Product Thinking
Melissa Perri
Successful product management isn’t just about training the product managers who work side by side with developers everyday to build better products. It’s about taking a step back, approaching the systems within organizations as a whole, and leveling up product leadership to improve these systems. This is the Product Thinking Podcast, where Melissa Perri will connect with industry leading experts in the product management space, AND answer your most pressing questions about everything product. Join us each week to level up your skillset and invest in yourself as a product leader.
Episodes
Mentioned books
40 snips
Dec 10, 2025 • 9min
Episode 260: Avoiding Common Mistakes in Org Design
Dive into the world of organizational design with insights on structuring product teams around value streams for enhanced efficiency. Discover the pitfalls of too many decision layers and the need for agile control chains. Learn how to define clear roadmap ownership and balance skill sets to minimize delays. Melissa sheds light on avoiding architecture-based organization, stressing the importance of platform teams as scalable allies. Start with a solid product strategy to set your organization up for success!
22 snips
Dec 3, 2025 • 32min
Episode 259: Simplifying AI for Global Customer Impact with Srinivasan Raghavan
Srinivasan Raghavan, Chief Product Officer at Freshworks, shares his journey from engineering to product management. He discusses how AI is transforming product managers into "product builders" by simplifying design and prototyping processes. Srini highlights Freshworks' use of AI agents to enhance customer satisfaction through automation and the importance of creating uncomplicated user experiences. He emphasizes staying customer-focused and embracing real-user insights to drive successful product outcomes.
6 snips
Nov 26, 2025 • 7min
Episode 258: Treating Internal Tools with Equal Rigor
Discover the nuances of product management, as Melissa Perri discusses the critical differences and similarities between inbound and outbound products. She highlights how internal tools, like algorithms for insurance claims, can dramatically affect customer experience. The conversation emphasizes the importance of strategy and rigorous processes for all products, regardless of their audience. Internal tools are not just support systems; when mismanaged, they can harm users. Tune in for actionable insights on maximizing value streams effectively!
29 snips
Nov 19, 2025 • 38min
Episode 257: Making Product Launches Work at Scale with Michael Dodsworth
Michael Dodsworth, Founder and CEO of Fanfare, shares insights on the art of storytelling in product launches. He elaborates on how simplified, resonant narratives can captivate audiences and drive product success. The conversation dives into creating immersive experiences that enhance customer journeys, emphasizing the importance of aligning strategic goals with audience engagement. Additionally, Michael discusses translating launch principles to software, the significance of cross-functional collaboration, and the role of AI in modern product development.
36 snips
Nov 12, 2025 • 9min
Episode 256: De-Risking Product Launches Effectively
Explore the age-old debate of big features versus small releases in product management. Melissa Perri emphasizes the power of incremental updates that provide immediate user value and foster feedback for future development. Discover strategies for effectively balancing stakeholder needs with customer goals and learn how to de-risk long-term projects through phased releases and feature flags. With insights on treating small features as experiments, this discussion is packed with practical advice for any product manager navigating complex decisions.
47 snips
Nov 5, 2025 • 46min
Episode 255: How Shopify Is Leveraging AI at Scale with Vanessa Lee
Vanessa Lee, VP of Product at Shopify, leads the charge in integrating AI for merchants, showcasing the AI assistant Sidekick. She discusses how Sidekick acts as a co-pilot, simplifying tasks like product creation and payment setup. The conversation reveals Shopify's partnership with OpenAI to boost product discoverability in ChatGPT. Vanessa explores the transformation of product management with AI, emphasizing the importance of aligning work with personal passions for a fulfilling career. Dive into the future of commerce and entrepreneurship!
34 snips
Oct 29, 2025 • 11min
Episode 254: Pushing Back on Unsustainable Workloads
Managing overwhelming workloads as a product manager can feel impossible, especially when overseeing multiple teams. A senior manager shares their struggle with balancing responsibilities, resulting in compromises in quality. The conversation delves into prioritization frameworks that align with stakeholder expectations and the necessity of demonstrating capacity limits. Practical advice includes enabling development leads to take on more responsibilities and utilizing strategic staffing discussions to address workload challenges effectively. Tune in for invaluable insights!
8 snips
Oct 22, 2025 • 38min
Episode 253: Intelligent Friction in Digital Banking with Tony Brancato
Tony Brancato, Chief Product Officer at Charlie Financial, brings over 20 years of experience to the conversation about digital banking for older Americans. He shares insights on tailoring financial products to diverse senior needs, emphasizing the importance of security and user trust. The discussion delves into 'intelligent friction' as a method to combat fraud, highlighting features like Fraud Shield that empower users. Tony also underscores the role of empathy in product design and the necessity of integrating customer feedback into development.
22 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 7min
Episode 252: Understanding Product vs Project Management
Dive into the fascinating distinction between product and project management, as Melissa Perri untangles their unique roles and responsibilities. Discover how Agile methodologies have reshaped traditional project roles and enabled product managers to adopt project tasks. Learn when dedicated project managers are essential for complex initiatives and how collaboration between these roles can maximize product success. This insightful discussion is packed with clarity and actionable advice for anyone navigating the product landscape.
19 snips
Oct 8, 2025 • 38min
Episode 251: From CERN to FemTech Innovation with Magda Armbruster
Dr. Magda Armbruster, Head of Product at Natural Cycles, brings a unique perspective with her background in particle physics from CERN. In the discussion, she shares how scientific rigor informs her approach to developing the first FDA-cleared birth control app. Magda dives into balancing user feedback with data privacy and compliance, essential for building trust. She also discusses expanding into perimenopause and the integration of AI and wearables for personalized health solutions, all aimed at innovating women's health technology.
