Product Confidential: The reality of PM life!

Feeling overwhelmed by the constant juggle of work, parenting, and life’s demands? In this episode of Product Confidential, hosts Evie Brockwell and Michael Palmer are joined by Hannah Clark. They explore the challenges of maintaining balance amidst the chaos. They discuss the early warning signs of burnout, the power of routine in managing ADHD, and the importance of self-compassion when things don’t go to plan. Hannah shares her personal journey, offering practical strategies for reducing decision fatigue, staying resilient, and finding joy in small wins. Throughout the conversation, they highlight how mindset and self-awareness can help you navigate life’s ups and downs and ultimately thrive—both at work and at home. Takeaways:✔ Spotting burnout early can prevent bigger problems down the line.✔ Routines are essential for managing ADHD and maintaining stability.✔ Structured habits help reduce decision fatigue.✔ Self-compassion is key when life feels overwhelming.✔ Mindset and self-awareness play a huge role in overcoming challenges.✔ Burnout can distort your sense of self-worth, but small wins can rebuild confidence. Join us for this insightful discussion on creating balance in a demanding world. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it helps others discover Product Confidential! 🎧✨

Join Karl Abbott, a seasoned product manager at Microsoft with a rich background in open source from Red Hat, as he shares his insights on navigating the world of open source software. Discover how Microsoft's relationship with open source has evolved, the challenges of collaboration in these communities, and the nuances of managing open source products. Karl also discusses strategies for monetizing open source without compromising community trust, along with practical advice for those looking to enter this exciting field!

In a reflective solo dive, the host unpacks the alarming prevalence of burnout in product management, revealing that 92% of professionals are affected. Personal anecdotes intertwine with insightful research, emphasizing the need for self-awareness and ownership over one’s well-being. Listeners are encouraged to identify personal stressors and implement small, impactful changes. The conversation highlights mindset shifts as vital to overcoming burnout, offering a kickstart for setting up for success in the new year.

Ever felt swamped by the myriad frameworks in product management? We get into all of the details on the pros, the cons (hello imposter syndrome), and how to use frameworks effectively. Our guest is Ed Walsh. Ed is the Head of Product at Zapmap - the UK's leading EV charging platform shares all of his views in this episode. Discover why frameworks aren't one-size-fits-all, when they're genuinely useful, and how they can sometimes hinder more than help. Ed spills the beans on his favourite tools like the Business Model Canvas and Jobs to be Done, and offers candid advice on avoiding common pitfalls. Whether you're a startup hustler or a corporate climber, this chat is packed with invaluable insights that'll help you lead your team more effectively. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:30 The Overwhelming World of Product Frameworks 01:51 The Role of Frameworks in Career Development 03:20 Advice for Using Frameworks Effectively 04:22 Understanding the Purpose of Frameworks 05:39 Identifying and Solving Problems with Frameworks 07:54 Transitioning Away from Framework Dependence 13:04 The Downsides of Over-Reliance on Frameworks 15:33 Principle-Based Leadership and Framework Flexibility 22:18 Favorite Frameworks and Their Applications 25:26 Frameworks in Startups vs. Big Corporates 27:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Ed is an incredible coach in the product world, if you'd love to see more of his views - you can connect with him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmund-walsh-61223a47/

Join us in this engaging episode as we sit down with Claire, the Director of Sustainable Business Consulting at Transform. Claire shares her inspiring journey from her early passion for sustainability, her roles in digital product spaces, to her current position at Transform. She delves into the concept of digital sustainability, the environmental impact of digital products, and practical steps product managers can take to make more sustainable choices. Through insightful discussions and real-world examples, Claire provides a roadmap for integrating sustainability into product design and business practices, emphasizing the interconnected benefits for the environment, society, and business prosperity. Tune in to discover how small changes can lead to significant positive impacts and how you can be a part of the solution. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:06 Claire's Journey into Digital Sustainability 02:38 Understanding Digital Sustainability 06:19 The Role of Product Managers in Sustainability 12:23 Practical Steps for Implementing Sustainability 16:05 Balancing Sustainability with Consumer Behavior 19:47 Overcoming Overwhelm in Sustainability Efforts 23:41 Positive News and Upcoming Events 24:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Links to events and thoughts from Claire https://www.linkedin.com/posts/transformuk_sustainability-netzero-sustainabledesign-activity-7227324081518366724-YA5e https://www.transformuk.com/pages/towards-a-sustainable-business-blueprint Find Claire on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbolina/

