The Product Podcast

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.

Christina Goldschmidt, VP of Product Design at Warner Music Group, leads the UX team with a unique blend of creativity and innovation. She discusses how mystical practices like shamanic journeying enhance collaboration and creativity in business. Christina delves into aligning design with organizational goals, illustrating how empathetic design can offer competitive advantages. The conversation highlights the synergy between product management and design, stressing the importance of effective communication and a curiosity-driven culture.

In this engaging discussion, Craig Saldanha, Chief Product Officer at Yelp, shares insights from his journey at both Yelp and Amazon. He unpacks how Yelp is evolving into an AI-powered platform, enhancing user experiences with features like AI-generated reviews. Saldanha emphasizes the crucial balance between trust and authenticity amid tech integration, alongside the challenges of scaling while preserving the platform's integrity. His perspective on navigating the dynamics of user-generated content in a digital marketplace offers valuable lessons for product management.

In this conversation, Paul Adams, Chief Product Officer at Intercom and former Google innovator, discusses the company's remarkable pivot from a traditional SaaS model to an AI-first powerhouse. He shares insights on the role of AI in reshaping customer support and product management, emphasizing the need for adaptability in this technological shift. Paul also outlines strategies for building AI-driven products, the evolution of pricing models, and the significance of collaboration between UX and customer-facing teams.

Karandeep Anand, President and Chief Product Officer at Brex, shares insights from his impressive career at Meta and Microsoft, helping Brex revolutionize financial services. He discusses the evolution from startup focus to enterprise engagement, emphasizing the role of continuous innovation and AI in product management. Anand explores strategies for penetrating large markets and adapting product offerings for changing customer needs. He also redefines product-market fit as a dynamic journey, highlighting how fintech must balance core businesses with innovative growth.

Michael Cerda, Chief Product and Technology Officer at TelevisaUnivision, brings extensive experience from Disney, Goldman Sachs, and Meta. He discusses ViX, a streaming platform aimed at Spanish-speaking audiences that has skyrocketed to over 50 million users. Cerda reveals how AI enhances content recommendations and user engagement, while addressing the 'cold start' problem. He also shares insights on balancing traditional TV habits with modern streaming experiences, and the importance of cultural insights in personalizing content for diverse audiences across Latin America.

Zeb Evans, Founder and CEO of ClickUp, shares insights from his journey in building a $4 billion productivity platform. He discusses how his personal experiences, including narcolepsy and a near-death episode, influenced his approach to tech innovation. The podcast dives into AI's transformative role in productivity tools, the challenges of measuring productivity effectively, and ClickUp's unique balance between Product-Led and Sales-Led growth strategies. Zeb also elaborates on the evolution of ClickUp and its innovative pricing model focused on time savings for users.

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Anthony Maggio, Vice President of Product at Airtable.Airtable, founded 12 years ago, has evolved from a user-friendly spreadsheet alternative to a robust enterprise-grade application development platform. The company has raised $1.35 billion in funding and achieved a valuation of $11 billion. Airtable now serves over 500,000 organizations, including half of the Fortune 500 companies.As VP of Product at Airtable, Anthony leads the product management organization, focusing on creating powerful, intuitive solutions that enhance user experience and meet customer needs. He played a pivotal role in developing Airtable Cobuilder, a groundbreaking AI-powered tool that allows users to create custom applications quickly and easily.In this episode, we explore Airtable's transition from a consumer product to an enterprise platform, the integration of AI in product development, and the launch of ProductCentral—a solution unifying the entire product development process. We also discuss why product teams are becoming more accountable for revenue and how Airtable connects Product-Led Growth with Sales-Led Growth for enterprise customers.What you'll learn:- Anthony's approach to scaling Airtable from a consumer product to an enterprise platform.- How Airtable Cobuilder revolutionizes application creation using AI.- Strategies for making product teams accountable for revenue.- The integration of AI into Airtable's product development process.- How Airtable balances Product-Led Growth with Sales-Led Growth for enterprise customers.Key Takeaways👇:- AI-Powered Development: Anthony highlights the transformative potential of AI in application development, as demonstrated by Airtable Cobuilder.- Revenue Accountability: He emphasizes the importance of aligning product teams with revenue goals to drive business success.- Enterprise Focus: Anthony discusses Airtable's strategic shift towards serving larger enterprises with connected applications.- Customization at Scale: He explains how Airtable enables customers to build and customize applications that can serve thousands of users.- Future of No-Code Platforms: Anthony shares insights on how AI is democratizing software creation for non-technical users.Social Links:- Follow our Podcast on Tik Tok here- Follow Product School on LinkedIn here- Join Product School's free events here - Find out more about Product School hereCredits:Host: Carlos Gonzalez de VillaumbrosiaGuest: Anthony Maggio