Product by Design: Recent Episodes
Kyle Evans
A podcast about product management, user experience design, and how we can create the best product experiences for users and our businesses.
After founding several businesses, Peter is now working on the Uber/Shopify for recurring service-based businesses. We discuss the importance of understanding user problems and the benefits of digital transformations in companies and industries. We also discuss the importance of communication in a relationship—from communication within an organization to communication with customers and users.
Peter Wasmer
Peter Wasmer is a long time Naples, Florida-based entrepreneur who helps pragmatic small business owners manage like a pro. He understands both sides of the business coin and uses his deep experience to bring constant innovation to small businesses. His latest project is provalet.io focusing on helping small and medium sized service businesses increase revenue, improve efficiency, and drive down costs while improving customer communication and retention.
Links:
peter@provalet.io
provalet.io
Roulette
Ray Dalio Principles
cordbrick.com
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With four decades of experience in UX design, Dorothy Shamonsky, Ph.D has seen the evolution of design from its earliest days. In this episode, Kyle and Dorothy discuss the importance of good UX design, showing the value of UX, and understanding users. We also discuss the current state of UX and the changes to UX and design over the years, including the specialization and siloing of designers. We also discuss the future of technology, including AI and its implications on design. Finally, we explore natural user interfaces (NUIs)
Dorothy Shamonsky, Ph.D
Dorothy is the UX Strategy Officer at Mass.-based Integrated Computer Solutions (ICS) and its design studio Boston UX. Dorothy is focused on designing natural user interfaces (NUIs) to achieve simple-but-compelling user experiences for IoT devices, specializing in robotics, medical and automotive. She’s managed creative teams at MTV, Merrill Lynch and elsewhere; taught design at NYU, Pratt Institute and Brandeis; and earned a doctorate at MIT and a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: Dorothy Shamonsky
Books: Brave NUI World, Superintelligence
Links: BostonUX, ICS
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Gathering customer feedback and creating a product roadmap is one of the most important parts of product management. So why does it always seem like a struggle? In this episode, Kyle and Kareem Mayan of Savio discuss the importance of validating product features against actual data from customers. And the importance of having all of that information in a single place so we can make good decisions.
Kareem Mayan
- Since 2001, Kareem has founded and run Product teams at four software companies (3 exits), and PMed at companies like ESPN.com, MySpace
- He’s built over a dozen products doing everything from customer interviews, wireframing, UX work, prioritizing, roadmapping, leading teams, working with devs, managing stakeholders, and more.
- Currently co-founder of Savio, a TinySeed-backed Product Management Platform for B2B SaaS companies where he’s talked with hundreds of PMs about their process
Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: Kareem Mayan
Twitter: @kareem
Links: Savio
k@savio.io
Readwise
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In this episode, Anna Peterson, a product coach, joins Kyle to discuss key skills for product managers. From overcoming imposter syndrome to stakeholder management to establishing a confident, executive presence, we explore many of the skills product managers and product leaders need to be successful.
Anna Peterson (Kotliarevskaia)
Anna is a coach helping product leaders go from inhibited to intuitive.
Prior to becoming a coach, Anna spent 15 years working in tech companies worldwide. During this time, she went from UX design to product management, to leadership. Most recently, Anna was a Director of Product at ServiceNow where she led the company's Enterprise Agile Planning solution from inception to market leadership.
Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: Anna’s LinkedIn
Links: tech-happy.com
Horace and Pete
Downdog app
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When is a product done? When should you build vs buy? Join host Kyle on this episode of Product by Design as he speaks with Brad Hawkins, Chief Solutions Officer at ServicePower as they discuss product development, user experience, AI, and more. With 28 years of experience, Brad shares his passion for finding solutions and elevating customer experience. Listen as they discuss prioritizing user experience in software development, the evolution of claims processing, and unifying a platform. Get ready for insightful discussions about machine learning, practical solutions, and personal growth.
Brad Hawkins
Brad is the Chief Solutions Officer at ServicePower, a leading field service management software for companies like Costco, LG, Whirlpool and more. Brad has more than 25 years of experience in developing field service solutions that enhance processes and elevate customer experiences.
Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: Brad Hawkins, ServicePower
Links: ServicePower
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Timestamps:
[00:00:07] Field Service Management with Brad Hawkins
[00:03:35] Golfing and Career Journey with ServicePower
[00:06:58] Streamlining Warranty Payment Processes
[00:10:06] Value Creation and Workforce Management in ServicePower
[00:13:37] Unifying Platform Technologies Through Acquisitions
[00:16:36] Prioritizing User Experience in Software Development
[00:19:56] Continuous improvement and buying vs building software
[00:23:16] Long-Term Employment
[00:26:41] Career Growth Within One Company
[00:30:02] Building Platform and AI in Software Industry
[00:33:19] Challenges with AI and Machine Learning Implementation
[00:36:44] Learning Simplicity in Career
[00:40:09] Staying focused on core competencies
[00:43:04] ServicePower's Unique Workforce Solution
[00:46:17] Embracing Life's Unexpected Journey
[00:49:37] Speaker's Social and Digital Media Promotion
Get ready for an exciting episode of Product by Design! Host Kyle Evans welcomes Hikari Senju and Matt Swalley from Omneky to talk about their AI marketing platform. Along with discussing their backgrounds, we share our views on the changing AI environment and the potential exponential growth in technology. We also delve into how using generative AI with advertising can impact the way marketers scale creative multivariate testing. We also discuss how AI is making advertising more accessible, unleashing an order of magnitude more creativity.
