The Product Experience

Katja Forbes, Executive Director at Standard Chartered Bank and design leader, discusses the emerging world of machine customers. She explains why businesses must prepare for AI agents and autonomous vehicles acting as customers. Key insights include the importance of making value propositions machine-readable and establishing trust through quantifiable metrics. Katja also highlights that new roles like trust analysts will be vital in this landscape and warns about the ethical implications of agentic commerce. Small businesses can start by structuring their data to be machine-readable.

Kirsten Mann, CEO and founder of Vizory, previously a CPO at Prospection, shares her insights on the pivotal role product leaders play in boardrooms. She emphasizes that product strategy should be prioritized like financials. Culture emerged as a key factor for success, even more than tech advancements. Kirsten advises aspiring board members to develop financial literacy and communicate effectively about customer outcomes. She highlights the danger of exclusion from board discussions, advocating for inclusivity in strategic conversations.

Dariusz Dziuk, Product Lead for Music Expression at Spotify, shares his journey in enhancing artist engagement through innovative features like Canvas. He discusses how questioning conventional static cover art led to bold innovation. Balancing art and science, he emphasizes the importance of structured experimentation and marketplace thinking. Dariusz reveals how real stakes drive creativity and prioritize the needs of artists, allowing Spotify to unlock new growth avenues while transforming music consumption with engaging visuals.

Jenny Wanger, a product operations coach and consultant, challenges the conventional use of RACI matrices in team dynamics. She argues that RACI often highlights deeper organizational dysfunctions rather than resolving them. Jenny advocates for prioritizing human relationships over strict frameworks, suggesting alternatives like the RAPID decision-making model. The discussion dives into how RACI can create confusion and territorialism among team members and emphasizes that strong collaboration often makes formal structures unnecessary.

Frances Ibe, Chief Experience Officer at Tide, shares her journey from developer to product leadership in the world of FinTech. She unpacks common pitfalls in product discovery, championing continuous improvement and the need for engaging storytelling. Frances emphasizes the importance of data prototypes for informed decision-making and highlights how meaningful conversations can enhance team dynamics. Her insights on maintaining message consistency and collaboration across disciplines are invaluable for product teams aiming for success.

Erica Wass, Principal Product Consultant at Brainmates, dives into the importance of strategic foresight for product teams. She discusses horizon scanning and scenario planning as essential tools to navigate uncertainty and enhance decision-making. The conversation reveals how generative AI can democratize foresight tools while emphasizing critical thinking. Erica also offers insights on backcasting and how to prepare teams for various plausible futures, ensuring they remain resilient against disruptions. A must-listen for product professionals aiming to thrive in an ever-changing landscape!

Brigitte West, Director of Product at Dr.Doctor, leads product management in the health tech sector and advises startups. She dives into the complexities of developing healthcare technology, from navigating regulatory hurdles to clinching clinician integration. The discussion emphasizes balancing safety with speed in product development and highlights the importance of patient feedback. Brigitte also explores the role of AI in improving healthcare delivery while ensuring ethical considerations are at the forefront.

Dee Miller, Director of Product Strategy and Insights for Product Equity at Adobe, shares her insights on the evolving landscape of inclusive design. She discusses moving beyond mere compliance to create emotionally accessible products that genuinely resonate with users. Miller emphasizes the importance of diverse representation in design teams and the need for integrating accessibility from the start. The conversation highlights the broader impact of accessibility on global workplaces and the significant role of champions in driving inclusive practices across all phases of product development.

In this discussion, Faith Forster, Chief Product Officer at Legl, shares her expertise in leading product teams in the payments and compliance sector. She emphasizes prioritizing customer value over speed and explores how AI can enhance efficiency in product development. Faith discusses the importance of understanding P&L management, connecting product features with revenue, and fostering collaboration across teams. She also highlights the necessity of accountability and celebrating team successes to boost motivation, especially in startup environments.

In this discussion, Moshe Mikanovsky, a product coach and educator, shares his journey from engineering to product management, emphasizing the importance of understanding the role deeply. He tackles the challenges of selecting the right tools for your team, underlining a structured approach that considers user needs and the organizational landscape. The conversation also highlights the evolving nature of product management tools, the role of AI, and how to align tools with team capabilities while measuring ROI effectively.