Product Talk
Products That Count
Produced by Products That Count, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that helps everyone build great products, this podcast is an award-winning show by and for product minds, with millions of downloads and a 5-star rating on most major platforms. Each of the 300+ episodes features a product leader interviewing another product leader and exploring what it takes to build great products. Recent ones feature the Chief Product Officers of Brex, Glassdoor, Experian and more.
About Us: Products that Count is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that helps everyone build great products. It celebrates product excellence through coveted Awards that inspire 500,000+ product managers and honor great products and the professionals responsible for their success. It accelerates the career and rise to the C-suite of 30% of all Product Managers globally by providing exceptional programming – including award-winning podcasts and popular newsletters – for free. It acts as a trusted advisor to all CPOs at Fortune 1000, and publishes key insights from innovative companies, like Capgemini, SoFi, and Amplitude, that turn product success into business success. Learn more at ProductsThatCount.com.
About Us: Products that Count is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that helps everyone build great products. It celebrates product excellence through coveted Awards that inspire 500,000+ product managers and honor great products and the professionals responsible for their success. It accelerates the career and rise to the C-suite of 30% of all Product Managers globally by providing exceptional programming – including award-winning podcasts and popular newsletters – for free. It acts as a trusted advisor to all CPOs at Fortune 1000, and publishes key insights from innovative companies, like Capgemini, SoFi, and Amplitude, that turn product success into business success. Learn more at ProductsThatCount.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 4, 2024 • 40min
EP 450 - Ecosuite CEO on Enabling Electricity Grid Hardware Stability With Data Software
How can electricity grid hardware stability be enabled with data software? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong, Ecosuite CEO and Co-Founder Joel Santisteban discusses how building distributed energy data software stabilizes electricity grid hardware, embracing user persona diversity enables open infrastructure and maximizes product value, and looking into existing problems can lead to product innovation and new solutions to tackle climate change.
Sep 2, 2024 • 39min
EP 449 - CPO Rising Series: Workiva CPO on Leveraging Mentorship and Adaptability for Product Leadership Success
How can product leaders leverage mentorship and adaptability? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Workiva CPO Nitin Bhat shares insights on his career journey, the influential mentors who shaped his leadership style, and the importance of adaptability and a growth mindset in product management. He discusses his approach to hiring and developing product talent, as well as his perspectives on how AI will impact the future of the product management role.
Aug 30, 2024 • 38min
EP 448 - Floodgate Founder on Identifying and Capitalizing on Pivotal Inflection Points
What does it mean to identify and capitalize on pivotal inflection points? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Mighty Capital Managing Partner SC Moatti, Floodgate Founding Partner Michael Maples shares insights on building great products through radical innovation. Maples shares stories of successful investments in companies like Twitter and Twitch, highlighting the importance of identifying and capitalizing on pivotal "inflection points" that enable entrepreneurs to deliver pattern-breaking products. He discusses the key elements for breakthrough innovation - the founder's unique insight, the ability to harness emerging technologies, and the skill to start a movement around a radically different vision of the future. Maples also shares his perspectives on the artistry of entrepreneurship and how product leaders can cultivate a culture that empowers and supports visionary product thinkers.
Aug 28, 2024 • 34min
EP 447 - EY Ecosystem Leader on Driving Innovation at Large Organizations
What do product leaders need to consider when driving innovation at large organizations? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by EY Platform Operations Lead Justin Leibow, EY Ecosystem Leader Terry Luciani speaks on his extensive experience in fostering innovation, including the launch of EY's Growth Labs program and his previous work at MetLife. The discussion covers strategies for overcoming the challenges of driving innovation in established firms, such as securing leadership buy-in, empowering employees, and measuring success. Terry also discusses approaches to building a balanced portfolio of innovation bets, from near-term optimizations to long-term, transformative initiatives, as well as the importance of partnering with startups and external innovators to access unique capabilities while protecting an organization's core competencies. Finally, Terry provides valuable advice for product managers on being thoughtful, open-minded, and willing to take calculated risks in order to drive impactful innovation.
Aug 26, 2024 • 37min
EP 446 - CPO Rising Series: Faire CPO on Simplifying Product Development Through Clear Vision and Customer Focus
How can product leaders simplify product development through clear vision and customer focus? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Faire CPO Ami Vora speaks on her experiences as a product leader, including her work at WhatsApp. She discusses her superpower of simplifying complex problems, her philosophy on prioritizing customer needs, and her approach to time management and decision-making as a CPO. Ami also shares her perspective on the impact of AI and generative AI on the role of product management. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of clarity, execution, and building strong customer relationships as key to effective product leadership.
9 snips
Aug 23, 2024 • 43min
EP 445 - New Relic Fmr VP of Engineering on Effective Remote Communication Strategies
Jade Rubick, a former VP of Engineering at New Relic and now an engineering advisor and author, shares invaluable insights on remote communication strategies. He discusses navigating the challenges of asynchronous communication, advocating for structured patterns to enhance productivity. Jade offers practical tips for using Slack effectively, focusing on nuances like threaded replies and notification management. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of empathy, clarity in roles, and ongoing professional development resources to foster a healthy remote work culture.
Aug 21, 2024 • 50min
EP 444 - Better RX Head of Product on Operating at the Top of Your License in Product Management
As a product leader, what does it mean to operate at the top of your license? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by VNS Health Product Director Mark Bailes, Better RX Head of Product Todd Blaquiere discusses the concept of "operating at the top of your license" in product management, and how product managers and leaders can work towards this goal. The conversation covers the challenges of transitioning from a well-trodden path of product management to a more "righteous path" focused on customer discovery, outcomes, and continuous improvement. Todd shares his insights on how individual contributors can take on additional responsibilities to demonstrate leadership, as well as how product leaders can create an environment that enables their teams to operate at the top of their license.
Aug 19, 2024 • 41min
EP 443 - NEOGOV CPO on Navigating Product Leadership in Uncertain Times
How can product leaders navigate product leadership in uncertain times? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, NEOGOV CPO Denise Hemke speaks on navigating the role of product leadership during a period of significant change and uncertainty. Denise shares insights on balancing compliance and innovation in a regulated government software space, the evolving expectations of the Chief Product Officer, and strategies for continuous learning and transparency within product teams. She also discusses the impact of AI on product management, including opportunities for automation, improved decision-making, and personalized customer experiences.
Aug 16, 2024 • 43min
EP 442 - Matereal CEO on Decarbonizing and Detoxifying the Plastic Supply Chain
Jacqueline Ros Amable, the CEO and co-founder of Matereal, is revolutionizing the plastic supply chain with a focus on sustainability. She discusses the urgent need to decarbonize and detoxify plastics, revealing innovative solutions like the renewable resources-based Polaris product. Jacqueline emphasizes the importance of effective go-to-market strategies for startups and the role of diverse teams in product development. She also addresses the challenges of creating eco-friendly textile innovations, highlighting the need for transparency and education in climate tech.
Aug 14, 2024 • 34min
EP 441 - Appfire CPO on Leveraging AI for Customer Insights
How can AI be leveraged for customer insights? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, Appfire CPO Andy Boyd speaks on scaling product teams and leveraging AI to gain deeper customer insights. He discusses the role of the CPO in defining a winning product strategy across a portfolio, building high-performing teams, and putting systems in place to drive organizational effectiveness. Andy also highlights how AI can complement product management by helping teams better understand the voice of the customer through data analysis and synthesis. He provides practical advice for product managers looking to break into the field, emphasizing the importance of cultivating curiosity, connecting with product leaders, and taking advantage of training resources.
