Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

Jen Abel, co-founder of JJELLYFISH, shares her expertise in guiding early-stage founders through sales challenges. She emphasizes the critical role of founder-led sales in driving initial success and discusses effective outreach strategies. Jen breaks down the sales process, from crafting compelling messages to nailing the first call. She sheds light on the importance of maintaining momentum, navigating procurement, and avoiding common pitfalls. Lastly, she highlights the value of customer feedback in refining sales tactics.

Amjad Masad, co-founder and CEO of Replit, discusses the transformative power of AI in coding and product development. He offers a live demo showcasing how Replit enables users of all ages to create applications easily. The conversation highlights AI's role in democratizing software creation and reshapes the responsibilities of tech roles. Amjad introduces the new Assistant tool, designed to streamline coding projects for non-technical users, and emphasizes the growing importance of adaptability and generative skills in the tech landscape.

Raaz Herzberg is the CMO and VP of Product Strategy at Wiz, a trailblazer in cloud security, having previously led security products at Microsoft. In this conversation, Raaz shares how Wiz quickly pivoted to achieve extraordinary product-market fit. She discusses the importance of listening to customers and the lessons learned during rapid scaling. Raaz also reflects on her switch from product to marketing, blending her unique insights to craft innovative strategies, all while navigating the challenges of startup culture and personal growth.

Aman Khan, Director of Product at Arize AI, previously worked at giants like Spotify and Apple. He dives into what it truly means to be an AI product manager and shares insights on breaking into this competitive field. The conversation highlights key traits of top AI PMs, along with common pitfalls in AI product development. Aman emphasizes the value of energy, curiosity, and the need for continuous learning. He also reflects on personal experiences that shaped his career and discusses the importance of user agency in AI products.

Melissa Perri dives into the evolution of the product owner role, highlighting the distinctions between product owners and product managers. She critiques the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), revealing common pitfalls companies face when prioritizing processes over customer needs. The conversation emphasizes the importance of adaptability in Agile environments, especially for startups versus large firms. Perri also shares her journey in product management and the essential skills for transitioning from product owner to product manager.

Archie Abrams, VP of Product and Head of Growth at Shopify, shares insights on his impactful journey leading a 600+ person growth organization. He reveals why Shopify prioritizes long-term growth over traditional KPIs, emphasizing churn optimization and the significance of experimentation. Archie also discusses the benefits of integrating sales into a product-led model and the unique structures of their growth teams. He reflects on the importance of a 100-year vision, fostering entrepreneurship, and adapting strategies for sustainable success in the ever-evolving e-commerce landscape.

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!