Supra Insider

In this discussion, Itamar Novick, Founder and General Partner at Recursive Ventures, shares insights from his extensive experience in early-stage investing. He explores how startup moats are evolving in the AI era, emphasizing the importance of defensibility right from inception. Itamar highlights traditional moats like network effects and argues that velocity is now a critical signal for investors. He also advises founders on choosing the right investors and building strong communities as a form of defensibility, urging product leaders to adapt to the AI landscape.

Anneli Scopazzi, founder of Boulevard Recruiting and former leader at Palantir, Figma, and Notion, discusses leveraging recruiters for job searches. She highlights the importance of treating recruiter calls as partnerships rather than mere formalities. Anneli contrasts internal and agency recruiters, detailing how their motivations influence the hiring process. She provides practical tips on asking the right questions, handling compensation conversations, and making a strong impression during recruiter screens. Candidates can use these insights to navigate the competitive job market more effectively.

Nickey Skarstad, Director of Product at Duolingo with experience at Airbnb and Etsy, dives into the fascinating world of product rituals and AI. She reveals how Duolingo maintains high-quality standards while shipping quickly, showcasing unique practices like 'hot trash' Fridays for low-risk experimentation. Nickey discusses the significance of dogfooding AI products and how structured product reviews elevate team standards. With insights on balancing speed and quality, she empowers product builders to refine their craft and build user-trusted experiences.

In this engaging discussion, Gaurav Hardikar, VP of Product & Growth at HomeLight, shares insights from leading a transformative AI project at his company. He details how an executive hackathon sparked dramatic workflow changes, introducing ten AI initiatives and the innovative AI Product Builder role. Gaurav emphasizes the importance of cross-functional collaboration and the creation of an AI-powered scoping assistant to streamline processes. His reflections on cultural shifts and practical strategies for AI adoption offer valuable lessons for product leaders and engineers alike.

Sachin Rekhi, a former LinkedIn product leader known for creating Sales Navigator, joins the hosts to explore the concept of 'product taste' in the age of AI. He defines taste as the art of recognizing quality in design and strategy, emphasizing its growing importance amidst AI efficiencies. Sachin shares practical frameworks for honing taste, such as daily design critiques and consuming exemplary works. He recounts the journey of Sales Navigator, discussing the significance of social capital and effective communication with executives in securing support for innovative ideas.

In a lively conversation, Jacob Bank, Founder and CEO of Relay.app, explores how product leaders can leverage AI agents. He discusses transforming agents into proactive team members, crafting effective job descriptions, and managing their performance. Jacob highlights the critical need for PMs to embrace AI workflows or risk falling behind, shares six essential agents every PM should consider, and emphasizes the importance of proper delegation and testing to ensure success. Tune in for practical insights on integrating AI into product development!

Claire Chen, Head of Growth at Maven, shares insights on becoming a successful course instructor. She discusses key signals for spotting strong instructors, the increasing demand for product courses, and how AI is reshaping learning. Claire emphasizes trusting your network for topic validation and describes course creation as a 'builder mindset.' With actionable advice for diversifying income through teaching, she highlights the financial potential from courses and the importance of teaching style in attracting students.

Brian Balfour, the Founder and CEO of Reforge, is an experienced product leader known for his strategic insights. In this discussion, he reveals how his team launched five AI products in just nine months with only 25 people by embracing autonomy and speed. Brian emphasizes the importance of integrating AI into existing workflows and avoiding 'Frankenstein workflows.' He also discusses the evolving competitive landscape and shares a framework for product strategy, offering valuable lessons for navigating the complex environment of AI and multi-product portfolios.

In a gripping live coaching session, Josh Herzig-Marx, an executive coach for founders, guides Marc and Ben through the complexities of balancing friendship and business. The trio dives into the challenges of unequal efforts in collaborations, the fear of resentment, and the nuances of communication that can either strengthen or weaken their partnership. With humor, vulnerability, and sharp insights, they explore how to align their goals, manage emotions, and even experiment with scaling their creative project, Insider Loops.

In this discussion, Anneli Scopazzi, founder of Boulevard Recruiting and former recruiting leader at Figma and Notion, shares insights on the shifting recruiting landscape. She reveals how AI can complicate hiring and highlights the critical traits startups seek in first PM hires, such as domain expertise and adaptability. Anneli also discusses how market cycles affect hiring standards, offers strategies for candidates to enhance their profiles, and emphasizes the importance of building strong recruiter relationships for success.