PRODUCTEA with Leah, Growth & Senior Leadership

CJ Gustafson, an ex-PWC tech CFO and finance provocateur, shares insights on today's economic turmoil affecting SaaS valuations. He discusses the hidden dangers of tariffs and how AI budgets have become a quirky CEO trend. CJ underlines the importance of product leaders aligning with CFOs to comprehend profitability, emphasizing that neglecting unit economics could be perilous. He also offers a recession playbook, urging businesses to pivot and adapt to maintenance and re-commerce strategies. Adaptation and financial literacy are key to navigating this challenging landscape.

John Zeratsky, co-creator of the Sprint Method and VC partner at Character, shares insights on startup success and failure. He argues that 'vision-driven' startups are often destined to fail due to their lack of validation. John highlights the importance of rapid prototyping with fake products to gather real feedback, emphasizing that your pitch deck needs actionable data, not just buzzwords. He also discusses the necessity of understanding competitors beyond the obvious, giving real-world examples of successful startups to illustrate his points.

Srikrishnan Ganesan, Co-founder and CEO of Rocketlane, formerly of Freshworks, shares his innovative insights on SaaS. He argues that traditional MVP approaches are outdated for established markets, advocating instead for opinionated, full-featured products. Ganesan emphasizes the importance of prioritizing customer success from day one and discusses how AI is transforming customer onboarding. He also highlights the shift towards consumption-based pricing models, stressing the need for compliance early on to secure enterprise deals.

Matt Le May, a seasoned product leader and author with over 15 years of experience, dives into the critical gap between product teams and business goals. He warns against the pitfalls of 'vibe selling' and emphasizes the need for clear communication. Discussing practical strategies, Matt shares how to align product roadmaps with company objectives and avoid the lethargy of low-impact work. He also explores emotional challenges in product management, advocating for actionable insights that drive business impact. Tune in for a mix of humor and profound business wisdom!

Mackenzie Hughes and Tara Goldman, co-founders of Goldhue, share their expertise in product operations and coaching product managers. They discuss the crucial connection between product work and business outcomes, emphasizing that many PMs struggle to see their ideas' revenue impact. The duo critiques overcomplicating metrics and advocates for focused, strategic measurements. They reveal how empowering teams and leveraging AI can shift organizational focus, reminding listeners of the need for experimentation and collaboration to drive commercial success.

In this engaging conversation, Ross Pomerantz, known as Corporate Bro, shares his journey from cold calling at Oracle to becoming a B2B comedy creator. He highlights the absurdities of sales culture, showcasing NSFW cold call stories and his viral content. Ross discusses his thoughts on AI’s impact on marketing, stressing the importance of authenticity over algorithmic influence. He also reveals why Salesforce sponsors him to roast CRMs and offers insights on navigating brand partnerships while maintaining creative freedom. Get ready for laughs and a peek behind the corporate curtain!

Adam Fishman, the interim SVP of New Products at Mozilla, dives into the art of project management and product innovation. He reveals Mozilla's stage-gating process for evaluating ideas and resource allocation. Fishman highlights the balancing act between ambition and practicality, and explains why distribution is paramount in today's market. He also shares insights on navigating the double-edged sword of AI in B2B SaaS, cautioning against an inundation of subpar tools while advocating for authenticity and strategic thinking.

Lidia Oshlyansky, CPO at Gillian and former leader at Spotify and Google, shares her insights on essential skills that withstand tech shifts. She emphasizes the importance of foundational skills like negotiation and systems thinking over transient tools. Lidia discusses the evolution of job roles in tech and advocates for curiosity-driven adaptability. She also addresses the challenges tech leaders face and provides tactical advice for continuous learning, urging a shift from 'future-proofing' to 'curiosity-proofing' careers in a rapidly changing landscape.

In this lively discussion, Tal Raviv, founding PM of the Patreon API platform and a veteran in AI product management, shares his insights on embracing AI tools in product management. He emphasizes that AI is a partner, not a threat—essential for thriving in today's landscape. Tal advocates for starting small and iterating, leveraging tools like ChatGPT and Notion AI to enhance collaboration. With a focus on practical applications, he reveals how AI can transform workflows and improve cross-functional alignment, urging PMs to adapt and experiment boldly.

Julia Chatain, a Senior Scientist at the Singapore ETH Center, dives into how cognitive biases impact learning and why SaaS leaders should be concerned. She debunks common misconceptions, emphasizing that proving others wrong can backfire. Julia highlights the importance of diverse perspectives and physical interaction in embodied learning, reshaping how education happens. Key tactics for leaders include fostering curiosity, rewarding effort, and understanding emotional engagement like imposter syndrome, all essential for resilient teams and effective product design.