Have you ever really thought about what it takes to become an insane product leader? Have you been thinking that you might want to take this career path, but you're not sure how to make it happen? These are all of the insights that we're sharing with you today. From progressing my career to lead 5 teams worth $1 billion at the age of 27 & coaching over 20 product leaders, to Michael's current journey - you're in for some gems. In this episode we cover: What it takes to be an effective product leader Our experiences with product leaders (the good and the bad) Looking after yourself when you hit the leadership spot The best strategies you can implement to grow your own career You'll leave this episode reflecting on how you want to show up and lead, and with tangible take-aways to really grow your career. If you want to become an unstoppable product leader, sign up to the waitlist here: https://eviebrockwell.ck.page/e9e6c21769 If you want to see more from us: ⁠⁠⁠Follow the show on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Michael⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Evie⁠ Do subscribe & leave a review if you love this episode, Evie & Michael

Have you ever found yourself feeling like you ‘need to do it all’ to be good at Product? Has it led you to feeling stressed and overwhelmed? If so, you’re not alone. 92% of product people have either been burnt out, or close to burnout. We spent the last 6 months finding out exactly why this is happening, and what can be done about it. In this bonus episode, I’m joined by Nick Jemetta, Evelina Dzimanaviciute  and Graham Reed, who are all experts on wellbeing in the workplace. You’ll get to know: Exactly why working in Product is the perfect storm for burnout How to recognise the signs and symptoms of burnout What you can do to stay on top of this Why burnout is so high in Product Leadership How product leaders can support others, whilst taking care of themselves If you’ve ever felt stressed, anxious or overworked in Product - then this episode is for you. Burnout in Product workshop This workshop will be covering everything you need to know to understand: Why you’ve experienced burnout The patterns that lead you down this path How to unpick the deep routed behaviours that contribute to burnout Your own personalised plan to continuously prevent burnout Join us on the last week of June to create the plan that you need. Join the waitlist here: https://eviebrockwell.ck.page/ea1bd26aaa If you want to see more from us: ⁠⁠⁠Follow the show on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Michael⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Evie ⁠ Subscribe & leave a review if you love this episode, Evie & Michael

Have you ever tried to use a Now, Next, Later roadmap - but your stakeholders still want exact dates? Do you find yourself spending far too long planning, and want to spend more time delivering value? If this sounds like you, we can relate. We've all been on the journey to get our stakeholders brought into a better way of doing things. & we all want to spend less time planning, and more time thinking about the best thing to build. If that sounds like you, you will love this chat. We're joined by Janna Bastow, the creator of the Now, Next, Later roadmap. Janna shares all of her insights: ⚡️ Should you use timelines in a Now, Next, Later roadmap? ⚡️ How can you bring stakeholders on board? ⚡️ Why roadmaps should be a strategic planning tool, not a project management tool ⚡️ How they can help you to cross-collaborate ⚡️ & the exciting part - how AI is saving PMs so much time, and optimising their thinking You won't want to miss this one. See more from Janna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannabastow/  Find out more about Prodpad: ProdPad sandbox Ultimate Guide to Product Roadmaps How to Move from Timeline to Agile Roadmapping Course Why Now-Next-Later is best If you want to see more from us: ⁠⁠⁠Follow the show on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Michael⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Evie⁠ Do subscribe & leave a review if you love this episode, Evie & Michael

In this discussion, Matt LeMay, a seasoned product leader and author known for his insights into product management, shares invaluable wisdom on driving impact in product organizations. He emphasizes the role of soft skills for product managers and the importance of aligning work with clear goals. Matt also reveals strategies for detaching from work to maintain sanity and addresses the necessity of confronting uncomfortable truths within teams. His expertise provides a roadmap for fostering impactful product practices in an evolving landscape.

This episode features veteran CPO and Hustle Badger founder, Ed Biden. Ed discusses strategies for product managers and leaders for thinking, speaking and acting in more commercial terms by understanding product team costs, and focusing on commercial impact to secure organisational confidence.  Ed highlights the importance of meeting customer needs while ensuring commercial viability, suggests tools for forecasting ROI, and stresses the importance of hypothesis-based development. He emphasises the need for clear strategies from leadership and suggests ways for teams to navigate uncertainty proactively.  The conversation also covers Ed's project, Hustle Badger, aimed at providing practical advice for product professionals. 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:15 Navigating Product Management in Tough Times 00:30 The Importance of Commercial Impact in Product Management 02:36 Balancing User Needs with Commercial Goals 05:18 Strategies for Product Teams to Prove Value 09:01 Forecasting ROI and Making Impactful Decisions 18:36 Leveraging Hypotheses and Feedback for Product Development 29:27 Advice for Product Leaders and Teams 34:50 Introducing Hustle Badger Links Hustle Badger