Hi Product people,

In our latest episode of the Product Thinking podcast, I had an enlightening conversation with Fabio Brocca, the Chief Product Officer at Xeneta. Fabio brings a wealth of experience from his years at Amazon and MSC, where he honed his skills in product management and leadership, and he’s now applying those lessons to transform the freight industry with innovative solutions.

One of the standout moments from our discussion was when Fabio highlighted the importance of customer empathy in product management:

"To be a really good product manager, you have to deeply feel for the customer's problems you are trying to solve. Every decision we make starts from a place of empathy."

This perspective is not only motivating but a crucial reminder of the human element at the core of product management. We also explored the unique challenges of transitioning from a massive tech company like Amazon to a growth-stage company like Xeneta.

Fabio shared how the lack of structure in smaller companies requires a more hands-on and inventive approach to prioritization and strategy, skills that any PM can benefit from in today's dynamic business environments. Fabio's insights into balancing speed with strategic decision-making were invaluable, reminding us that sometimes, speed can be as important as precision.

If you’re navigating similar transitions or trying to enhance your approach to product management, this episode is a must-listen. Have you faced similar challenges in balancing speed with strategic depth in your product roles? I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences, feel free to reply here or join the conversation on LinkedIn!

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: Apple | Spotify

Looking forward to hearing from you!

See you soon,

Melissa Perri

Founder Product Institute, Board Member, and Teacher

Key Moments on the Podcast to Check Out:

12:45 - Adapting Strategies Through Feedback Loops

Fabio discusses the significance of using real-time feedback to adapt and refine product strategies. He elaborates on the agility required to iterate based on customer interactions and feedback, which is crucial for any product manager aiming to remain relevant in dynamic markets.

23:05 - The Balance of Speed and Quality in Product Launches

We dive into the challenge of maintaining quality while prioritizing speed in product launches. Fabio shares his approach to managing expectations and aligning team efforts towards effective execution without sacrificing the end-user experience.

36:18 - Leadership in Fast-paced Product Environments

Fabio offers insights into leading product teams in high-pressure environments. He emphasizes the role of leadership in fostering a culture that embraces change and supports rapid iteration, ensuring teams are equipped to handle the demands of fast-paced product management.

Episode Resources:

This episode was brought to you by Liveblocks

Sign up for a free Liveblocks account

Other Resources:

LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST

THE PRODUCT THINKING PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY

Product Management training at scale for teams and individuals, created by Melissa Perri.

LEARN MORE

Do you have a product dilemma you just can’t solve? Are you in need of some pointed career guidance? We’ve got a direct line to Melissa, so now’s your chance to ask her anything you’d like. You can record a voice message here, or you can submit a question via form below. Melissa just might answer it in a future Dear Melissa segment of the podcast.

ASK MELISSA

The CPO Accelerator is a members-only live virtual course for product leaders taught by Melissa Perri. The move from product leader to VP or CPO can be challenging. It takes a whole new set of skills to succeed at the next level, and you may be the first person at your company to hold this seat at the executive table.

Learn more