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
9 snips
Oct 2, 2024 • 43min
Episode 191: The Evolution of Customer Experience: Insights from Blake Morgan
Blake Morgan, a seasoned expert in customer experience and best-selling author with a rich background at companies like Coca-Cola, discusses the evolution of customer experience. She highlights core principles from her book, offering strategies for integrating customer feedback and fostering a culture where everyone owns the customer experience. Blake emphasizes the need for leadership to adapt, especially with AI in customer service, and points out the transformative impact of brands like T-Mobile that embrace a customer-centric approach.
46 snips
Sep 25, 2024 • 41min
Episode 190: Mastering Product Focus: Balancing Legacy and Innovation with Shruti Patel
In this discussion, Shruti Patel, an Executive Vice President and CPO at U.S. Bank, shares her extensive experience in product management within financial services. She contrasts traditional banking with fintech, emphasizing the challenges banks face due to legacy systems. Shruti discusses the importance of customer-driven product development and innovative strategies for user experience. She also highlights the role of AI in the evolving FinTech landscape, balancing efficiency with the need for integrated solutions for small businesses.
74 snips
Sep 18, 2024 • 47min
Episode 189: Prioritizing Platform Products with Vijay Pitchumani of Okta
Vijay Pitchumani, Director of Product at Okta and a leading voice in product strategy, shares invaluable insights on product management for platform teams. He discusses the importance of defining actionable success metrics to guide engineering teams. Vijay also highlights the role of experimentation, advocating for API-first approaches to gather user feedback early on. They explore the complexities of aligning product roadmaps with business goals and emphasize the need for a curious mindset to innovate while ensuring security in identity platforms.
61 snips
Sep 11, 2024 • 46min
Episode 188: How AI is Redefining Enterprise Productivity with Tamar Yehoshua of Glean
Tamar Yehoshua, President of Product and Technology at Glean, shares her extensive experience from leading teams at Google and Slack. She discusses how AI is revolutionizing enterprise productivity and search functionalities. Tamar delves into the challenges of scaling AI-driven products in startups and underscores the importance of security and user adoption. She emphasizes the necessity of customer feedback in refining AI solutions and the evolving role of product managers in leveraging AI for enhanced effectiveness in fast-paced markets.
13 snips
Sep 4, 2024 • 39min
Episode 187: From Paper Stocks to Private Capital: Vrushali Paunikar's Journey at Carta
Vrushali Paunikar, Chief Product Officer at Carta, shares her extensive experience in product management. She discusses how Carta transformed finance practices with a customized general ledger and innovative equity compensation strategies. The conversation dives into balancing depth and breadth in product development, the evolution of roles in fintech, and the importance of ongoing learning in navigating complex domains. Vrushali also emphasizes hiring innovators with curiosity to foster a culture of collaboration and drive meaningful change.
70 snips
Aug 28, 2024 • 48min
Episode 186: Optimizing Enterprise Product Development Processes with Christopher Li
In this engaging conversation, Christopher Li, SVP of Product at Xactly with 15 years of experience, discusses navigating the complexities of enterprise product development. He highlights the significance of organizational support in successful product management. Christopher also dives into the value of user researchers and the balance of long-term innovation with immediate customer needs. His insights on evolving roles in product management and strategies for integrating AI into processes provide a fresh perspective on driving innovation and collaboration.
24 snips
Aug 21, 2024 • 44min
Episode 185: Moving to a Product Model and Embracing Digital Transformation with Melissa Douros
Melissa Douros, Chief Product Officer at Green Dot, shares her journey from aspiring teacher to fintech leader. She discusses the innovative banking-as-a-service model and how Green Dot's reusable architecture streamlines integrations. The conversation highlights the balance between efficiency and creativity in product management. Douros also emphasizes effective communication as key to successful customer experiences in finance, and the growing importance of Chief Product Officers in the industry, differentiating their role from CTOs and CIOs.
Aug 14, 2024 • 43min
Episode 184: Building Products for Product Managers with Trisha Price
Trisha Price, Chief Product Officer at Pendo, discusses the evolving landscape of product management with Melissa Perri. They dive into the importance of blending qualitative and quantitative insights to better meet customer needs. Trisha highlights new tools like Session Replay and Pendo Listen, which prioritize user feedback and enhance productivity. They also address the critical roles of product operations and marketing in navigating the automation era while emphasizing the irreplaceable human touch in strategy and customer engagement.
6 snips
Aug 7, 2024 • 49min
Episode 183: Building a Team Culture of Ownership and Collaboration with Todd Wilkens
Todd Wilkens, Chief Product Officer at Qualio, shares his rich journey from design to product development. He emphasizes the power of collaboration and breaking down silos in organizations. The conversation dives into how UX designers can seamlessly transition into product management roles, leveraging their skills to enhance user experience. Todd highlights the importance of cultivating a culture centered on shared goals and teamwork, especially as companies scale, to ensure effective communication and drive growth.
6 snips
Jul 31, 2024 • 44min
Episode 182: Balancing Stakeholder Needs in Educational Products with Amir Kabbara
In this discussion, Amir Kabbara, a product leader with a rich background at Microsoft, Amazon, and Shopify, shares insights from his journey toward balancing diverse stakeholder needs in educational technology. He emphasizes the importance of aligning student, teacher, parent, and administrator perspectives with a guiding 'North Star.' Amir also discusses the role of customer conversations and data-driven decision-making in product development. Additionally, he explores the integration of AI in education and the need for ethical considerations and quality standards.
