Getting2Alpha

Tim Chang is a polymath, a longtime Burner, an accomplished musician, and a forward-looking VC who invests in the positive side of technology. As Managing Director of Mayfield, Tim blends his background in engineering and business development with a customer-first approach to supporting breakthrough products and services. I’ve worked with Tim several times -- and I’m always inspired by our interactions. Listen in and get a taste of Tim’s mind-expanding ideas about how to create deeply engaging experiences.

Tony Ulwick, founder and CEO of Strategyn, is a pioneer of the jobs-to-be-done approach to innovation. He discusses his groundbreaking concept of outcome-driven innovation, focusing on revealing hidden customer needs. Tony shares insights from his extensive work with Fortune 500 companies, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer jobs before innovating. He also introduces his new book, showcasing how organizations can tap into unmet needs to drive successful product development. Learn how collaboration and industry trends influence innovation strategies!

Jared Spool is a legend in user interface design. Through his pioneering consultancy, User Interface Engineering, he’s helped hundreds of teams create more usable and delightful software. Jared’s latest project is Center Centre -- a 2-year college for UX professionals that’s setup to train the next generation of user interface professionals. His approach to product design is informed by decades of experience and pattern-matching - I love hearing his stories and actionable chunks of UX wisdom: Join us for a far-reaching and high-impact conversation about user experience design.

Jim Scheinman is a lifelong entrepreneur who’s spent the last two decades working at the forefront of social software. As an early employee of Friendster and Bebo, Jim rode out the first big social media wave. Now he’s helping the next generation of founders invent the future through his work at Maven Ventures. Jim’s approach is grounded in operational reality - and infused with a passion for working on a ‘vision worth fighting for.’ He appreciates the power of a truly compelling experience to draw people in and keep them engaged. Learn how an early-stage investor decides who to work with - and how to help his companies succeed.

Jeff Veen, Design Partner at True Ventures and a web design pioneer, dives deep into the dynamics of collaboration and innovation. He shares his journey from journalism at Wired to key roles at top tech firms, emphasizing the significance of a judgment-free environment for creativity. Veen discusses the pitfalls first-time entrepreneurs often face, especially in user-centered design, and highlights emerging trends in voice interfaces. His insights on building trust and fostering effective teams are both practical and inspiring for anyone in tech.

As the former VP Community at Kickstarter, Cindy Au managed the fast-growing crowdfunding community through a major growth phase, and balanced the competing needs of campaigners and funders. Cindy cut her teeth in New York’s tech scene - and she's got great insights about what it takes to say NO to short-term gains in order to fulfill a long-term vision. If you’re interested in community dynamics, cooperative design or tech entrepreneurship, you’re gonna love Cindy's stories about how Kickstarter transformed from a promising idea into a wildly successful fundraising powerhouse.

Richard Garriott is a pioneering game designer, gifted world-builder second-generation astronaut, arctic explorer - and ever-inspiring creative force. I first met Richard when I was teaching online community design at Stanford; half my class was in the Beta for Ultima Online, and I jumped in enthusiastically to learn the ropes. I ended up working with Richard, Raph Koster and their amazing crew of developers through the launch & growth of that early graphic MMO. Like many great game designers, Richard is a sophisticated systems thinker who sees the world through a unique lens that's on full display in this far-ranging & fascinating conversation.

Cindy Alvarez, an expert in customer research and iterative development, brings her rich background to the conversation. She shares insights on the critical role of customer research in product decisions and the challenges of prototyping in tech. Alvarez discusses her unexpected journey from psychology at Harvard to tech leadership at Microsoft, emphasizing effective communication’s role in customer engagement. She also explores how mobile games can enhance physical activity, showcasing innovative ways to improve user engagement through technology.

Dan Olsen is a seasoned product manager - and the author of the Lean Product Playbook, a soup-to-nuts handbook for doing smart product management with Lean principles. Dan runs the Lean Product & Lean UX meetup in Silicon Valley, where he brings cross-functional teams together to lean how to create great products. Dan is an articulate proponent of a lean & disciplined approach to product development - and he knows the power of choosing the right mental model to organize your thinking. In this interview, you'll learn how an experienced product manager approaches customer discovery, rapid prototyping and smart MVP development.

Teresa Torres, a product management coach and author of the Product Talk blog, shares her insights on transforming product discovery. She discusses the importance of adaptability within organizational change and methodologies like lean startup. Teresa reflects on her unique journey from cognitive science to product management, emphasizing a human-centered approach. She introduces the Opportunity Solution Tree, a framework designed to enhance decision-making and collaboration among teams. Her wisdom inspires listeners to explore new paths in product management.