Afleveringen
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Why revealing your thinking matters more than your final answerâinsider secrets from Rodolfo, Senior PM at Spotify. https://rodolfodays.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile
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n this episode of Fireside PM, I sit down with fellow ex-Googler and product consultant Mustafa Kapatiya to dive into how product managers can maximize AI for productivity, decision-making, and strategy. Mustafa shares real-world insights, including a live demo of AI-driven sentiment analysis, a breakdown of how top PMs leverage AI differently, and how organizations can use AI to do more with less. We also explore the future of product teams, AI's impact on PM career paths, and the evolving role of leadership in an AI-powered world. Tune in for actionable tips and deep insights!
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Join me for a Fireside PM conversation with Dave Lu, founder of Hyphen Ventures, as we dive into his incredible career journey, the challenges of the Bamboo Ceiling, and his powerful advocacy for AAPI representation in tech and venture capital. From working at top companies like Apple, Yahoo, and eBay to launching Hyphen Capital and championing AAPI entrepreneurs, Dave has been a driving force in breaking barriers. We'll discuss: â His path from corporate tech to investing in the next generation â The Bamboo Ceiling: What it is & how to overcome it â Building wealth and influence for the AAPI community â His thoughts on leadership, mentorship, and making an impact
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Hey Fireside PM crew,
I had a fantastic conversation in this weekâs podcast with Priydarshan Jha (PJ), a seasoned Director of Product Management and product transformation consultant. PJ shared valuable insights from his journey, starting as a tech-focused developer, moving into product ownership at American Express, working with clients across industries at BCG, and now leading product transformations at EPAM. Here are the top takeaways:
1. Driving Product Transformation Across Diverse Organizations
PJ highlighted that every company has its unique DNAâsome are engineering-led, some sales-led, others founder-driven. When companies seek to strengthen their product orientation, the challenge is often not just âwhat to doâ but understanding âwhat change means for them.âKey steps PJ advises:
Assess the Current State: Understand how the organization defines product success, builds products, and aligns teams.
Establish a Common Product Vision: Everyone, from developers to sales, should share a unified understanding of the product and its purpose.
Break Down Silos: Connect teams to the end customer so that even an engineer sees how their work impacts users.
Small, Incremental Changes: Large overhauls often fail. Success comes from bite-sized adjustments that shift both ways of working and thinking.
As PJ put it, âMost organizations recognize that what got them here wonât get them where they want to go. The challenge is that they often donât know what that change actually looks like for them. We help them visualize what 'good' looks like and break it down into small, achievable steps.â
He added, âOne of the most common issues I see is silos. The engineering team might be working on their own objectives, while the product managers and sales teams are operating in parallel worlds. Bringing everyone onto the same page around the customer impact can be a game-changer.â
2. Common Pitfalls for Product Managers
PJ and I discussed two classic challenges PMs often face:Over-indexing on Execution: PMs get caught up in the daily grind and lose sight of long-term strategy.
Under-communicating Progress: Even if youâre on the right track strategically, failing to proactively communicate with stakeholders can create uncertainty and risk.
Successful PMs find a balance: They drive day-to-day delivery while ensuring leadership and stakeholders remain aligned with the strategic vision.
âItâs so easy to get trapped in the day-to-day. Youâre shipping features, hitting your sprints, but if you lose sight of the bigger picture, you may end up delivering a lot but not necessarily moving the business forward,â PJ noted.
On communication, he shared, âUnder-communication can kill trust. Iâve seen great teams end up under a microscope simply because stakeholders felt out of the loop. Itâs not about overloading with updates; itâs about consistent, clear communication.â
3. Building Product Teams in the AI Era
With 2025 upon us, PJ reflected on debates around the necessity of PMs in a world increasingly assisted by AI. Could engineering managers with chatbots fill the gap? PJâs take:The PM role can flex, but the core need remains: balancing value, viability, usability, and feasibility.
Engineering or marketing leaders can step into product roles if they develop the right mindset, but that transition requires coaching and organizational patience.
âThereâs a lot of talk about replacing PMs with AI or blending the role into other functions, but product management is fundamentally about balancing multiple perspectives,â PJ explained. âItâs not just about what can be built, but whether it should be built, if users will value it, and whether it makes business sense.â
He added, âIâve seen companies successfully transition engineers or marketers into product roles. The key is investing in their mindset shift and giving them the right support through coaching.â
4. Advice for Aspiring PMs and Leaders Hiring PM Talent
Aspiring PMs: You donât need a technical background. Passion, curiosity, and a desire to solve problems matter more.
Hiring Product Leaders: When leading a product transformation, prioritize candidates with experience driving organizational changeâespecially those with consulting backgroundsâor consider fractional product leaders during transitions.
âThereâs this myth that you need to have a technical background to be a product manager. It can help, but itâs not a requirement. Some of the best PMs I know came from non-technical backgrounds and excelled because of their customer empathy and strategic thinking,â PJ emphasized.
