The Product Podcast

Sneha Rao, VP of Product for Platform at The New York Times, spearheads digital transformation in a storied media giant. She discusses the shift from print to a multi-product digital platform, emphasizing the importance of adapting to new consumer needs. Sneha shares insights on enhancing developer productivity and optimizing cloud systems. She delves into innovative strategies for attracting younger audiences, including engaging games and podcasts, while maintaining journalistic credibility in a fast-evolving media landscape.

Drew Lesicko, Vice President of Product and Technology at SoulCycle, is a key player in blending fitness with technology. He shares insights on adapting to the pandemic by launching the At-Home Bike and creating a balanced digital and in-person experience. Drew discusses how AI and data analytics drive personalized fitness journeys for riders, enhancing customer loyalty through tailored recommendations. He also explores the future of connected fitness and the importance of community in wellness, emphasizing the intersection of technology and mental well-being.

Justin Kim, Vice President of Product at Vimeo, shares insights on Vimeo's transformation from a consumer-focused platform to a robust SaaS solution for businesses. He discusses the challenges of replatforming legacy systems and emphasizes the importance of viewing platforms as products with a focus on business outcomes. Justin also highlights the role of third-party integrations in boosting user retention and explores the future landscape of video technology, including the exciting possibilities of generative AI in video creation.

Jay Lee, the Senior VP of Product at the NBA, shares insights from his journey and his role in transforming how fans engage with basketball. He discusses the challenging yet exciting mission of redesigning the NBA app to enhance global fan experience, including real-time scores and multi-language broadcasts. Jay dives into the innovative use of AI to create engaging narratives from game data, and he highlights the future of sports technology, including virtual reality features that redefine fandom for millions.

Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, shares his insights on navigating the AI and cybersecurity landscape. He discusses Cisco's bold strategies following the Splunk acquisition, emphasizing the need for customer-centric innovation and collaboration with competitors. Jeetu highlights the significance of integrating AI into product management and tackling modern cybersecurity threats through strategic agility. He also explores the future of AI, focusing on improving modular systems and user experiences, pushing for a shift towards an AI-first approach.

Andrew Davidson, Senior Vice President of Product at MongoDB, shares insights into the company's remarkable growth from an open-source project to a $20B enterprise platform. He discusses the empowerment of developers through AI, enhancing productivity and simplifying complexity. Davidson emphasizes the importance of open-core models to maintain accessibility while adding premium features. He highlights nurturing a culture of continuous learning and collaboration within teams as essential for innovation, and the significance of building a robust partner ecosystem for scalability.

Stephen Hsu, Chief Product Officer at Calendly, shares his journey transforming the platform from a simple scheduling tool to a comprehensive meeting lifecycle solution. He discusses the importance of a customer-centric approach in product development and explores the integration of AI to enhance user experiences. Stephen also emphasizes modular design for adaptability, strong platform integrations, and the critical role of activation metrics in driving customer retention. His insights offer a roadmap for navigating growth in a competitive landscape.

Frank te Pas, Head of Enterprise Product at Perplexity AI and former product leader at Flexport, shares insights on revolutionizing search with AI. He discusses the challenges of integrating AI into existing products and the importance of modular design for flexibility. Frank emphasizes a customer-centric approach to innovation, leveraging AI to enhance user experiences. He also explores trends in the AI landscape, detailing how organizations can effectively transition to an AI-first model and adapt to the rapid tech evolution.

Jessica Hall, Chief Product Officer at Just Eat Takeaway, illustrates her transformative journey in food delivery, steering a global giant that serves over 84 million customers. She discusses the importance of customer-centric innovation, emphasizing adaptability in expanding markets and integrating diverse team cultures post-acquisition. Hall highlights future trends like self-driving cars, AI, and virtual kitchens, while advocating for simplification in processes before automation. Her insights reflect a commitment to enhancing user experience and navigating the evolving landscape of delivery.

Mario Queiroz, Chief Product Officer at Hinge Health and former VP at Google known for co-inventing Chromecast, shares his fascinating journey from tech to healthcare. He discusses the innovative fusion of hardware with software that led to the creation of Chromecast. Mario also elaborates on how Hinge Health is revolutionizing chronic pain treatment through personalized AI solutions. He emphasizes the critical need to align product success with patient outcomes and navigates the complexities of scaling healthcare innovations.