Additionally, we discuss the importance of hiring the right people and building a great team to achieve success in a venture-backed company. Along with sharing their experiences in Silicon Valley and growing a startup, Hikari and Matt provide insights on how to maintain focus and integrity while building products for customers. The episode wraps up with some cool technology and book recommendations, including the potentially sentient AI read "After On" by Rob Reid and exciting tech like vector databases.
Get ready to be inspired by this podcast and stay ahead in the fast-moving industry by reskilling yourself with AI tools!
Hikari Senju
Hikari Senju is the Founder & CEO of Omneky, an AI platform that generates personalized ads at scale. Hikari founded his previous startup, an on-demand tutoring app called QuickHelp, while studying Computer Science at Harvard. Hikari later sold QuickHelp to Yup.com and became the company’s Head of Growth. During his time at Yup.com, he saw how much money was being spent on inefficient content and saw the opportunities in generative AI to solve this, inspiring him to found Omneky. Since then, he has grown the company into the leader in the AI generative ad space. Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, DALLE-2, and their own proprietary algorithms, Omneky’s platform empowers customers to analyze the design preferences of all the customer’s target audiences and manage thousands of AI-generated ads designed to drive conversions for each customer profile.
Matt Swalley
Matt Swalley is Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of Omneky. Previously Matt was the Chief of Staff to Global Business at AT&T, was part of AT&T’s strategy team and led midmarket sales at AT&T
Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: Hikari Senju, Matt Swalley
Books: After On, Chip Wars, Alignment Problem, Competing in the Age of AI
Links: Ben’s Bites
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[00:00:07] Starting an AI marketing platform with Omneky
[00:03:49] Personal Interests and Backgrounds in Tech
[00:07:03] How Computer Vision and Generative AI Meet Marketing
[00:10:30] Early days of Omneky's generative AI development
[00:13:58] Advancements in AI technology
[00:17:16] The impact of AI on Google and Microsoft
[00:20:42] Legal Responsibility of Chatbots
[00:23:55] The Importance of Reskilling in AI
[00:27:08] The Impact of AI on Marketing and Advertising
[00:30:28] The democratization of coding
[00:33:47] Building a Successful Team in Silicon Valley
[00:36:58] Aligning Mission and Market for Startup Success
[00:39:49] Customer obsession in product development
[00:42:38] The Value of Customer Feedback and Advertising Data
[00:45:35] Lessons from the California Gold Rush
[00:48:41] Favorite technology recommendations for podcast listeners
In this episode of Product by Design, host Kyle Evans welcomes Artem Koren from Sembly.ai. Join them as they explore the revolutionary and ever-evolving world of AI and its application in meetings. Artem, the Chief Product Officer and co-founder at Sembly.ai, shares his background in technology and management consulting, and how the idea for Sembly.ai was born.
We discuss our experiences with AI and the various applications in different industries like walking tours and graphic design. We also discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of using AI in meetings, and how it could change the way we work and interact with each other. Don't miss out on Artem's suggestions for trying out new AI-based technologies and his recommendations for thought-provoking podcasts.
Check out Sembly's website for a free trial of their AI-powered meeting automation tool. Follow and subscribe to the podcast for exciting insights that will leave you thinking about the limitless possibilities of AI.
Artem Koren
Artem is the Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of Semby AI, a SaaS platform that uses proprietary AI algorithms to transcribe and analyze meetings. Artem has 16+ years of product management experience and has applied AI learning to his work since 2009. Artem is passionate about using AI to enrich humanity and create positive change.
Links from the Show:Sembly.ai
Twitter: @clearlykoren
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akoren/
Sam Altman Podcast
DreamStudio.ai
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[00:00:09] AI meeting transcription and analysis technology
[00:04:48] From Chess to Sembly.ai
[00:08:56] Early Neural Networks and Cancer Detection
[00:12:59] The Evolution of AI Technology and Terminology
[00:17:15] The Evolution of AI and Machine Learning
[00:21:33] The Potential of AI in Meetings with Sembly.ai
[00:25:22] Harnessing AI for Effective Meeting Management
[00:29:03] VoiceAI's Impact on Meeting Productivity
[00:33:12] The Future of AI in Meetings
[00:36:59] The Future of AI in Meetings
[00:40:59] The Use of AI in Meetings
[00:44:47] The Future of Everyday Life with AI
[00:48:57] AI's Impact on Life and Work
[00:53:07] The Impact of AI on Various Industries
[00:57:39] The Benefits of Trying AI-Based Technologies
[01:02:18] Dream Studio AI and Generative Images
The holiday season is upon us once again (I know, I’m struggling to believe it too). But that means egg nog, sugar cookies, and giving gifts. You may find yourself looking for ideas for holiday gifts for those special people in your life. Or struggling with ideas for your own gift list. And if you or anyone you know happens to be a product manager or a designer, we’ve got you covered.
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Description
Stakeholder management and communication are critical to successfully managing a product and building a product team or organization, but are some of the most difficult skills to master. In this episode, Christina and Kyle discuss how to communicate better, manage stakeholders, and improve our skills as teammates and leaders.