On hiring, he advised, âIf youâre transforming your product culture, look for someone whoâs done it before. Theyâll bring the experience and playbook to navigate the rough waters. Sometimes, a fractional leader during the transition can be the perfect bridge.â
Final Thought
PJ reminded us that transformation is a journey. Whether youâre a PM looking to grow, or a leader reshaping your product team, success lies in aligning teams around customer impact, fostering clear communication, and embracing continuous learning.âChange is hard, but itâs worth it. The best product teams Iâve seen are those that continuously learn and adapt. They put the customer at the center and rally the entire organization around delivering value,â PJ concluded.
Check out PJâs daily insights on LinkedIn and his Substack newsletter for more product wisdom (links below).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/priydarshanjha/
https://priydarshanjha.substack.com/ -
In this episode of Fireside PM, I sit down with Chris Vandermay, a veteran PM leader with experience at Google, Amazon, and Meta, to dive deep into the concept of controllable inputs. We discuss how top companies use these actionable metrics to drive real business outcomes, how to identify the right inputs versus vanity metrics, and why mastering them can make or break a productâs success. Chris also shares insights on how AI is reshaping the role of product managers and what PMs can do to stay ahead in the evolving landscape. Tune in for a conversation packed with real-world examples and practical takeaways for PMs at any stage of their career!
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In this episode of Fireside PM, I tackle one of the most pressing questions from my Backchannel PM Accelerator: What does the future of product management look like, and how can PMs prepare? We explore the compression of career ladders, the rise of AI-native products, the evolving importance of trust and safety, and the shifting dynamics of startups. Whether you're an early-career PM or a seasoned leader, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you thrive in a rapidly changing industry.
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In this episode of the Fireside PM podcast, I sit down with Karl Isaac, a branding expert and former Microsoft manager, to explore the intersection of product and brand. Karl shares insights from his transformative career at tech giants like Microsoft, Apple, and Adobe, where he spearheaded groundbreaking campaigns, redefined brand strategies, and led cultural shifts. They discuss the evolution of branding in tech, lessons from campaigns like âIâm a PC,â and how integrating brand with product management creates exceptional customer experiences. A must-listen for product managers and brand enthusiasts alike!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brands/ -
In a recent Fireside PM podcast episode, I shared insights inspired by a coaching conversation with a senior PM at a FAANG company. * She was navigating a significant challenge: adapting to a new manager with a starkly different style than her previous one. This conversation resonated with me deeply because it highlighted a universal truth in the workplace: a managerâs style can significantly impact your day-to-day experienceâsometimes even more than the company you work for.
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The 8 different types of PM leads, their pros and cons, and best fit companies to work at.
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In my recent Fireside PM podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Brian Goffman, a repeat guest and one of the most insightful voices in the product management (PM) space. Brian's career spans decades of innovation, from his time at LinkedIn, SmartThings, and Adobe, to his current role leading McKinsey's Software Excellence Practice. His unique vantage pointâworking across Web 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and now AIâmakes him a treasure trove of lessons for anyone navigating the tech landscape.
In this conversation, we dove into career-defining moments, the evolving challenges of leadership, and how AI is fundamentally reshaping the PM profession. Brian shared profound insights and practical advice for professionals at every stage of their journey, sprinkled with the wit and wisdom that only years of experience can bring.
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Welcome back to another episode of Fireside PM! Today, I want to share some hard-earned lessons that have shaped my career as a Product Manager (PM) and PM leader. These lessons, grounded in experience, have been instrumental to my journey and are relevant whether youâre early in your PM career or already leading teams. Letâs dive into these five lessons that, while challenging, are essential for sustained growth and success in product management.
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Adam Sheppard from The Shep Report on AI solopreneur tools like bubble.io
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Raquel Hirsch is a seasoned marketing executive and demand-generation expert who helps B2B and B2C clients achieve measurable revenue growth through data-driven strategies and solutions. She is the Founder and Lead Consultant at GoDemandGeneration Inc., a boutique consultancy that offers outsourced VP-level expertise and growth-acceleration services to clients who need to get there fast.
With over 25 years of experience in turnarounds and fast ramp-ups, Raquel has a proven track record of building successful cross-functional teams, bridging the divide between marketing and sales, and delivering maximized ROI on marketing investments. She is also a popular public speaker, a mentor, a multilingual professional, and a socially conscious leader who is passionate about enabling consistent growth and debunking marketing fads. -
Nancy Chu and I talk about PM interviews. Follow Nancy on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancychu/
Check out my PM classes on Maven
https://maven.com/toml
Check out my free lightening webinar on AI strategy https://maven.com/p/ceba54/ai-crossroads-strategic-decisions-for-product-managers?utm_medium=ll_share_link&utm_source=instructor -
More info on this class at https://maven.com/toml
1:1 and Team Coaching at https://tomleungcoaching.com
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From Aniket Saoji: "After spending some time exploring the latest AI advancements, I realized the potential impact on the enterprise software landscape deserved a more nuanced analysis. Here is a deep dive on why established enterprise SaaS leaders can afford to take a measured approach to AI integration.
My take: While AI is transforming the technology landscape, AI is not an immediate existential threat to enterprise SaaS market leaders. In fact, they are well-positioned to approach AI integration strategically." -
Katie Durham from Climate Capital and I talk about a co-investment and some she shares tips and advice about getting involved in climate tech.
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