One Knight in Product

In this episode, I speak with Simon Cross, Chief Product Officer - now Chief Product & Technology Officer (congrats, Simon!) - at Native Instruments, a company at the heart of global music production. Music lover Simon's journey spans broadcast engineering at Global Radio, product roles at the BBC, product leadership at Meta, and now, shaping the future of audio tools for creators worldwide. We cover a lot, including: What Native Instruments actually does: From DJ hardware to post-production tools for Netflix and the BBC, plus powering other companies' products via their platform. The intersection of creativity and technology: How Native Instruments empowers artists with tactile, high-fidelity tools, and why they're a side-gig for superstar DJs on staff. AI in music creation: Where it fits, where it doesn't, and the ethical principles Native Instruments uses to ensure artists retain full creative control. Product in a hybrid model: Balancing perpetual licences and growing subscription models, and how business models shape product release strategies. Pragmatism over idealism: Why product managers must adapt frameworks to the business "physics" of their company, especially in an era of tighter budgets. A unique form of product management: Building physical hardware, mission-critical desktop software, and cloud services... all under one roof. Team structure and specialisms: How PMs, designers, engineers, QA, and unique "sound designers" collaborate to shape sonic outcomes. Why legacy is both a strength and a constraint: Navigating customer expectations, technical debt, and platform longevity. Why big-shot product leaders from established big tech companies need to take a pause and not just try to install something that worked before in a company with a very different context. Check out Native Instruments Check out Native Instruments' website: https://www.native-instruments.com/, or their careers page: https://www.native-instruments.com/en/careers/. Connect with Simon You can connect with Simon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sicross/.

Benji Portwin has a CV stuffed with recognisable names, from Spotify to Monzo bank, alongside product leadership roles at accuRx and New Look. These days, he's running an agency dedicated to helping organisations learn how to design and build awesome products. Benji's hot take? Having been diagnosed with ADHD relatively recently, he's come to regard ADHD as somewhat of a superpower for product managers, and something that enables him and others to be more effective at their jobs rather than being something to be suffered from. Find Benji on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjiportwin. Or check out People Building Products: https://pbp.team/

Shobhit Chugh is a former Google PM who now helps product managers build their own brand, habits, confidence and career with Intentional Product Manager, and he also runs his own podcast of the same name. Shobhit's hot take? That too many product managers think that their work will speak for itself but, if they want to get ahead, they should start relentlessly promoting themselves; both inside and outside of the company they work for. Find Shobhit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/. Check out Intentional Product Manager: https://www.intentionalproductmanager.com/ Check out my appearance on The Intentional Product Manager podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2399157/episodes/16218073-fractional-product-management-with-jason-knight  

Valeria Stromtsova is a Product Manager who traded fintech for sustainability and now works at Treeapp, helping plant trees where they're needed the most. Valeria's hot take? That product managers need to take the lead in creating a sustainable future, making sure they make a difference by considering the impact of their product decisions on their users, their stakeholders... and the planet we live on. Find Valeria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lerastromtsova/.

Welcome to CPO Stories! In this new "podcast within a podcast", I'll be speaking to executive product leaders from the UK's biggest companies as well as up-and-coming stars of the future. I'll be digging into how they approach product management within their organisations, how they approached the leap into executive product leadership and trying to get some deep insights into how they view product management practices and culture. If you're a CPO and would like to come on, drop me a line! Or, forward this episode to your CPO and tell them you want them to come on 🙂 About this Episode In this episode, I speak with Bhavesh Vaghela, Chief Product & Technology Officer at London Marathon Events. Bhavesh started out working as an engineer at HP before a rich career journey through Barclays, TSB, Callsign and Collinson, before moving into the CPTO role at London Marathon Events. We cover a lot, including: What London Marathon Events actually does beyond race day, and how it drives physical activity across society How London Marathon Events approaches Product in a hybrid digital/physical world, and why product goes far beyond apps and websites Balancing a seamless B2C customer experience with the hard technical demands of world-class live events What it means for Product and Technology planning when the date can't slip, and getting it wrong could ruin a world record attempt Balancing the CPO and CTO hats: how combining Product and Technology under one role can drive alignment and delivery in the right type of organisation Product Management at London Marathon Events: a small team of unflappable, smart people driving high impact with strong purpose Why domain expertise matters, but curiosity matters more, and what to do when everyone has an opinion about your product The importance of building a culture of learning through experimentation, humility, air cover and making it ok to fail Why now is a brilliant time to join London Marathon Events: purpose, opportunity, and the irresistible rise of running Check out London Marathon Events Check out London Marathon Events' website: https://www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk/, or their careers page: https://www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk/london-marathon-events/careers. Connect with Bhavesh You can connect with Bhavesh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhaveshvaghela/.

Kanika Tolver is a Senior Product Manager by day and the founder of Career Rehab. She's also the author of a book of the same name, "Career Rehab: Rebuild Your Personal Brand and Rethink the Way You Work" Kanika's hot take? That some project managers out there are actually product managers in disguise. Their responsibilities have changed, their job titles have yet to catch up, and it's up to them to seize the opportunities of the new world of product management. Find Kanika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanikatolver/ or check out her website: https://kanikatolver.com/.

Maud Larpent, Chief Product Officer at Treatwell, a major European beauty booking platform, shares her journey from Reuters to product leadership roles at TripAdvisor and Expedia. She reveals how Treatwell shines by balancing B2B and B2C needs to enhance user experiences. Maud discusses building a product-led culture, tackling challenges in a sales-focused environment, and the indispensable value of transparent feedback. Plus, she shares her morning routines and the importance of learning from limitations, all while navigating opportunities in the beauty industry.

In this episode, Alex Rastatuev, a Senior Product Manager at Keyhole, discusses his strong belief that effective product onboarding is more crucial than merely showcasing features. He emphasizes how a user-centric approach can significantly improve activation rates. The conversation delves into balancing simple design with essential guidance, managing cross-functional collaboration in products, and the added complexity of ERP system onboarding. Alex shares insights on using AI for enhancing customer success and tailoring strategies for specific user needs.

Debbie McMahon, Interim Chief Product Officer at the Financial Times, shares her journey from the Department for Work & Pensions to leading product strategy at one of the UK's most iconic newspapers. She discusses the FT's evolution from a traditional paper to a digital powerhouse, emphasizing the importance of transparency in hiring and balancing idealism with real-world challenges. McMahon offers insights on transitioning to a CPO role, fostering collaboration among teams, and the growing influence of AI on journalism and product development.

Rich Mironov, a B2B product management expert and author of "The Art of Product Management," shares insights on bridging the gap between product teams and executives. He emphasizes that leaders care more about financial success than product creation nuances. Mironov argues for improved financial literacy among product managers and the need to communicate in terms executives understand. He also discusses his recent move to Portugal, highlighting cultural adaptation and its influence on product culture.