Christina WeissChristina is a product management consultant & coach with 10+ years of experience in product, engineering, and digital health. An American based in Vienna, Austria, she works with startup founders, product leaders and PMs across the US & EU. She also teaches an online course on communication & stakeholder management for product managers.
Links from the Show
Website: https://christinakweiss.com/
Course: https://maven.com/christinakweiss/communication-and-stakeholder-management-for-product-managers (or bit.ly/product-comms)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ckells19
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Description
Creativity is not just for the professionals or the “creatives”. It is for everyone and is about the practice of ideas. More specifically, combining unrelated and abstract ideas in new ways. And it is so important. Not just because we need to solve problems, but because those who apply creative thinking get paid more and are nearly 300% happier at work.
In this episode, we discuss everything from video games and storytelling to art school and rediscovering your creativity. We dive into Joey’s book, the inspiration for the 39 laws, how we can apply and use them, and so much more.
Joey CofoneJoey Cofone is the Founder & CEO of Baronfig, an award-winning designer and entrepreneur, and author of The Laws of Creativity.
Joey has designed and art directed over 100 products from zero to launch. His work has been featured in Fast Company, Bloomberg, New York Magazine, Newsweek, Bon Appétit, Quartz, Mashable, Print, and more. Joey was named a New Visual Artist and, separately, Wunderkind designer, by Print magazine. He is also a 1st place winner of the American Institute of Graphic Arts design competition, Command X.
Joey strives to make work that appeals to curious minds—work that’s beautiful, smart, and communicative. He believes that design is the least of a designer’s worries, that story is at the heart of all tasks, and jumping off cliffs is the only way to grow.
He lives in New York City with his wife, Ariana, and his dog (and writing buddy), Luigi.
Links from the Show
https://www.joeycofone.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeycofone/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joeycofone
The Laws of Creativity: joeycofone.com
https://baronfig.com/
Old Man and the Sea
Cyberpunk Edgerunners
PS5 Controller
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Description
Speaking and communicating well is critical for all of us. So how can we improve? In this episode, Brenden from MasterTalk joins us to discuss public speaking, presenting, and communicating better. We discuss overcoming your barriers and finding your motivation to become a better communicator at work and in life. We also discuss applying the “easy three” tips for improving your public speaking. You won't want to miss this one!
Brenden KumarasamyAfter coaching many business students on how to give amazing presentations for 2 years, Brenden quickly realized that public speaking is a very difficult subject to master. There are many nuances and generalities that make people afraid to get on stage and present confidently. Because of this, he created his channel to help everyone master even the slightest details of their pitch so that they can gain the confidence to deliver the best presentation they've ever dreamed of!
Links from the Show
Instagram: @masteryourtalk
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MasterTalks
Workshop: rockstarcommunicator.com
Book: Thirst
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Description
Satyam has led various in-house design organizations at companies such as Citrix and PayPal. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School. He is now the founder of UXReactor, a specialized UX design firm and author of a new book, which we discuss. Anyone looking to become more user-centered as a team or company will benefit immensely from this excellent product management and UX discussion!
Satyam KantamneniPrior to founding UXReactor, Satyam led various in-house design organizations such as Citrix and PayPal. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School. While at Harvard, Satyam realized that most businesses aren’t leveraging the full power of User Experience (UX) Design as an engine for strategic growth. So, he resolved to change that. Through UXReactor, Satyam demonstrated that UX can and should drive enterprise-wide innovation and business outcomes. UXReactor has enabled its clients-partners to generate hundreds of millions in additional revenue from user-centered innovation. Satyam is passionate about user-centered innovation and he authored the recently-released book User Experience Design: A Practical Playbook to Fuel Business Growth.
Links from the Show
UX Reactor
User Experience Design: A Practical Playbook to Fuel Business Growth(book)
LinkedIn
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Description
Mark founded two successful companies and shares his experience with his latest venture, Backendless. We discuss his move to the United States, Ukraine, creating good applications, scaling, and how to become better at programming principles. Whether you are new to no-code/low-code solutions or are a seasoned product manager or engineer, this is a great discussion!
Mark PillerMark came to the U.S. as a refugee from the former Soviet Union in the early 90s and approaches his business from a perspective of grit, determination, and gratitude. He has worked in a variety of corporate roles in organizations from small start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. A technologist and engineer at heart, Mark is proficient in several programming languages and specializes in architecting complex computing systems.
Links from the Show
Youtube.com/backendless
Backendless.com
linkedin.com/in/markpiller
Dark Matter (book)
Bravo studio
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Florian is the co-founder of Carployee, an Austrian-based startup that was acquired by RideAmigos, where he is now a technical research lead. In this episode, we discuss changing our thinking about big concepts like commuting, applying behavioral science to tough problems, and changing behavior.
We also talk about:
- Balancing short-term and long-term research in a start-up with lots of constraints
- Sales-driven development vs. product-driven development
- Shipping fast
Join us for a great conversation for anyone in product management, UX, technology, or working on advancing their career.
Florian Daniel:
Florian Daniel started working in the commuting industry in 2019 when he co-founded Carployee, a ridesharing startup born in Austria. In early 2022, Carployee was acquired by RideAmigos, a workplace commuter engagement platform that empowers employees with commute options and incentives. In his new role at RideAmigos, Florian leads the platform's technical research arm to help change how the world commutes to and from work where his biggest motivator is to help solve the climate crisis through smarter, sustainable commuting.
