People of Product

Contribution for everyone on a product team looks different. It’s ultimately about bringing your full self & unique skillset to the table to bring about specific results. In this episode, George & Dan discuss the structure as well as the true value of contribution. Understanding what your individual contribution means to the success of the greater team will help your team better thrive. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us

Many of the world’s most impactful advancements were made possible with technology. Even so, we tend to focus on the negative effects of tech. In this episode, Dan Linhart is joined by Carey Jenkins, CEO of Substantial, to discuss the importance of digital optimism. The pair chat about how an optimistic outlook is necessary in order to positively influence culture, ethics, and the changing nature of the landscape in a post-pandemic work environment.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us

The future of marketing is agile. This past year, the number of firms that went agile surpassed the 50% mark. In this episode, George Brooks is joined by Andrea D. Fryrear, co-founder of AgileSherpas, to discuss how agile has found its place in the marketing world, and how organizations can prepare for the shift.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us

Bringing ones’ full self to the job requires purpose. The difficult but important work that companies have to be doing is getting every single individual aligned under one unified purpose. This requires leadership to diligently attend to the matters of diversity, inclusion, & equity. In this episode, Art Johnson - CEO of Infinity Systems Inc. & author of “The Art of Alignment: A Data-Driven Approach to Lead Aligned Organizations” - discusses the constructs of measurements to align teams to mission & vision with actionable questions to getting there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us

People are realizing that the future of work is to be a technology organization. Everywhere teams are considering whether or not they should own their software to address their specific needs. In this episode, George Brooks & Dan Linhart break down the opportunities & challenges of building custom tech and how Crema steps in to bring product ideas to life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us

Does your organization look the same today as it did two years ago? You’re likely stalling in “zombie mode” because you’re de-prioritizing innovation. Elvin Turner is an innovation advisor & best-selling author on a mission to elevate organizations to “unicorn status” by placing learning at the center of all. In this episode, George Brooks & Elvin cover where leaders have to start in their journey towards innovation, the mentalities that hinder growth, and how to scale the practice of learning across an organization.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us

It’s not a coincidence that some of the most successful leaders are funny. Balanced humor in a professional setting is how you build trust and have a significant impact. Andrew Tarvin is the Founder & CEO of Humor That Works, a well-traveled comedian, and keynote speaker. In this week’s episode, George & Andrew talk about the cross-section of humor and the workplace and tips for how to infuse comedy into your organization to work more efficiently.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us

Kai Haley is head of UX Methods and Research at Google. She leads a highly unique internal program that systematizes UX practices across many groups within the monolithic organization. In this episode, George Brooks & Kai discuss methods for creating alignment across product lines, the challenge of creating a shared language, and how to best manage alignment as a distributed team. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us

Knowledge is power - and to gather more knowledge you have to gain access to different conversations and experiences throughout your life and career. It’s about tuning yourself into the opportunities that present themselves or just taking advantage of the access you already have. In this week’s episode, George & Dan talk about how to empower yourself and others to collect insight and open up access to conversations within your organization. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us

C. Todd Lombardo, Author, Consultant, and VP of Product & Experience at Openly, joins George for a conversation around product roadmaps, implementing change within your organization, and the dangers of building features that never get used. Hear how he got started as an author and the learnings he’s gleaned throughout the process. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us