Hi Product people, How do you design an organization that supports product management teams to deliver real customer value effectively? This week on the Product Thinking Podcast, I explored this topic in depth. We discussed how critical it is to structure teams around value streams instead of architecture, ensuring that every team is strategically aligned with delivering customer value. This Dear Melissa episode highlighted the importance of having platform teams that work collaboratively...
8 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Product people, How is AI reshaping the role of product managers into product builders? This week on Product Thinking, I had the pleasure of speaking with Srini Raghavan, Chief Product Officer at FreshWorks. Srini shared how AI is transforming product management by enabling product managers to take on more integrated roles that go beyond traditional boundaries. "AI has acted as a catalyst for product managers to become more product builders. It allows them to conduct user research, design,...
14 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Product people, How do we balance the needs of internal tools with customer-facing products in product management? This week on Product Thinking, I dove into the topic of inbound vs outbound product management. It's a common misconception that inbound product management, which deals with internal tools, carries less risk than outbound, customer-facing products. But I believe both require the same strategic rigor to ensure they deliver value. "Just because a tool is internal doesn't mean it...
21 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Product people, Have you ever considered how storytelling can be a game-changer in product management? This week on Product Thinking, I sat down with Michael Dodsworth, the founder and CEO of Fanfare, to discuss how turning product launches into immersive experiences can captivate audiences and drive real-time insights. "You don't just launch the product and expect people to find it and understand it. It's on you to educate them, to show them the value and to sell them on the product. Even...
29 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Product people, How do you balance the need for large, high-impact features with the flexibility of smaller, incremental updates? This week on Product Thinking, I explored this common dilemma with you all, diving into the pros and cons of each approach. We discussed how to determine the best path forward based on user value, stakeholder needs, and risk management. "If we can achieve the goal and achieve value for the user through smaller, discrete features that launch value faster, that's...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Product people, Ever felt overwhelmed by the scope of your responsibilities as a product manager? You're not alone. In this week's episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, I dove into a question from a senior IC product manager who's juggling five engineering teams, an enormous task usually spread across multiple PMs. It's crucial to communicate the need for change to your leadership when you find yourself in such a position. The key is presenting them with a clear picture of what's...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, Over the past decade, I’ve worked with dozens of enterprise organizations on their product transformations. Despite different industries, sizes, and starting points, I keep seeing the same pattern: we get buy-in to start the transformation and rally people around the end goal. But when we actually begin the work, we expect to reach that final state quickly, forgetting there are many critical steps in between. We can’t just leapfrog into the advanced state. The Maturity Curve...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Product people, How do we build financial products that truly meet the needs of older adults, while keeping them secure and user-friendly? This week on Product Thinking, I had an enlightening conversation with Tony Brancato, Chief Product Officer at Charlie Financial. We explored the challenges of designing financial products for the senior demographic, which is often overlooked in the tech world. Tony shared his insights on how Charlie Financial is innovating to provide peace of mind and...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Product people, In this week’s Product Thinking podcast, I explored the nuanced roles of product management and project management. It’s a common mix-up, yet understanding their distinct contributions is key to driving product success. I discussed how these roles complement each other, with product management focusing on the 'why' and value creation, and project management ensuring the 'when' and timely delivery. "Product management is about the why and the value creation part of it....
2 months ago • 2 min read