Product Growth Podcast

Aishwarya Ashok, former Growth PM at Zoho and now founder of Founders Foyer, discusses Zoho's remarkable journey as a bootstrapped SaaS giant. She reveals why Zoho remains private and shares its unique origin story. Aishwarya highlights strategies for landing product management roles and the challenges faced in this transition. Additionally, she emphasizes the rising importance of no-code tools and AI in product management, making the field more accessible for aspiring leaders.

Gautham Krishnan, Head of Product at Disney+ Hotstar, reveals secrets from managing the world's largest live streaming platform. He discusses the importance of second-order thinking to uncover hidden opportunities and shares insights on assessing product strategies. Listeners will learn how BluSmart is challenging Uber in India and the common mistakes during pre-mortems. Gautham also emphasizes the critical traits for hiring PMs and how AI can revolutionize product management. Perfect for aspiring product managers looking to elevate their skills!

Mona Gandhi, a founding member of Airbnb's growth team and founder of Upraise, discusses her pivotal role in transforming Airbnb from a startup into a global powerhouse valued at $85B. She explains how the company redefined product management to prioritize user engagement and market adaptation. Mona reveals the challenges of scaling, including a public relations crisis and the importance of localization for different cultures. Her journey from software engineer to a key product manager offers valuable insights for aspiring PMs.

Maria Chec, an Agile thought leader and host of Agile State of Mind, discusses the identity crisis facing Agile practices in 2024. She highlights the challenges Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches face, emphasizing a shift towards value-driven approaches. The conversation dives into why Agile thrives more in Europe, the blurred roles within product operations, and the resistance PMs show toward Agile roles. Chec also champions user story mapping and Kanban, showcasing them as essential tools for fostering collaboration and high-performing teams.

Ben Williams, a seasoned 2x VP of Product at Synk and CloudBees, shares his expertise in driving B2B product growth. He discusses the necessity of simplifying products to unlock growth and reveals how Product-Led Growth (PLG) is revolutionizing the landscape. Ben highlights the importance of prioritizing actions for user activation and retention while debunking myths about PLG reliance on freemium models. He also explores collaborative strategies across teams, effective pricing, and the shift from traditional funnels to adaptive growth models.

Ramli John, an onboarding expert and author of "Product-Led Onboarding," shares his insights on effective user onboarding. He discusses common pitfalls teams face and highlights the importance of personalization and behavior-driven strategies. Discover how companies like Duolingo optimize their processes and learn about the critical role of communication between product and marketing teams. Ramli also delves into how to transform onboarding into a monetization strategy and offers advice for both growth and solopreneurship.

Andrew Capland, a two-time Head of Growth at Wistia and Postscript, shares his insights on building effective growth teams and achieving sustainable success. He discusses the alarming trend of short tenures in growth leadership and the importance of aligning expectations. Andrew dives into data-driven growth models, personalized onboarding, and actionable monetization strategies. He also emphasizes the significance of documenting processes and overcoming imposter syndrome, leaving listeners with practical tips for thriving in growth roles.

Collin Lernell, a seasoned product leader with experience at Udacity, Noom, and Patreon, shares invaluable insights for aspiring product leaders. He delves into the hidden job market, emphasizing the need for a 'market of one' positioning and a strong reputation. Collin provides actionable tips on optimizing LinkedIn profiles, effective networking, and the nuances of interviewing for product leadership roles. He also tackles the complexities of salary negotiations and discusses how to navigate challenges unique to pre-IPO firms and Big Tech.

In this insightful discussion, Melissa Perri, an expert in product strategy and author of 'Escaping the Build Trap,' shares her valuable insights on mastering product management. She reveals the dangers of being trapped in a 'Build Trap' mindset and explores the key layers of effective product strategy. Melissa emphasizes the importance of aligning user needs with business objectives and discusses common pitfalls for PMs. She also provides actionable advice on empowering teams, navigating junior PM challenges, and avoiding burnout while scaling products and teams.

Thibaut Louis Lucas, a serial entrepreneur and indie hacker, shares insights from his journey of building and selling multiple SaaS companies for over $10 million. He discusses his unique approaches to rapid product validation and the power of distribution over the product itself. Thibaut reveals lessons learned from his partnerships, marketing strategies, and the challenges of customer churn. He emphasizes leveraging AI for development and how building in public can enhance personal branding, ultimately encouraging aspiring product managers to embrace hands-on, ROI-focused methods.