The Product Podcast

Tricia Maia, the Head of Product at TED, discusses her role in bridging traditional values and innovative practices at the renowned nonprofit. She shares insights on leveraging AI for content accessibility, including voice-cloned dubbing in multiple languages. Tricia explains how TED navigates its mission-driven goals while pursuing sustainable revenue. The conversation touches on evolving content formats beyond the classic talk, enhancing engagement through strategic distribution, and the importance of data-driven personalization in amplifying TED's reach and impact.

In an engaging conversation with Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia, Philipp Kandal, the Chief Product Officer at Grab, shares insights into the evolution of this Southeast Asian super app, now valued at $20 billion. Philipp discusses Grab's hyperlocal strategies in product development, emphasizing the importance of understanding diverse consumer behaviors. He also explores the structural organization of product teams and how they balance growth with profitability. Innovative technologies and user immersion practices are highlighted as key to enhancing both driver and consumer experiences.

Vrushali Paunikar, Chief Product Officer at Carta, has played a key role in scaling the company from $20M to $500M ARR by broadening its product offerings. She shares insights on transforming Carta from a cap table management tool to a comprehensive platform for private capital. Vrushali discusses the importance of understanding customer needs for successful product development and explores different strategies for international expansion. Additionally, she highlights the balancing act of empowering teams while maintaining effective leadership.

In this engaging discussion, Ashok Bania, SVP of Product at SoundCloud, shares his journey through notable tech giants like Spotify and Lyft. He reveals the challenges SoundCloud faced on its way to profitability after years of struggle. The conversation dives into innovative AI applications for music discovery and how they enhance community engagement. Ashok emphasizes prioritizing creator needs while developing product strategies, highlighting the delicate balance between profitability and artist growth in the competitive streaming landscape.

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Chiara McPhee, Chief Product Officer at Postscript, a leader in SMS marketing for e-commerce. Postscript is revolutionizing how e-commerce brands engage with customers. With over $100 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and more than 20,000 Shopify merchants using their platform, Postscript has become a powerhouse in conversational commerce. Their SMS marketing tools have helped generate over $2 billion in e-commerce revenue for their customers annually, with open rates exceeding 90%, far outpacing traditional email marketing.In this episode, Chiara shares her insights on:* Leveraging generative AI to create personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue.* How AI agents are outperforming human customer support in certain areas.* Key revenue leading indicators in SMS marketing and setting up effective attribution models.* Overcoming challenges in scaling infrastructure to achieve $100M in Annual Recurring Revenue.* The benefits of focusing exclusively on Shopify.* The "Horizon Strategy" approach to building teams tailored for Horizon 1 (cash cow), Horizon 2 (growth), and Horizon 3 (moonshots), balancing short-term wins with long-term ambitious goals in product development.In this episode, we'll explore how Postscript is leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver personalized customer experiences, driving revenue and redefining e-commerce marketing. We'll discuss leveraging generative AI to create personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue, how AI agents are outperforming human customer support in certain areas, overcoming challenges in scaling infrastructure to achieve $100M in Annual Recurring Revenue, and the benefits of focusing exclusively on Shopify. What you'll learn:* Chiara's journey to becoming CPO at Postscript and her insights on the power of SMS marketing.* How generative AI enables personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue.* Key strategies for SMS marketing, including compliance, personalization, and integration with other channels.* How to structure product teams using the "Horizon Strategy" to balance short-term wins with long-term innovation. Key Takeaways:*Personalized Conversations: Chiara emphasizes the importance of leveraging generative AI to create personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue.*Focus on Shopify: Chiara highlights the company's strategic decision to focus exclusively on Shopify, and the impact it had on business outcomes.*Horizon Strategy: Chiara shares the benefits of the "Horizon Strategy" approach to building product teams tailored for different stages of growth and innovation.Credits:Host: Carlos Gonzalez de VillaumbrosiaGuest: Chiara McPhee

Tanya Cordrey, Chief Product Officer at Motorway, previously led product teams at Instagram and eBay. She shares insights on revolutionizing the UK used car marketplace, discussing strategies to optimize experiences for both sellers and dealers. Tanya delves into the challenges of creating a consumer-to-business marketplace and using technology, like AI-assisted photo uploads, to streamline the process. She emphasizes the importance of team autonomy and how to navigate the complexities of product management to drive growth and innovation.

Karen Ng, Senior Vice President of Product and Partnerships at HubSpot, shares her insights on driving growth through AI tools. She discusses the integration of AI in marketing and customer support, and how these technologies can streamline workflows. Ng explores the decision-making behind building, buying, or partnering in product development. Highlights include the challenges of evolving product strategies for small businesses and the critical role of effective communication and collaboration within teams. Her unique blend of experience and innovation promises to inspire product leaders.

Cem Kansu, the Vice President of Product at Duolingo, shares insights from his nine-year journey driving the company's growth. He discusses the balance of gamification and educational accessibility in Duolingo’s freemium model, highlighting how innovative features like voice AI enhance personalized learning. Cem also explores the evolution of the platform into new subjects like math and music, the impact of A/B testing on monetization strategies, and the significance of making language education both effective and enjoyable.

Ilan Frank is the Chief Product Officer at Checkr, a pioneer in the background check industry, known for his expertise in building scalable SaaS products for large enterprises. He shares insights on transitioning from SMBs to large-scale operations and the significance of balancing user delight with enterprise needs. Ilan discusses Checkr's innovative use of AI, which dramatically speeds up background checks, and the importance of product-market fit. He also highlights the evolving role of product managers in navigating complex enterprise challenges.

Dave Bottoms, General Manager and VP of Product at Upwork, discusses the transformative landscape of remote work and the gig economy. He shares insights on how AI agents are revolutionizing matchmaking for freelancers and clients alike. The conversation highlights the economic potential of blending full-time employees with freelancers. Dave also touches on monetization strategies that enhance marketplace efficiency, and how solopreneurs can leverage AI to build successful businesses. His experiences from tech giants further enrich the dialogue on innovation in freelance marketplaces.