perfection. Discover the emotional impact different typefaces can have and how to balance creativity with business needs in design. Jessica also delves into her work on children's books, the influence of AI in design, and the need for thoughtful branding strategies in tech. Plus, get a glimpse into her favorite creative pursuits and life lessons!

Anneka Gupta, Chief Product Officer at Rubrik and Stanford lecturer, shares her insights on navigating 'founder mode' dynamics in organizations. She discusses the importance of a positive mindset in team management and the delicate art of summarizing complex ideas. Anneka emphasizes effective decision-making, strategies for handling difficult colleagues, and the value of giving and receiving feedback. She also outlines pathways into product management, highlighting the significance of relationship-building and embracing a culture of learning.

Tristan de Montebello, co-founder and CEO of Ultraspeaking, achieved a remarkable feat by reaching the finals of the World Championship of Public Speaking in just seven months. He shares insights on why public speaking is a transformative meta skill. Listeners learn about engaging techniques like the Accordion Method for talk preparation and the Bow and Arrow Technique for impactful presentations. Tristan emphasizes overcoming speaking anxiety through practical exercises and games, making public speaking enjoyable and effective.

Raiza Martin, Senior Product Manager for AI at Google Labs, leads the innovative NotebookLM project. She dives into its origin as a 20% project and how it evolved into a popular tool with a vibrant community. Raiza discusses the unique dynamics of Google Labs, future enhancements for NotebookLM, and the engaging new feature, 'Audio Overviews.' The conversation also touches on navigating the ethical challenges of AI and the excitement of collaborating with author Steven Johnson, making for a compelling exploration of tech and creativity.

John Mark Nickels, Senior Director of Product Management at Uber and former Head of Product at Waymo and DoorDash, shares insights on conscious leadership. He explains how self-awareness and emotional intelligence can transform leadership styles. Nickels discusses the evolution of Uber's culture from fear to collaboration, the importance of embracing emotions for professional success, and practical strategies to sharpen vision and execution. The conversation underscores the value of relationships and personal fulfillment in navigating career challenges.

Alex Komoroske, a strategic leader with a rich background at Google and Stripe, shares his insights on product development by advocating a 'gardening' mindset over a 'building' one. He highlights the importance of nurturing innovation and fostering open communication within teams, comparing organizational dynamics to the adaptability of slime molds. Alex also discusses the significance of reflection for personal growth and how AI will reshape product creation, urging teams to embrace the 'adjacent possible' for incremental success.

In this discussion with Benjamin Lauzier, an experienced product and growth leader from Lyft and Thumbtack, listeners gain insights into the intricacies of building successful marketplaces. He shares strategies for balancing supply and demand during the early growth stages and emphasizes the importance of measuring liquidity to ensure ongoing engagement. Lauzier also contrasts the dynamics of product management in the U.S. versus Europe, illustrating lessons from notable platforms. Plus, he introduces his new health tech venture, Nura, which aids users in navigating health care.