Links from the Show
Pavecommute.app
LinkedIn
Human Kind book
BlockPit
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Dr. G is a trauma-informed psychologist turned trauma-informed product researcher and designer. In this episode, we discuss getting into UX research, becoming an advisor, meeting people where they are, and emotional inclusivity. We explore trauma-informed design (understanding), restorative design (creating), and receptional design (receiving) as the product lifecycle.
We also talk about:
- Going deeper for a small audience rather than trying to get all the audience
- Focusing on getting design right
- Designing for emotions other than just joy and delight
Join us for a great conversation for anyone in product management, UX, technology, or working on advancing their career or understanding people and how design impacts them.
Dr. G:
After 4 degrees in psychology (B.A., M.A., M.S., and Ph.D.) I've finally decided what I want to be when I grow up. As a trauma-informed product designer I help product and service designers become more restorative in their design process. I've finally fused my love for psychology and user experience (UX) research and design into one beautiful, complex career.
Links from the Show
drgslab.com
LinkedIn
Empathy in Tech
Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
Truebill app
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In this episode, I spoke with Dan Hafner, a mobile app creator and entrepreneur who helps other businesses and entrepreneurs create apps and solve problems. We talked about focusing on meaningful problems, thinking through the user experience, no-code solutions, and who benefits from creating a mobile app. Join us for a great product management conversation.
Dan Hafner:
Dan started out building apps with zero ability to write a single line of code, yet somehow figured out how to build an entire app development business! He works with high-level coaches, content creators and entrepreneurs to put their idea into a tangible, sleek and scalable app model.
Links from the Show
Dappermobileapps.com
Mobile Domination
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Finding a mentor is critical for your career, but it's a lot like dating--you can't force it. Eventually you'll both know and you'll develop a relationship and friendship that works for both of you. We discuss the importance of mentors and mentorship and how to find the right mentor.
We also talk about:
- Dealing with sexism and discrimination, both blatant and subtle, and learning how to handle it and change it
- Building relationships of trust to foster open and honest feedback and communication
- Finding your passion throughout your career
Join us for a great conversation for anyone in product management, UX, technology, or working on advancing their career.
Roni Burgener:
Roni is a biological and chemical engineering grad with dog years of experience in her first four years in tech. After bouncing around between several companies and roles in tech - she has landed as an engineer at Comcast. When she’s not working she’s either creating content for her podcast Big Girl Money, cooking, or at happy hour with her girlfriends. She lives in Arvada, Colorado with her soon to be husband and two dogs.
Links from the Show
The Art of Gathering
Big Girl Money Podcast
The Oto Smart Sprinkler
LinkedIn
Instagram
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Join us as we discuss starting a company, the importance of having diversity on your team (and consequences if you don’t), how the tools we use for communication have neglected diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and what they are doing to fix that at Kollektiv. And how technology can help, but how our value systems and mindsets are even more critical.
Jenny Meier:
Jenny is the cofounder of Kollektiv MFG (Meier, Fischer, Gansauge), which is a collective of three women in tech, building digital products with a focus on projects that support the global 17 sustainable development goals.
Links from the Show
Kollektiv MFG
Calvah
Jennifer on LinkedIn
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In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Kenya Oduor, a human-centered researcher, strategist, and solution designer. We discuss moving from being a practitioner to a leader, working across all the disciplines in a business, democratizing design, and when it makes sense to add more UX researchers and designers to your team. We also discuss avoiding bias in research and recruiting for our product discovery work, and how to ensure we’re building inclusively. Listen in for incredible insight and a great conversation.
Kenya's Bio:
Dr. Kenya Oduor is a human-centered researcher, strategist, and solution designer. She is trained in human factors, experimental psychology and industrial engineering.
After nearly 20 years in enterprise software development organizations, she formed Lean Geeks. Lean Geeks, a business consulting and staffing firm, helps organizations discover market opportunities and define the most effective solutions for their market.
Links from the show:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenya-oduor-phd-02a63a/
Lean Geeks: https://leangeeks.net/
LinkedIn Post on statistics: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kenya-oduor-phd
Young, Famous, and African: https://www.netflix.com/title/81310218
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Most of what holds us back are internal constraints and fears. So how can we recognize our limiting beliefs and overcome them to increase our influence and impact? I discuss that with Daniel Tolson, a business coach who has helped thousands of individuals understand what is holding them back and overcome it. So whether you're new in your career or 20 years in, buckle up for a great discussion!
Daniel's Bio:
Daniel Tolson is an internationally known business coach. He helped more than 15,000 businesses to catapult their influence, accelerate their impact and unleash new income levels.
Links from the show:
Website: https://danieltolson.com/
Masterclass: https://www.unleashedmasterclass.com/
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Pricing and packaging can be complex, which is why many companies and teams get it wrong or avoid it. It's why I spoke with Dan about how to do it right, and why he created Product Tranquility. From understanding and segmenting your customers, to creating the right packaging, to developing an ongoing process, we covered so many amazing tips for getting product pricing right. And more (like why to avoid freemium). So take a listen.
Dan's Bio:
Product Tranquility is a consulting firm founded in Austin, TX, led by Dan Balcauski. As the principal consultant for Product Tranquility, Dan helps high-volume B2B SaaS CEOs define pricing and packaging for new products. He is a TopTal certified Top 3% Product Management Professional and helps teach the Kellogg Executive Education course on Product Strategy.
