Psychological Safety is Key to Success in Product


Hi Product people,

This week, I had the pleasure of talking with Jose Quesada, the VP of Product Management for Mobile and Web at American Express, on the Product Thinking Podcast.

Jose's insights into digital transformation and the intersection of human-centered design with cutting-edge technology were truly enlightening.

"Change is actually an opportunity. It feels scary, but usually good times come out of it if you can really find your way."

His emphasis on embracing change and focusing on softer skills like relationship building and storytelling, especially in a tech-driven world, was particularly compelling.

In our discussion, we explored how American Express is integrating digital experiences with physical products and the importance of fostering a culture of experimentation. Jose also shared how user interfaces are evolving with AI and the potential these advancements hold for the financial industry.

Tune in to hear more about Jose's journey and his strategies for leading innovation at American Express. Listen to the full episode and gain valuable insights into driving product innovation and digital transformation.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: Apple | Spotify​

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Until next time,

Melissa Perri

Founder Product Institute, Board Member, and Teacher

​

You'll hear us talk about:

  • 11:25 - Embracing Experimentation

Jose discusses the importance of using experimentation as a tool to reduce uncertainty, encouraging his team to innovate and learn from mistakes without fear.

  • 25:31 - Data-Driven Product Strategy

Jose emphasizes the significance of a dual-track approach in product development, balancing immediate business outcomes with future-focused discovery.

  • 33:24 - Building Psychological Safety for Innovation

Jose shares strategies for fostering a team environment where making mistakes is part of the learning process, thereby driving innovation and growth.

Episode resources:

Other Resources:

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.

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.

You are subscribed to this email because you chose to opt in to emails from Product Institute, Produx Labs, or Melissa Perri.

Want to receive this email less frequently?

​Change Your Email Preferences Here

Product Thinking is the newsletter of Product Institute, Inc. and Melissa Perri.

Product Thinking Newsletter by Melissa Perri

Subscribe to this newsletter if you are a product manager or product leader interested in leveling up your strategy, process, and insights into technology. I send out emails once a week on Wednesdays.

Read more from Product Thinking Newsletter by Melissa Perri

Hello Reader, Every other week, a product manager asks me some version of the same question: "If AI can write the spec, run the analysis, and summarize the meeting, what's left for me?" It's a fair question. Most of the answers floating around are either dismissive ("you'll be fine") or catastrophic ("half of you won't have jobs by 2027"). Neither is useful. Here's the honest version. The PM role is being rewritten faster than any career playbook can keep up with. Some of the skills that used...

Hello Reader, When was the last time you spent more time preparing for an internal review than talking to a customer? Not because you're lazy. Not because you don't care about customers. But because the internal systems have gotten so complex that navigating them well feels like it has become the entire job. Stakeholder alignment meetings. Quarterly planning rituals. OKR calibration sessions. Status updates for three different audiences. By the time you get through the internal maze, there's...

Hello Reader, Lately I've been reflecting on product training, as we go into our 10th year at Product Institute. I've seen so many evolutions of product management, from when we didn't even acknowledge product was a thing, to the high days of agile transformations and product owners, to now AI PMs and talk about how teams will change. Through it all, we've worked with dozens of large enterprises running digital transformations and training thousands of people at a time. There's a key...