Product Chats Podcast

What if you approached your career the same way you approach product management—strategically, iteratively, and with a clear roadmap?  In this episode of Product Chats, we’re joined by Kirsten Butzow, product leadership expert, to explore a structured, strategic approach to career management. Kirsten introduces a three-phase career framework—Do, Build, and Catalyst—each lasting approximately 10-12 years, guiding professionals through skill development, leadership growth, and long-term impact.  She explains how early career phases focus on honing skills and defining a niche, mid-career success depends on achieving through others, and later stages are about accelerating people, systems, and processes. Kirsten also shares why planning your exit isn’t a final step, but an integrated part of career growth at every stage.  Tune in for insights on managing your career with the same strategic mindset you apply to your products.  For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, 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. 

What if the key to product success isn’t just the product itself, but how well you tell its story?  In this episode of the Product Chats Podcast, host Rebecca Kalogeris welcomes Blair Bryant Nichols, owner of BBN Creative Management and an expert in strategic speaking platforms. Blair helps business leaders refine their public speaking and storytelling skills, guiding them to craft compelling narratives that engage stakeholders and customers alike.  Blair shares practical strategies for product professionals to communicate more effectively, from overcoming the fear of public speaking to structuring stories that resonate. He discusses why your persona—not your product—is the hero of your story and explains how framing narratives around audience needs, rather than features, creates lasting impact.  Tune in to discover actionable tips for crafting compelling narratives, delivering memorable presentations, and building confidence as a speaker—whether on stage, in internal meetings, or with customers.  For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, 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. 

What separates the companies that succeed in digital transformation from the 73% that fail to deliver any business value?  In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with John Rossman, former Amazon executive, best-selling author, and renowned business advisor, to discuss his latest book, Big Bet Leadership: Your Transformation Playbook for Winning in the Hyper-Digital Era.  John shares his expertise on Big Bets—high-stakes initiatives designed to tackle wicked problems and drive disruptive innovation. He explains why most Big Bets fail (hint: it’s a lack of clearly defined vectors) and outlines a structured approach for leaders looking to manage risk, navigate uncertainty, and drive transformation successfully.  From his time launching Amazon Marketplace in 2002 to advising the Gates Foundation and T-Mobile, John has seen firsthand what it takes to execute ambitious, high-risk initiatives. He introduces the Big Bet Leadership Framework, which focuses on three pillars: Thinking, Environment, and Management—all of which are essential for making bold moves with confidence.  Tune in for actionable insights on "thinking in memos," testing assumptions with a "Think Big, Bet Small" approach, and mastering the art of being a Chief Repeating Officer to drive alignment across teams.  For free templates and resources, visit www.bigbetleadership.com  For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, 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. 

How can organizations move beyond one-off feedback projects and build continuous customer listening programs that drive real change?  In this episode of the Product Chats, host Rebecca Kalogeris is joined by Zach Golden, Director at Anova Consulting Group, and special guest Steve Stano, Executive Director of Marketing at one of Wall Street's leading investment banks. Together, they explore the power of treating win-loss analysis as an ongoing program rather than a one-time project.  Steve and Zach discuss how continuous feedback loops provide deeper insights, improve business decision-making, and enhance customer retention. They provide actionable strategies to improve collaboration across departments and transform customer insights into business decisions that directly boost revenue.   Learn practical ways to keep leadership engaged, overcome challenges, and turn customer data into effective business strategies.   For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, 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. 

How can product managers set themselves up for success in the first 90 days of a new role?  This week we talk with Amy Graham, Pragmatic Institute instructor and product management expert, about best practices for navigating the critical first three months in a new job. Amy shares actionable strategies to build relationships, understand team dynamics, and map out an effective 90-day plan that balances learning with producing results.  From conducting a market knowledge audit to identifying internal influencers, Amy explains how product managers can quickly acclimate to a new organization while avoiding common pitfalls like making assumptions or bringing baggage from past roles. She emphasizes the importance of listening, adaptability, and establishing trust as foundational steps for long-term success.  Tune in to hear Amy’s expert advice on how to hit the ground running in your new role and drive meaningful impact from day one.  For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, 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. 

In this discussion, Bruce McCarthy, a renowned product management expert and author of 'Aligned,' shares his insights on effective stakeholder management. He emphasizes the importance of building trust and rapport through transparency and vulnerability. Bruce introduces the concept of 'sharp skills' as critical for product managers and advocates for treating internal stakeholders as customers. He also offers the 'stakeholder canvas' tool to categorize influence and encourages co-creating strategies with key stakeholders for successful product alignment.

How can AI revolutionize the way businesses operate and innovate?  Kevin Dean, founder and CEO of ManoByte, helps you uncover the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI). With over 15 years of experience in AI-driven business transformation, Kevin shares how AI can turn overwhelming data into actionable insights, streamline operations, and improve customer experiences.  Kevin highlights real-world examples, including how Travelocity and HubSpot leveraged AI to drastically reduce customer service tickets and improve satisfaction. He also explains how AI tools can accelerate innovation, as shown by a client who refactored core application code in four months instead of three years.   From selecting the right tools to piloting AI initiatives effectively, Kevin offers practical guidance for integrating AI into your business strategy. Tune in to learn how to navigate the crowded AI landscape and use AI to shape the future of your organization.  For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, 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. 

How do great product leaders consistently make impactful decisions?  In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Phil Hornby, seasoned product leader, coach, and technologist, to explore the frameworks behind effective decision-making in product management.   Learn how to prioritize the decisions with the highest leverage, balance intuition, data, and feedback, and empower teams to take meaningful action. Phil emphasizes the importance of bringing stakeholders along in the decision-making process, codifying key decisions into repeatable product principles, and implementing decisions with clarity and context to ensure alignment across teams.  Tune in to learn how to make smarter, faster, and more collaborative product decisions.  For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, 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. 

What does it take to create truly differentiated products in a competitive market?  In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Todd Bracher, founder of BRACHER and a leader in the world of industrial design and strategic innovation. With over 25 years of experience collaborating with iconic brands like 3M, Georg Jensen, and Issey Miyake, Todd introduces the concept of contextual design—a method that goes beyond aesthetics to consider the broader ecosystem of user needs, market dynamics, and organizational goals.  Todd shares insights from his new book, Design in Context: A Framework for Strategic Differentiation, and discusses how design can serve as a bridge between business objectives and end-user needs. From leveraging tools like the Market Efficacy Index to exploring groundbreaking technologies like UVC germicidal light, Todd demonstrates how design, when rooted in context, becomes a powerful driver of innovation and business success.  Tune in to explore the intersection of design, business, and science and learn how contextual design can transform your approach to product management and innovation.  For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, 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. 

Why does storytelling remain the cornerstone of impactful content marketing?  In this episode, Rebecca Kalogeris hosts Rachel Hernandez, Director of Brand Strategy at NextNet Media. Rachel shares her expertise in creating authentic, audience-centered content and the transformative power of storytelling in building lasting brand connections.  From using the Hero’s Journey framework to tailoring B2B marketing strategies, Rachel explores how creativity and authenticity differentiate brands in a crowded marketplace. She also discusses the evolving role of generative AI in content creation, balancing its benefits with the irreplaceable value of human creativity.  Tune in to rediscover the timeless principles of storytelling and learn how to craft content that resonates, builds trust, and drives engagement.  For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, 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.