Links from the show:
Website: https://www.producttranquility.com/#home
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/balcauski/
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Working with the right users and customers is critical for success. We need to find them, onboard them, and in the end, offboard them in the right way. And every step should be intentional and thoughtful for our businesses and our users.
Barbara's Bio:
A latina with BIG global dreams, I've always been an advocate of following my heart and passions. I realized at 31 that age is just a number, and you can get to start over again no matter what, so I quit to my burnout corporate work and started looking for ways of launching a business from home, more relaxed = less stress, and more time for myself.
Barbara and Norberto, two Venezuelans working in this online world since 2015. They created My Virtual Partnr in 2015 to put together our corporate and strategic planning background and expertise and create a simple strategic planning program for Small Businesses, that are seeking to scale in business.
Links from the show:
https://myvirtualpartnr.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/myvirtualpartnr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myvirtualpartnr/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myvirtualpartnr/
The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama: https://amzn.to/36hVdpK
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Social robots started as Lee saw the problem of loneliness and isolation in retirement homes, as her own father needed more and more care. And she took up the cause right before Covid-19 hit, creating Social Robots and piloting them in several locations. She has learned an amazing number of lessons building a company, testing new ideas and new markets, and creating solutions to significant problems many of us are facing in our families today. From starting simple, to prioritizing privacy, to collaboration with retirement home staffs to create meaningful experiences.
Lee's Bio:
Lee St James is a tech-savvy consultant and entrepreneur with over 25 years of business experience across a range of industries including consumer packaged goods and software. She is the founder and President of Social Robots, a technology start-up that is exploring how robots can engage, entertain, and educate residents, family members and staff at retirement homes and long-term care facilities. She is passionate about the opportunity for companion robots to relieve social isolation and loneliness and to help people be more connected with each other.
Lee has an Honors Business degree from Western University (London, Ontario) and a Masters degree in Business Administration from INSEAD (Fontainebleau, France). As an experienced general manager, collaborative team leader and serial entrepreneur, Lee has expertise in digital transformation, strategic marketing and robots.
Links from the show:
www.socialrobots.ca
lee@socialrobots.ca
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/social-robots
Twitter: https://twitter.com/social_robots
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Social.Robots (FB page for Mindy too: https://www.facebook.com/mindy.stjames.71/)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/social.robots/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0vp2MOxEzGri0iAq4zqScw
Being Mortal by Dr. Atul Gawande: http://atulgawande.com/book/being-mortal/
Happily Ever Older by Moira Welsh: https://ecwpress.com/products/happily-ever-older
More by Kyle:
Follow Product by Design and Kyle on Twitter
Kyle's writing on Medium
Product by Design on Medium
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Unfortunately, groupthink continues to be pervasive on our product teams and companies. Whether it is minor features or big launches. Sometimes it is a poorly designed product. Sometimes it is a tragedy. But at the core, we can often find groupthink, which is why we need to understand it, recognize it, and avoid it.
Links from the show:
Groupthink — Understanding and Avoiding It
Groupthink — Recognizing It In Teams and Organizations
More by Kyle:
Follow Product by Design and Kyle on Twitter
Kyle's writing on Medium
Product by Design on Medium
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As a long-time entrepreneur, Ed has built a number of companies and businesses, and seen what works and what doesn't. Learning from his time at MoviePass (along with his experience in software and live events), Ed has launched festivalPass, a festival subscription service for live events. We dive into lessons learned, using data well, the power of discovery, the creator economy, and what the future may bring.
We also dive into a number of great topics, from things like more support for creators, using crypto, minting and buying NFTs within the platform and more. We also discuss how to prioritize features within a marketplace in order to provide the most value to users.
Ed's Bio:
Entrepreneur with over 25 years business, technology and management experience including 6 years banking and valuation experience. Founded an e-commerce business in 1999 which was sold to a competitor in 2001. Repeat Founder including SimplyEngage, myProducer, & Predict Ventures. Currently Founder & CEO of festivalPass.
Links from the show:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edvincent/
festivalPass: https://www.festivalpass.com/
More by Kyle:
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Kyle's writing on Medium
Product by Design on Medium
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In this episode, we discuss interviewing tips for hiring managers and candidates, including how to handle take-home assignments, cultural fit interviews, making a game plan before the interview, and giving feedback. It was a great discussion with tons of excellent nuggets. And our farewell to Eva (and 2021).
More by Kyle:
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Kyle's writing on Medium
Product by Design on Medium
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In this episode we have an incredible conversation with Rob Ristagno, CEO of Sterling Woods and expert in segmentation and product/market fit. We talk about the issues most companies have with segmentation, steps to improve segmentation, and how to identify product/market fit.
Links from the show:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robristagno
Segmentation tool: https://sterlingwoods.com/
Podcast: CEO Campfire Chat
Bose Sleepbuds (shout-outs): https://amzn.to/31onqsp
More by Kyle:
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Kyle's writing on Medium
Product by Design on Medium
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Looking for ideas for holiday gifts? We've got you covered. Looking to start a trend of giving gifts for work anniversaries? We agree completely. And have got the perfect options for you. Listen on!
