Behind the Craft

Ben Tossell, founder of Ben's Bites, has taken the AI world by storm, teaching over 10,000 people how to harness AI for business. He shares how he scaled to a 7-figure business in just nine months by automating tasks he dislikes. The conversation dives into the importance of finding the right balance between AI and human creativity. Tossell also offers insights on hiring online help and emphasizes building a community for enhanced learning and connections. He advocates for a business model that aligns with personal lifestyle goals, all without relying on venture capital.

Marily Nika, an AI Product Lead at Google with a PhD in machine learning, shares her wealth of knowledge on breaking into AI product management. She emphasizes that anyone can become an AI PM and offers a crash course in core AI concepts. Marily discusses the essential traits of effective AI PMs and how to secure leadership buy-in for AI projects. She also highlights the importance of managing expectations in AI development and shares her experiences with AI in her personal life. Plus, a live demo of ChatGPT Voice showcases practical AI applications!

Justin Welsh, a 7-figure solopreneur, shares his remarkable journey from a startling panic attack at a startup to building an $8M one-person business. He discusses the crucial steps of finding your niche and validating business ideas with real customer insights. Justin emphasizes the power of specificity in both audience targeting and business communication. He also reveals how he leverages AI for optimizing his business funnel and offers invaluable advice for tech professionals seeking to reclaim control over their careers.

Shishir Mehrotra, co-founder and CEO of Coda and former Chief Product Officer at YouTube, shares his insights on career growth strategies. He introduces the PSHE framework, emphasizing the value of problem-solving skills over traditional metrics. Shishir also discusses how empathy and collaboration are key in product leadership and highlights the 'WOW' strategy for effective organizational planning. Additionally, he explores the powerful impact of selfless leadership on career advancements, showcasing how mentoring others can lead to collective success.

In this discussion, Jon Lax, former VP of Design at Meta, shares invaluable insights from his 25 years in product design. He argues that focusing on utility should precede aesthetics to enhance product effectiveness. Jon critiques the reliance on vision decks, advocating for practical problem-solving. He emphasizes the necessity of team alignment and a shared definition of completion for successful projects. He also explores the evolving role of AI in design and the challenges of transitioning high performers into leadership roles.

Sharmeen Chapp, Head of Product for Revenue and Finance Automation at Stripe, shares her inspiring journey of overcoming breast cancer while excelling in her career. She discusses the crucial role of empathy in leadership and how she managed her health as if product-managing cancer. Sharmeen highlights the importance of community support, balancing work and family, and emphasizes giving oneself grace during tough times. She also reflects on her rapid career growth and the user-centric culture at Stripe, showcasing how personal challenges can inspire professional excellence.

Mihika Kapoor, Product Lead at Figma, shares her journey of transforming a mere idea into Figma Slides, now a featured product. She reveals strategies for building 0 to 1 products in large companies, emphasizing the importance of fostering internal excitement and securing leadership buy-in. Mihika challenges traditional norms, explaining why she abandoned PRDs, and highlights the power of authentic dialogue in presentations. She also discusses the role of prototypes in aligning vision and enhancing team collaboration for successful product launches.

In this engaging discussion, Lee Robinson, VP Product at Vercel and seasoned expert in developer experiences, dives into what truly captivates developers. He emphasizes the importance of open and honest communication in product development, outlining how developers prefer free tiers and clear documentation. Lee also critiques the common pitfalls in developer marketing and documentation, revealing how trust and genuine engagement are essential. Plus, he explores the future of AI in creating interactive documentation that resonates with developers.

Chris Jones, a partner at Silicon Valley Product Group and co-author of the bestselling book Empowered, shares his insights on product teams. He discusses the crucial differences between empowered and feature teams, explaining how the latter can lead to disconnection and lack of focus. Chris emphasizes understanding organizational goals and avoiding bureaucratic pitfalls. He also highlights the importance of building trust with leadership and taking control of your career in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Miqdad Jaffer, former head of AI products at Shopify and now leading enterprise products at OpenAI, discusses the unique challenges of building AI products. He emphasizes that traditional product development methods often fall short for AI. The conversation reveals how Shopify's rapid iteration and user-driven design helped launch generative AI tools. Jaffer also dives into the importance of managing AI's edge cases and hallucinations, advocating for principles that prioritize user control and privacy in AI development.