Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

Dylan Field, the co-founder and CEO of Figma, shares insights from his journey in building the collaborative design platform. He discusses how intuition shapes product taste and decision-making. The conversation dives into the importance of simplicity in design while reflecting on the challenges of keeping products user-friendly. Dylan also reminisces about Figma's early days, recruitment strategies, and the critical role of user feedback in driving growth. Plus, he explores the future of design tools, including the exciting potential of AI.

Jessica Livingston, co-founder of Y Combinator and author of "Founders at Work," shares her journey in the startup world. She talks about how she earned the title of the "social radar" for her ability to evaluate founders quickly. Jessica reveals red flags to watch for, like defensiveness in founders, and emphasizes the importance of interpersonal dynamics in selecting candidates. She also recounts amusing anecdotes from interviews, like the unique story behind Airbnb's early days, showcasing the blend of passion and resilience in successful startups.

Ami Vora, Chief Product Officer at Faire and former leader at Meta, shares her remarkable journey from temp to VP. She emphasizes that execution trumps strategy and discusses the importance of emotional intelligence in decision-making. Ami introduces fun metaphors like 'dinosaur brain' and 'toddler soccer' to explain team dynamics and collaboration. She advocates for authenticity and peer support in career development, reminding listeners to embrace their imperfections while navigating the tech landscape with empathy and intuition.

Tanguy Crusson, Head of Jira Product Discovery at Atlassian, shares over a decade of experience in launching products like HipChat and Statuspage. He delves into the challenges of innovating within large organizations, discussing the pitfalls like competitive myopia. Tanguy highlights the importance of understanding user needs and the right timing. He also emphasizes the value of 'lighthouse users' in product development and the necessity of agility and empathy in building successful products. Don't miss his insights on balancing innovation with corporate constraints!

In this engaging discussion, Jeffrey Pfeffer, a renowned professor at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and author of 16 books on power, shares his insights on harnessing influence for career advancement. He outlines his seven essential rules of power, emphasizing effective networking and building a personal brand without feeling cringe-worthy. Pfeffer explores the tradeoffs of wielding power, how an open mindset can unlock opportunities, and the importance of authentic connections in professional growth—backed by compelling stories and practical strategies.

Uri Levine, co-founder of Waze and a serial entrepreneur, shares invaluable insights for startup success. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on problems over solutions to resonate with customers. Levine discusses the iterative process of achieving product-market fit and the critical roles of decisive hiring and effective storytelling in fundraising. He stresses that understanding user behavior is key to product development and highlights the necessity of adapting through challenges, showcasing the dynamic journey of building impactful startups.

Cameron Adams, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Canva, shares insights from the company’s remarkable journey. He discusses why Canva has no managers, choosing coaching over traditional hierarchy, and promotes the idea of 'giving away your Legos' for better collaboration. Cameron reflects on the importance of a delightful user experience that delayed their MVP launch and reveals their innovative three-pillar framework for integrating AI. He also highlights Canva's shift to serve larger enterprises while maintaining a focus on creativity and collaboration.

Matt Dixon, a world-renowned sales expert and author of bestsellers like 'The Challenger Sale' and 'The JOLT Effect,' dives into customer indecision, a major hurdle in sales. He reveals that 40% to 60% of qualified opportunities are lost due to this indecision. The conversation introduces the 'JOLT' method to tackle hesitance and emphasizes the nuanced 'pings and echoes' technique to identify issues early. Dixon shares practical applications from his research on 2.5 million sales conversations, redefining strategies for closing deals.

Bangaly Kaba, Director of Product at YouTube and former growth leader at Facebook and Instagram, shares vital insights for tech professionals. He discusses a framework for making strategic career choices that prioritize impact over compensation. The concept of 'understand work' emphasizes grasping user needs before product execution for better outcomes. Bangaly also highlights the strategy of targeting 'adjacent users' for growth, backed by lessons from his rich experience in the tech industry.

Kenneth Berger, the first product manager at Slack and an executive coach, shares insights on overcoming barriers to asking for what you want. He discusses the importance of honest communication in achieving personal and professional goals. Kenneth introduces techniques like the 'dream behind the complaint' to uncover desires and emphasizes that hearing 'no' is part of the process. He also reflects on his experiences with rejection and the need for emotional regulation in navigating professional relationships. Embrace fear and cultivate joy for true motivation!