Links from the show:
Product Manager:
- Affordable
- Funny notebook - $18 - https://wtfnotebooks.com/
- Book - $32 - Design https://amzn.to/32YyMUL
- Moderate
- Ember smart mug - $149 https://www.bestbuy.com/site/ember-temperature-control-smart-mug-14-oz-copper/6471972.p?skuId=6471972
- DJI Tello Drone - $99: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RQJHG8M
- Expensive
- Azio Retro Keyboard and rest - $250 https://amzn.to/30WQ6Zp
- Oculus Quest 2 - $299 - https://amzn.to/3pkZy1c
- DJI Mavic Mini - $349 - https://amzn.to/3I7wIde
- Echo show 15 - $250 https://amzn.to/3DMTF2t
Designer
- Affordable
- Great Designs - $25 - https://amzn.to/3lwOOeY
- Ergonomic wireless mouse - $20 - https://amzn.to/3EHorKZ
- Mid
- UI Patterns Card set - $59 https://shop.ui-patterns.com/product/ui-patterns-card-deck/?v=7516fd43adaa
- External storage drive - $69 - https://amzn.to/3GgbaZX
- Higher price point
- Adobe subscription - $360 - https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html
- Design keyboard - $199 https://amzn.to/3kZHacE
- Asus ProArt Display 27" (PA278QV) $319 - https://amzn.to/3EtZJ0r
- ViewSonic VP2768-4k 27" - $579 - https://amzn.to/3GibR5a
More by Kyle:
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Kyle's writing on Medium
Product by Design on Medium
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Embracing product thinking as a product development team, an organization, and as practitioners is key to creating great products. Adopting a product mindset comes through education, experimentation, communication, and constant improvement. We explore how to shift mindsets, where project thinking falls short, and so much more.
Mark's Bio:
Mark is an independent IT consultant with almost 30 years of experience in Software Development - covering leadership, architecture, devops and hands-on development. He is also the host of the “Better ROI from Software Development” podcast - a short weekly podcast for the non-technical leader struggling with why their “traditional” management techniques aren’t getting the outcomes they need
Links from the show:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbryantaylor/
Podcast: https://red-folder.com/podcasts or search for “Better ROI from Software Development”
DuoLingo (shout-outs): https://www.duolingo.com/
Cliq Chairs (shout-out): https://www.cliqproducts.com/products/cliq-chair
More by Kyle:
Follow Product by Design and Kyle on Twitter
Kyle's writing on Medium
Product by Design on Medium
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Jason Sherman - an entrepreneur, filmmaker, and futurist - joins us to talk about validating ideas through minimum viable products (MVPs), creating successful launches, and constant learning to build new skills and iterate on your ideas. Join us for another superb conversation.
Bio: Jason runs a web and mobile dev shop and film studio from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He gives guest lectures at area universities, and regularly supports hackathons or tech events as a mentor and judge. His methodologies on entrepreneurship and data driven decisions are his main source of education to those he helps all around the world. His startup book Strap on your Boots is the culmination of his life’s work to help other entrepreneurs succeed with a podcast of the same name, and is the focus of a class he created called Startup Essentials. He originally taught the course as a guest lecturer at area universities, including the Wharton School of Business and now the course is available online for students on Udemy and Skillshare.
Links from the show:
jasonsherman.org
Strap On Your Boots (book)
Strap On Your Boots (podcast)
Cutting Corners Documentary
More by Kyle:
Follow Product by Design and Kyle on Twitter
Kyle's writing on Medium
Product by Design on Medium
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Jens is a longtime product manager, and he joins us to talk about all things product. We discuss the benefits of writing as a forcing function and how writing and product are so similar. We also discuss how to work with engineers and the role of product management as risk management. And so much more. Listen for one of the best product conversations we've had yet.
Bio: Jens is Head of Product at RevenueCat, a subscription management software-as-a-service. Previous product management roles include fitness app 8fit and Microsoft’s enterprise social network Yammer.
Articles:
- Working with Engineers
- Product Management is Risk Management
- The Discomfort of a Great Product Team
Follow Jens on Twitter, Medium, or his website.
More by Kyle:
Follow Product by Design and Kyle on Twitter
Kyle's writing on Medium
Product by Design on Medium
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Having more options may seem better, but is it? In this episode, we explore the paradox of choice—when having too many options actually slows us down and paralyzes our decision-making. We discuss why we end up with too many features in our products and what we can do to avoid creating feature overload for our customers.
Killing Features (article)
Defeating Feature Fatigue (article)
Patrick Collison Tweet
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We dive into 5 questions we've received recently and give some thoughts: How much should I focus on competitors? How much will a certification help me? How do I deal with timelines from stakeholders? What do you think about Customer Advisory Boards? How do you work with UX and engineering on discovery work? Buckle up for a rapid fire episode.
Killing Features
10 Heuristics for Good UX
Product Thinking vs Project Thinking
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Piyali Dey is a product manager with Microsoft. In this episode, she shares tips on getting into product management, including the skills new product managers need, how to leverage existing experience, and interviewing and networking tips. We also discuss what you can do to build your portfolio, how to avoid common resume mistakes, and whether you need certifications and specific education. Finally, we discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in our product teams. Join us for another great product conversation.
Books
Hit Refresh
Becoming
Cracking the PM Interview
Hooked
About Piyali
LinkedIn
Twitter
Bio:
Piyali is currently a Product Manager at Microsoft and one of the Board of Directors at a non-profit called ProductBC. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband, 10-month-old daughter and two puppies. Before joining Microsoft, she earned her master’s degree in computer sc from North Carolina State University, USA and spent several years working in enterprise companies and startups as a software engineer.
