Product Chats Podcast

How do you activate a brand to create authentic connections with your audience?  In this episode, Jim Pietruszynski, CEO of SoulSight, shares the critical process of brand activation—bringing a brand’s identity, values, and messaging to life to deeply engage both B2B and B2C audiences. Soulsight is a brand design agency with over 30 years of experience building iconic brands for global leaders like Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, and Pfizer.   The discussion highlights the unique challenges of B2B branding, where more human touchpoints exist within an organization, making brand activation tricky. Jim also touches on the importance of aligning a brand’s story with its mission, avoiding shortcuts like influencer reliance, and fostering emotional connections that resonate long-term.  Tune in to discover strategies for communicating your brand, building authentic relationships with your audience, and creating change within even the most risk-averse organizations.  For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts  Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com. 

What’s the secret to setting prices that truly reflect the value you deliver?  In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris reconnects with pricing expert Mark Stiving for an in-depth look at how understanding value can transform pricing strategies. From Uber’s segmentation strategies to the “good-better-best” approach, Mark shares real-world examples and actionable advice to help you capture more value through strategic pricing.  Learn about the six key areas where you can identify pricing opportunities, and hear Mark’s recommendations on how to overcome the common fears around raising prices.   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. 

Wondering how AI fits into the day-to-day work of product managers?  In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris talks with Dan Corbin, a Pragmatic Institute instructor and expert in AI-driven product management. Dan explores AI's transformative power and shows how PMs can use it as thought partners, problem validators, and data analysts. From market discovery to roadmap prioritization, Dan explains practical ways to leverage AI to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving product landscape.  Learn how AI tools can support you in conducting customer research, validating market problems, optimizing data analysis, and creating a more collaborative development process. Dan shares strategies for using AI to enhance creativity and reduce cognitive load, while emphasizing the importance of retaining the human touch in product management.  Tune in to learn how to integrate AI into your daily work and supercharge your product management skills!  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 companies align sales and product marketing through deep market insights?  In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris chats with Brady Jensen, founder of Clear, about the importance of bridging the trust gap between sales and product marketing teams. Drawing from his experience in tech sales, product marketing, and entrepreneurship, Brady shares how relying solely on internal feedback can erode trust—and why companies must engage directly with the market to validate assumptions.  Brady emphasizes that credibility is the foundation of effective sales enablement, and the key to building that credibility lies in first-party research. From win/loss analysis to persistent market interviews, Brady reveals how gathering actionable insights improves messaging, product differentiation, and collaboration. Tune in for practical advice on harmonizing sales and product marketing to achieve business success.  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 makes some deals a win and others a loss?  In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Zach Golden, Director at Anova Consulting Group, to explore how win loss analysis can be a game-changer for product managers and business leaders. Zach explains how this powerful tool uncovers customer preferences, competitive dynamics, and product-market fit—helping companies refine their strategies and sharpen their competitive edge.  Learn why qualitative research is essential, how to use storytelling to highlight customer pain points, and how sharing win loss insights across teams can foster collaboration. Zach also offers tips on turning customer feedback into clear, actionable insights that improve both product strategies and customer retention.  Tune in to discover how win loss analysis can help you win more deals and make smarter 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. 

Ever wonder how to drive product success when you don’t have direct authority over your teams?  In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris chats with Leah Zillner, a product manager at Intellum, about the wild ride that is product management. Leah shares her story of transitioning from program management to product, and how Pragmatic Institute’s courses helped her navigate the journey. From building market insights through client feedback to using tools like UserPilot, Jira, and BigQuery, Leah has tips that will level up your PM game. She also discusses the internal dynamics of product management, where trust and communication are key (especially when you can’t just tell people what to do). Leah talks candidly about learning from mistakes, ditching perfectionism, and building a supportive team culture.  Ready to pick up some insider secrets on how to build relationships, communicate better, and juggle the challenges of product management? This episode has you covered!  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’s the secret to building a high-performing product team?  In this replay episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris interviews Amruta Moktali, Chief Product Officer at Skyflow. Amruta shares her journey from tech roles at companies like Microsoft and Salesforce to leading product at Skyflow, where she reimagines data privacy and security.   In this conversation, she reveals her blueprint for building and leading effective product teams, emphasizing the importance of diversity, empathy, and clear communication.  Learn how to define your team's mission, hire for diversity of thought, and motivate your team by aligning their passions with your product’s purpose. Amruta also discusses the importance of transparent communication, empathy among team members, and storytelling as a tool for motivation and collaboration.  Tune in to gain practical insights into creating and sustaining high-functioning product teams.  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 you tap into the power of ‘catalysts’ to drive innovation and positive change in your organization?  In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, Shannon Lucas and Tracey Lovejoy, co-founders of Catalyst Constellations, discuss the concept of catalysts—individuals who connect ideas and take bold action to improve their environments. Drawing from their experiences at Microsoft and Vodafone, Tracey and Shannon share how organizations can identify and support these high-potential employees to drive transformation.  They explore the challenges catalysts face, such as burnout and being perceived as disruptive, and offer actionable strategies to align catalysts with organizational goals, manage energy levels, and provide them with the training and frameworks needed to succeed.  Tune in for insights on activating catalysts and harnessing their potential for organizational growth.  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 nurture innovation through structured processes and strong leadership?  Host Rebecca Kalogeris speaks with Dr. Jeff D. Standridge, Managing Director at Conductor and co-founder of Cadron Capital Partners. Dr. Standridge explores the critical relationship between innovation and leadership, emphasizing that innovation is not just about groundbreaking ideas—it's about planned, repeatable processes that drive efficiency, customer satisfaction, and cost reduction.  Learn how to align your teams around a clear definition of innovation and implement strategies like innovation sprints and the lean canvas to quantify risks and gain stakeholder buy-in. Dr. Standridge highlights the importance of defining the problem, understanding its scale, and ensuring that your innovations are real, capable of helping you win, and worth the effort.  Tune in for actionable insights to foster a culture of continuous innovation and make smarter 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. 

How does understanding customer psychology lead to better digital sales?  In this replay episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Jon MacDonald, founder of The Good, a digital experience optimization firm. Jon explores how aligning product strategies with customer psychology and user behavior can drive digital sales. He emphasizes the importance of empathy, user testing, and combining qualitative and quantitative data to create optimal user experiences.  Learn how techniques like click pattern analysis, eye tracking, and customer journey mapping can build a strong case for usability improvements and drive business growth.   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.