Product Chats Podcast

“Shifting from project thinking to product thinking is about creating long-term value, not just checking off deliverables.” In this episode, we are joined by Thomas Hartmann, co-founder of the Product Masterclass and co-author of From Project to Product, to explore a problem plaguing most organizations: the transition from a project-centric model to a truly product-driven culture. Thomas shares his personal journey into product management and the inspiration behind creating the Product Masterclass, designed to help leaders move beyond the limitations of project-based thinking. He outlines the seven core challenges companies face when making this shift and explains why success requires more than just the product team. It demands alignment across sales, marketing, engineering, and leadership. Teamwork is required to make the dream work. Listeners will hear why prioritizing short-term client deliverables often stifles innovation, how product organizations can foster scalable growth, and what cultural shifts are required to create alignment around outcomes. From setting clear visions for scalability to building robust prioritization frameworks, Thomas offers practical steps leaders can take to drive transformation. For show notes and more resources, visit: pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at pragmaticinstitute.com.

“How do you turn overwhelming data into clear, actionable product decisions?” In this episode, we speak with Jordan Nolff, VP of Growth at Productboard, about the evolving role of AI and customer insights in modern product management. With a background that spans consulting, leading product growth at SurveyMonkey, and now scaling Productboard, Jordan brings a unique perspective on how PMs can transform information overload into strategic clarity. He shares how Productboard has evolved from a roadmapping tool into a comprehensive platform that centralizes customer feedback, competitor intelligence, personas, OKRs, and more—all designed to help product teams make better decisions and communicate them effectively. The conversation also explores how AI can augment this work, helping PMs reduce context switching, improve handoffs, and democratize knowledge across organizations. For product managers looking to navigate the hype around AI while still keeping customers at the center, this episode offers ways to get the ball rolling. For show notes and more resources, visit: pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at pragmaticinstitute.com.

“If you have a body, you are an athlete.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris speaks with Tobie Hatfield, Senior Director of Athlete* Innovation at Nike, about the philosophy and practice of building inclusive, high-performance products. From his early days as a pole vaulter and coach to more than 35 years of innovation at Nike, Tobie shares how his athletic background and curiosity shaped his approach to product development. He unpacks Nike’s guiding principle—innovate for the athlete*, with an asterisk meaning all bodies count—and explains how this vision fuels breakthrough products. From designing performance shoes for athletes with cerebral palsy that can be put on hands-free, to pioneering new “precovery” technology in collaboration with Hyperice, Tobie illustrates how authentic inclusivity drives performance for everyone. Listeners will hear how Nike prototypes fast, embraces “fail forward” experimentation, and measures innovation through real athlete outcomes. Tobie also underscores that innovation is never the work of a lone genius—it’s a team sport powered by observation, empathy, and courage to take calculated risks. This episode is an inspiring deep dive into how great companies push past limitations to create products that resonate, perform, and truly serve. For show notes and more resources, visit: pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at pragmaticinstitute.com.

“How do you keep human connection at the center of hybrid collaboration?” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Norma Løvhaugen, VP of Strategy and Initiatives at Neat, to explore the future of video conferencing and the product strategies shaping it. With more than 20 years in the industry, including leadership roles at Cisco, Norma brings deep expertise in designing solutions that make meetings more authentic, seamless, and human. She shares Neat’s unique approach to building both hardware and software for hybrid meetings, emphasizing how cross-functional collaboration between engineers and designers drives innovation. Norma highlights how AI and machine learning are integrated into Neat’s systems to adapt dynamically to user needs, ensuring meetings are engaging whether participants are in-room, remote, or a mix of both. Listeners will gain insight into why prioritizing problems over solutions creates stronger products, how curiosity and close customer feedback loops fuel innovation, and the three pillars Norma uses when hiring: passion, integrity, and competence. For show notes and more resources, visit: pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at pragmaticinstitute.com.