Piyali is known across the technical community in North America as an active community event organizer and a relentless advocate for diversity and equality in tech. The past few years have seen her in various lead roles at major events and community groups including IEEE Women in Engineering and Grace Hopper Conference. Building communities and empowering minorities in tech are two of her biggest passions.
Burnout-chronic workplace stress that hasn't been successfully managed-is becoming more and more common. But what can we do about it? In this episode, we talk with experience designer Carien Moolman about her experience with burnout. We discuss the 3 predictors of burnout and what each of us need to overcome and avoid burnout in our careers. We also talk tips and tricks for avoiding burnout as product people.
We also dive into remote work, and how remote work has been in South Africa, where Carien is located. And we sprinkle in some lawn talk and predictions on Siri becoming our (humorous) robot overlord. Buckle up for a great conversation.
Article: How to survive a design career and avoid burnout
Carien Moolman:
Medium
LinkedIn
Bio:
Carien has been doing UX design (in South Africa) for the last 13 years. Before that, she designed microwave applicators to crack rocks. She has worked with banks, investment managers, insurers, a car manufacturer, a cinema, a maker of luxury linen, a fuel provider, some pretty strange loyalty programs and most recently, a fun startup building a platform for businesses who have field sales teams. She believes that tech should serve people and that Human Centered Design makes the world a better place. All her previous non-work-related interests have been replaced by raising two blonde toddlers, from whom she has learned more about human behaviour and decision making than all of the books combined.
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Dark design patterns are about manipulating users to do things that businesses want them to do, but that users may not want to do themselves. These patterns are as prevalent as they are evil. In this episode, we discuss some of the most common dark patterns and how different businesses and industries employ them. And why we need to be the voice to stop the manipulation.
Darkpatterns.org
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Burnout is a serious issue, and is becoming an increasingly common workplace phenomenon. But what can we do about it? In this episode, we identify the symptoms of burnout, the common causes, and what we can do to prevent burnout in ourselves and our teams. From taking breaks, to finding the right role and company, to taking control of our "why" and our time.
B-Hyve Smart Sprinker
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We've all launched features that succeed and features that failed. But why are some successful and others unsuccessful? In this episode, we look at some examples of good product features from our own experience and from other companies, as well as unsuccessful features to examine what makes a good feature and good experience, and what we can learn from success and failure. From Snapchat Stories to Facebook Home, we've got some great examples to dive into.
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In this episode, we are joined by Rachael Larsen, the new Head of Education at Product School. Rachael has been in technology and education for over 14 years, and has built software products that range from mobile apps to large enterprise systems. We discuss everything from "beta spring" weather to prioritizing in product and in life. We discuss tips for product managers, best advice, and some highlights and lowlights from Rachael's career in product.
Rachael Larsen (LinkedIn)
Inspired by Marty Cagan
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Managing your product career is critical to your success. It starts with applying a product mindset to your career, and taking that mindset to your job search and interviewing when that time comes. In this episode, we give our top tips on how to do that, from before you start looking for a job, to while your interviewing, to post interview tips.
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What is an MVP? Why is it important? Why is the idea of a minimum viable product so contentious? Are you building an actual MVP or just shipping crap and calling it an MVP? We tackle these questions and more as we discuss MVPs, their history, what an MVP really is, and how to use them in product development.
User personas have been around for a long time. Creating them can be an excellent exercise and a useful tool for UX design and product teams. But are they always the right answer? And what about when the rubber meets the road? Personas can be great in theory, but in practice can fall short. In this episode, we explore the ways to use personas and the ways they can fall short, along with what to do for your teams.
Links
- Design of Everyday Things
- The Inmates are Running the Asylum
Being a product manager or UX designer can be great. But it can also suck. In this episode, we discuss the best and worst elements of working in product management and product design. From the highs of creating a strategy and solving real user problems to the lows of fighting constant bureaucracy and cranking out features, we tackle the reality of our favorite (and least favorite) parts of the job.
Links:
- Jeff Bezos and Amazon
- Product Thinking vs Project Thinking
David Broschinsky is a Director of UX. He has over 20 years of experience, and has seen the field grow from almost nothing to its current state. As he's helped develop UX teams and UX practitioners, he's seen what works and what it takes to be successful. In this episode, we discussed where UX started and the changes we'll see in the future. We talked about how we can build good design teams and get support from our organizations. We also discussed tips for young UX designers. And, of course, a few of our favorite gadgets.
You can follow David at @sundiverdb on Twitter and @sundiverdb on Instagram
While you're there, don't forget to follow @kylelarryevans, @yanchauchau, and @prod_by_design
Recognizing and acknowledging employees and colleagues is critical for motivation, engagement, and job satisfaction. But how can we do better at recognizing our team members and teammates? Who should do it? When is a good time? And why, as product people, is it especially important? Join us as we dive headfirst into 2021 and into the importance of acknowledging accomplishments, great and small.
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the product manager or UX designer in your life? Look no further. We've got you covered. Whether it's a small token of appreciation or a major splurge, there is something on our list sure to satisfy discerning tastes. We cover items for less expensive to very nice, along with a few surprise bonuses. So take a listen if you need ideas for yourself or someone in your life.
