The Product Manager

A seedling and a tree may share the same DNA, but their roles in the ecosystem are vastly different—just like junior and executive product leaders. As leaders climb the ranks, their focus shifts from producing features to providing structure and support that allow teams to thrive.Debbie McMahon, Chief Product Officer at the Financial Times, reflects on this evolution and how her approach to leadership has matured over time. From managing complex internal and external relationships to knowing when not to follow popular advice, Debbie offers practical wisdom on staying grounded, building trust, and leading with intention at the executive level.Resources from this episode:Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletterConnect with Debbie on LinkedInCheck out The Financial Times

Zoom’s journey from a popular video conferencing tool to a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic was followed by a wave of competition. But rather than being overwhelmed, Zoom has embraced new opportunities for innovation, especially with the rise of AI. Smita Hashim, Zoom's Chief Product Officer, shares insights into the company's response to the challenges of the pandemic and the rapid shifts in the tech landscape.Smita discusses her experience leading Zoom through this transformative period, highlighting the role of generative AI in shaping Zoom’s future. With bold strides in AI and an evolving product portfolio, Smita offers a glimpse into what’s next for the company as it adapts to a new era of growth and competition.Resources from this episode:Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletterConnect with Smita on LinkedIn

In this episode, we dive into the phenomenon of the "feature factory," where companies focus more on releasing products and features rapidly rather than prioritizing quality or user needs. John Cutler coined the term, and it perfectly captures the feeling many teams face: launching features without a clear understanding of who they’re for or how they impact the business. If this resonates with you, keep listening as we explore how to break free from this cycle.In our panel discussion, we hear from three product leaders—Aakash Gupta, Andrea Saez, and Paweł Huryn—who share their insights on shifting from output-focused to outcome-driven product development. They offer actionable frameworks for maintaining strategic focus, addressing mid-market pressures, and fostering a culture that values meaningful outcomes over sheer feature volume. Whether you're scaling a business or trying to reignite your team’s creativity, this conversation offers practical advice for escaping the feature factory mindset.Resources from this episode:Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletterConnect with Aakash, Paweł, and Andrea on LinkedInCheck out The Product Growth Newsletter, The Product Compass Newsletter, and The Product Momentum Gap

In this episode, we catch up with Mariana Antaya, Product Manager at Microsoft, who first joined the show in February 2024. Since then, AI has gone mainstream, the tech job market has shifted, and her career has evolved significantly. Last time, Mariana shared practical advice for aspiring PMs, which became our most downloaded episode ever, and now we’re diving into what’s changed and what aspiring PMs need to succeed in 2025.Host Hannah Clark reconnects with Mariana to reflect on the rapid developments in AI and the evolving landscape of the tech industry. They discuss how aspiring product managers can adapt and thrive in this new environment, with insights that will help listeners stay ahead of the curve.Resources from this episode:Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletterConnect with Mariana on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTokCheck out Microsoft

Randhir Vieira, Chief Product Officer at Omada Health, shares insights on steering established companies through AI disruption. He contrasts the agility of startups with the slower adaptability of larger organizations and discusses strategies for integrating AI into product development. Randhir highlights the importance of cultivating a curious culture around AI, overcoming inertia, and navigating ethical challenges, especially in healthcare. He emphasizes ongoing investment in training to ensure leaders can successfully leverage AI advancements.

How many logins do you use at work each week? If you’re not sure, you’re not alone. A 2024 report found that the average employee uses 36 cloud-based services daily—engineering teams use twice as many! Yet, over half of SaaS licenses go unused, wasting valuable resources.In this episode, host Hannah Clark sits down with Moshe Mikanovsky, founder of Products for Good and co-host of the Product for Product podcast. Moshe shares his framework for selecting the right tools, helping organizations boost adoption, productivity, and cost efficiency. Tune in to learn how to make smarter software choices!Resources from this episode:Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletterConnect with Moshe on LinkedInCheck out Products for Good and Product for Product podcastMoshe’s frameworks

Every career path comes with its own set of challenges—you just have to choose your hard. Leading product at a startup, finding product-market fit, and scaling a company is tough, but so is staying stuck in a feature factory. In this episode, host Hannah Clark sits down with Benjamin Berry, CPO of EvolutionIQ, to discuss how he navigated these challenges to help grow his company to a $730 million valuation.Benjamin shares the leadership strategies that enabled sustainable scaling, drove 350% growth in two years, and helped EvolutionIQ thrive in the competitive AI market—all without an insurance background. Tune in to learn how to prioritize market opportunities and make the tough calls that lead to success.Resources from this episode:Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletterConnect with Benjamin on LinkedInCheck out EvolutionIQ

Join Melika Hope, Director of Product Management at Spotify, and Ken Romano, VP of Product at Stacker, as they tackle the evolving landscape of product management. They share insights on the importance of empathy and transparency in leadership amid industry challenges. Discover strategies to break down departmental silos, prioritize effectively, and empower remote teams through strong communication. The duo also dives into the transformative impact of AI in product management and offers tips for building an authentic personal brand in the ever-changing tech space.

Starting a new job is tough—but stepping into an executive role is a whole different challenge. With high stakes, unrealistic expectations, and all eyes on you, how do you navigate this transition successfully?In this episode, Hannah talks with Yue Zhao, executive coach and founder of The Uncommon Executive, about the realities of executive life, adapting to new dynamics, and essential steps beyond the typical 90-day plan.Resources from this episode:Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletterConnect with Yue on LinkedInCheck out The Uncommon Executive

The times are changing, and AI is driving a major shift in how we approach product and leadership. It’s exciting, unpredictable, and inevitable—but how do we navigate this change?Hannah Clark sits down with Greg Petroff, a design thought leader and seasoned executive, to discuss the tools, organizational shifts, and strategies that leaders need to adopt in this fast-paced era. Tune in to hear Greg’s insights on adapting to change and staying ahead in the AI-driven world.Resources from this episode:Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletterConnect with Greg on LinkedInCheck out Greg’s Substack:  Improbable Futures