Product Led Growth Leaders

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Product Operation Manager of HCSS, Tiffany Murphree. Product Ops, or Product Operations, is a term that's gaining traction, yet it's defined differently across various organizations. At its core, Product Ops serves the product management department, aiming to streamline efficiency and enhance communication among teams. Tiffany emphasized the importance of focusing on people, processes, and tools—the three key pillars of Product Ops—with a particular emphasis on the human element.Learn more about Tiffany's work HERE.Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Product Design, Usability, and DesignOps Consultant and Co-chair of Women In Product, Houston, Alison Ostendorf. Alison peeled back the layers of Product-Led Growth (PLG) and its transformative impact on the tech industry. Alison brings a fresh perspective from the design world, challenging the status quo of sales-led strategies.Alison candidly shares her initial skepticism about PLG, stemming from her commitment to crafting products that captivate users on their own merit. She draws a compelling parallel between PLG and human-centered design, underscoring the necessity of creating products that users find inherently valuable.Learn more about Alison's work HERE.Connect with Alison on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO of Foundersuite, Nathan Beckord. Venture capital is not a game of chance; it's a strategic decision-making process guided by a VC's thesis. This thesis is the bedrock of their investment choices, influenced by industry trends, personal expertise, and market predictions. Nathan shed light on the importance of aligning your startup with a VC's thesis to increase your chances of securing funding. He emphasized that demonstrating traction, customer acquisition, and solid unit economics are key to proving your startup's worth to potential investors.Learn more about Nathan's work HERE.Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO and Founder of TRG International, Rick Yvanovich. Rick's journey is nothing short of remarkable. He discussed his experiences from the early days of computing, a time when technology was in its nascent stages, to the current era dominated by cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS). His story is a testament to the transformative power of technology and the foresight needed to stay ahead of the curve.Learn more about Rick's work HERE and HERE.Connect with Rick on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Compliance Ambassador and Senior Business Advisor of SAP, S V Prasad Gandhikota. Prasad's professional odyssey began in 1995 after graduating with a technology degree from Bombay University, India. His early career was rooted in supply chain management and manufacturing, which laid a solid foundation for his subsequent MBA in marketing and information technology. With an industry-leading SAP certification, Prasad transitioned into SAP consulting, where he has been instrumental in advising companies on their digital and business transformation journeys.Learn more about Prasad's work HERE.Connect with Prasad on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the President of The Authenticity Alliance, Wes Kussmaul. In 1981, long before the term "social media" entered our lexicon, Delphi Corporation began an ambitious project to create a digital encyclopedia. Wes Kussmaul recounted the company's fascinating evolution from a knowledge repository to a social media platform, complete with bulletin boards, email, and chatrooms. Delphi's strategic partnerships with computer hobbyist magazines and its competition with industry giants like CompuServe and Reader's Digest were instrumental in its success.Wes took us on a journey back to a time when graphics were limited by modem speeds, and the internet was still a project under the National Science Foundation. He shared anecdotes about the pre-internet X25 protocol and networked BBS systems, painting a vivid picture of the social networks of the 1980s. It was a time of rapid evolution, leading to the commercialization of the Internet in the early '90s.Wes introduced us to "Moai," an innovative concept representing "My Own Information." This personal information vault empowers individuals to control their data, allowing them to license specific information to entities like tire vendors or insurance companies while maintaining their privacy. He explained the role of Osman's attestation officers in verifying identities under legitimate circumstances, ensuring protection and control for users.Learn more about Wes's work HERE.Connect with Wes on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Board Director of RemotelyMe, Bill Reed. Bill broke down marketing into three distinct areas: demand generation, product marketing, and strategic marketing. Demand generation encompasses social media, advertising, email marketing, and SEO, all aimed at creating awareness and attention. Product marketing, on the other hand, focuses on understanding market needs, and competition, and ensuring the right messaging. Strategic marketing, often at the executive level, involves long-term planning and direction for the company.For a product to achieve success, it's crucial for marketing to play an integral role in its development. Bill emphasized the importance of product marketers being in sync with the product management team. This collaboration ensures that the company's offerings are aligned with customer feedback and market trends. Creating a messaging guide is a pivotal step in this process, as it ensures consistent and effective communication of the product's value proposition.Learn more about Bill's work HERE.Connect with Bill on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder of Product Houston, Wade Pinder. Wade's path into product management is a testament to his dedication to the Houston community. He shared the unique challenges and solutions that the city presents, highlighting the differences in product management methodologies. But what stood out was the emphasis on storytelling in product management—a skill that can make or break a product's success.Wade shared his belief in experience-led growth, noting that even century-old companies in Houston share a common thread—the user or customer experience. He gave a relatable example of trash collection, an often-overlooked service, yet one that provides a customer experience at every interaction. Wade's insights underscored the potential for improvement in every product experience, no matter how mundane it may seem.Wade's passion for community building shone through as he described his efforts in fostering the Houston product community. He applied product thinking to create a space for product managers to connect and share knowledge. His key performance indicator for the community's success? Whether meaningful connections and interactions occur.Connect with Wade on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the VP of Product and Design of Hubilo, Shailesh Hegde. Shailesh's story is particularly inspiring. Starting with an engineering degree, Shailesh cut his teeth in the software testing realm, working for giants like Siemens and Nokia. Shailesh's pursuit of growth led him to a master's degree in the US and a stint at a startup that was later acquired by Cisco. It was during this time that Shailesh discovered his passion for product management.The transition from a testing role to product management wasn't a walk in the park. Shailesh embarked on an 18-month course while working at Blue Jeans, a startup that eventually offered him a role as a product manager. This was the beginning of his love affair with the challenges and excitement of product management. From owning small parts of a product to handling larger segments, speaking on stages, and collaborating with marketing teams, Shailesh's experiences have been diverse and enriching.Now, as the VP of Product and Design at Hubilo, Shailesh is at the forefront of innovation in the virtual events space. Hubilo isn't just another webinar tool; it's a platform designed to make webinars more effective for marketing teams. While there are numerous webinar tools focused on execution, Hubilo aims to enhance the outcomes—be it lead generation or content repurposing.Learn more about Shailesh's work HERE.Connect with Shailesh on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Senior Director of Digital Product and User Experience of Kendra Scott, Brad Power. Brad's journey into the realm of product management is a testament to the power of customer-centric thinking. His career began in a call center, where he honed his skills in customer retention. This experience laid the foundation for his marketing roles and eventually led him to the intersection of technology, customer needs, and business goals. As a director of digital product at Kendra Scott, Brad now leverages his background in technology, UX, and product management to drive the company's success.Learn more about Brad's work HERE.Connect with Brad on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.