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
7 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!
30 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.
13 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.
34 snips
Oct 3, 2025 • 13min
Episode 250: Building Smart: Clarity Over Perfection
Discover how product managers can effectively gauge when a feature is ready for delivery. The conversation emphasizes the importance of collaboration with developers and flexible specifications. Learn about the two crucial gates—validation and specification—and how to assess risks for each feature. Melissa shares various validation methods and the significance of establishing clear success criteria before shipping. Plus, insights on avoiding common pitfalls like analysis paralysis and ensuring teams adapt through iterative processes.
32 snips
Oct 1, 2025 • 44min
Episode 249: Moving Beyond Function in Product Management with Nesrine Changuel
Nesrine Changuel, a product coach and author with experience at Google, Spotify, and Microsoft, discusses her insights on creating emotionally engaging tech products. She highlights the three pillars of Product Delight: removing friction, anticipating needs, and exceeding expectations, using examples like Revolut. The conversation delves into addressing Zoom fatigue with innovative Google Meet features, the importance of inclusivity in design, and the need for balancing emotional and functional motivators in product development to truly delight users.
52 snips
Sep 26, 2025 • 14min
Episode 248: Escaping the Reactive Trap in Product Teams
Navigating a backlog of customer requests can be overwhelming for product teams. Strategic thinking is key, as categorizing requests and establishing regular review rhythms helps prioritize effectively. Emphasizing quick wins can rebuild credibility, while resetting stakeholder expectations ensures collaboration. Protecting time for discovery and building a solid framework for product strategy are vital for long-term success. Training customer support to triage effectively also enhances the process, ensuring a more strategic approach to product management.
84 snips
Sep 24, 2025 • 55min
Episode 247: Freeing Teams from Operational Overload with John Cutler
John Cutler, a product operations and enablement expert, shares insights from his rich career at Toast and Amplitude, now leading product at DotWork. He delves into how the tension between people and processes shapes product teams. John emphasizes the need for a blend of simplification and nuance in operational models. The conversation also explores the role of AI in enhancing product operations, streamlining processes, and reducing manual tasks, all while addressing challenges in today’s fast-paced tech landscape.