“Innovation thrives where creativity meets execution.” In this episode, we sit down with Luke Des Cotes, leader of Metalab—the renowned product agency behind work for organizations like Uber and Midjourney. Luke shares how his creative roots shaped his entrepreneurial approach, and how Metalab turns bold ideas into market-ready products by blending research, design, engineering, and flawless execution. From guiding startups to helping global enterprises uncover new opportunity spaces, Luke reveals how an outsider’s perspective can spark innovation, challenge entrenched thinking, and accelerate discovery. He also discusses the traits of successful founders, the importance of passion and persistence, and why product managers should look outside their categories for inspiration. If you’re ready to sharpen your challenger mindset, drive innovation, and take ideas from concept to market with confidence, this episode delivers the insights you need. For show notes and more resources, visit: pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at pragmaticinstitute.com.

“Agile isn’t about following the rules. It’s about delivering real value together.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris speaks with Jenny Martin, seasoned facilitator, coach, and creator of the OOPSI framework. While Agile has transformed software development over the past two decades, many organizations struggle to scale it effectively or to see the benefits they were promised. Jenny explains why so many teams fall into the trap of focusing on ceremonies and tools instead of the principles that actually drive results, like collaboration, value delivery, and rapid feedback. She introduces OOPSI—short for Outcomes, Outputs, Process, Scenarios, Inputs—a lightweight, non-prescriptive framework that helps teams break down complex problems, align on value, and accelerate delivery. Jenny shares how OOPSI can resolve common Agile pitfalls like “water-scrum-fall,” where work still flows through waterfall-style handoffs despite sprint-based development. If your teams don’t understand user stories, are unclear on priorities, or struggle to collaborate across functions, this conversation offers a practical path to restoring focus, alignment, and energy in Agile. For show notes and more resources, visit: pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at pragmaticinstitute.com.

“If you don’t own your pricing strategy, you’re leaving money – and customers – on the table.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Marcos Rivera, founder of Pricing IO and author of Street Pricing, to unpack one of the most overlooked opportunities in SaaS: building a pricing strategy that matches the value your product delivers. A former product leader turned pricing expert, Marcos shares the most common pricing mistakes SaaS companies make, from lazy segmentation and low-value framing to treating pricing as an afterthought. He outlines a better path forward: one rooted in deep customer understanding, thoughtful packaging, and continuous alignment between price and perceived value. If you’ve ever launched a great product only to watch it struggle to sell, or you’ve relied on guesswork when it came time to price, it’s time to stop winging it. This episode will show you how. For show notes and more resources, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.    

“AI agents aren’t replacing humans—they’re freeing us to do more human work.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Dan Corbin, longtime Pragmatic instructor and AI course creator, to demystify one of the fastest-emerging technologies in product management: AI agents. Dan explains what makes agents different from other tools like ChatGPT, why they matter, and how product and marketing teams can begin using them today. Together, they explore practical use cases across the product lifecycle, including how AI agents can automate repetitive work, analyze support tickets, and even assist in discovery and prioritization. Dan also shares advice on how to structure your AI efforts: starting small, centralizing development, and always keeping humans in the loop. If you’re curious about where AI agents fit into your strategy (and how to avoid the hype), this episode is your roadmap. For show notes and more resources, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

“Value isn’t what you do. It’s what the customer gets.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris speaks with Mike Wilkinson, Value Sales Expert and Director at Axia Value Solutions, about what it really means to understand and communicate value in sales and why it’s essential for product managers, marketers, and sales teams to align around a customer-first mindset. Mike introduces the “value triad”—revenue gain, cost reduction, and emotional connection—as a practical framework for crafting value propositions that resonate. He also explores the cost of inaction, the role of curiosity in sales conversations, and how product teams can support sales with more relevant, outcome-driven tools and messaging. Whether you're building the next great product or trying to get it sold, this episode delivers insights on defining value from the buyer’s perspective and why that makes all the difference. For show notes and more resources, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

“Value only exists in the customer’s mind.” In this episode we speak with Mark Boundy, founder of Boundy Consulting and author of Radical Value, about the single most important, but often misunderstood, concept in business: perceived customer value. Mark lays out a compelling argument that businesses must deliver outcomes customers care about and that true pricing power comes from helping customers quantify the results they’ll achieve. They explore how most companies still struggle to align internally around a clear definition of value, why nearly all B2B marketing still centers on the vendor (instead of the customer), and how product teams can use value conversations to guide innovation, pricing, and positioning. If you’ve ever wondered how to justify price premiums, this episode is the one. For show notes and more resources, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.