Check out the Holiday Gift Guide Article on our site as well!
Product Managers:
- Estimation Dice - $12
- Empowered - $28
- Or check out any book from this list
- Audible Subscription- $150
- Leather Notebook Cover - $89
- MTP Annual Membership - $250
- Webcam and Mic - $220
- Bose 700 Headphones- $340
Product/UX Designers:
- Wireframing notebook from Moo $19.99
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8LRwrKH7_I
- Subscription gifting:
- Setapp, $9.99
- The noun project, $39.99 for a year
- Blush - modular illustration, $12/mo
- Udemy - gift a course!
- Wrist rest ($36)
- We hotkey all day
- Royal Seat Cushion from Purple, $79-99
- Candle subscription for WFH from Vellabox, $60 for 3mos (prepay)
Bonus:
Gift card exchange
https://www.reddit.com/r/giftcardexchange/
Get stamps for your designer friends!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we give 10 shout-outs (and a few bonuses) to some products we're using and love. From apps on our computers, to apps on our phones, to the best cup of hot chocolate, settle in for a holiday treat as we talk good product and design.
- Secura Milk Frother
- Setapp: Netflix of apps
- Elevate: Brain training
- CleanShot X: screenshot & screen recording
- Fossil Smartwatch
- Noizio: background noise
- Weebly
- Todoist: task management
- TP Link: Smart home switches
- Karabiner-Elements: Key-binding for keyboards
- (Not a product but life-saver) All the sketch plugins by Jason Burns
- Eva's keyboard: https://imgur.com/a/mQ9EGIl
In this episode we sat down with Adam Thomas, a product manager, leader and coach, to talk about 3 main cognitive biases in product teams and what we can do about them. We discussed how product managers are responsible for the decision fitness and process, and how to move from system one thinking to system two thinking. Buckle up for another great discussion.
Links and notes:
- Wasps: From Murder Hornets to Red Velvet Ants
- Identifying and Addressing Common Biases in Product Management
- Thinking Fast and Slow (by Daniel Kahneman)
- Adam Thomas - Product Person
In this episode, we interviewed Ali Maquet, a Principal Portfolio Manager at WGU. She has had an array of experience, from working as a business analyst, a scrum master, a product manager and now a portfolio manager. She gives advice for moving into different roles, shaping your role, working with different disciplines, and building trust. Ali is one of the best, so get ready for an amazing conversation.
- What to do if you're considering a move to product
- How to shape your role
- Having difficult conversations and building trust
- Remote work and working agreements
- Advice for leaders
It's critical we continue our learning and development as product managers and UX designers. But it can be hard when our jobs take up so much time day-to-day. What are some of the best ways to continue professional progression? We dive into that topic and more on this episode.
Professional Learning:
- Podcasts
- Webinars, Publications and Newsletters: Product Thinking, Product by Design
- Books
- Conferences
- Training
- Mentoring
Other Links:
Evans Woodshop
Instagram
Choosing the right things to work on is often the hardest part in any role, especially product development. Whether it is strategic initiatives, product features, or backlog items, we have to ensure we're saying yes to the right things and saying no to the wrong things. In this episode we tackle a framework for making those hard decisions and how to incorporate the various prioritization methods (from MoSCoW to User Story Mapping) into your process.
If you like this episode, you can find more information at https://productthinking.substack.com/p/strategic-prioritization
Product roadmaps can be an extraordinary tool, or an extraordinary pain. It all depends on how we create them and use them. In this episode, we tackle product roadmaps, what they are, what they aren't, and how to get the most out of your roadmap. We also sprinkle in some pumpkin spice, because we all love pumpkin spice.
Notes:
- What a roadmap isn't
- What a roadmap is
- What is its purpose
- What are the principles in creating a roadmap
- What are the components of a roadmap
- Who should be involved
Links:
Product Roadmaps: Love, Hate (& Hate) article
Twitter thread
If you like Netflix, Audible, motorcycles, movies, or online shopping, we've got examples from all of the above and more. Join us for a thorough analysis of key usability principles and how many of the products you use incorporate them (or don't).
Links from the episode:
- 10 Usability Heuristics for User Interface Design
- Google slides from our show
- Slidesgo Templates
In this episode we have a great conversation about product strategy, where design fits in strategy, and how to involve your product team, including UX designers in the strategy and vision.
- Where does strategy fit?
- What are the major headaches for product managers?
- What difficulties are there in getting support for product strategy?
- How can we create the product vision, strategy and measure it to ensure success?
We also tackle other important questions:
- Star Trek, Star Wars, or Battlestar Galactica?
- What is a Timberking 2000 and why Kyle needs one
Why don't teams have designers?
What can you do if you don't have a designer?
- Get inspirations from wherever you can
- Find tools and libraries to leverage
- Utilize UI kits
What if you have a little budget for contract work?
- There are some good options such as Upwork
- Understand and be upfront about your budget, timeline and scale
Links from our discussion:
- Collect UI
- Dribble
- Adele UXPin
- Jakob Neilsen 10 Heuristics of UI Design
- Canva Presentation Templates
We cover an array of topics, including
- Jordan's background before design
- How he got into design
- How he moved into product design from graphic design
- How is background contributed to the move
- What he wished he knew before
What is inclusivity?
How does it align with accessibility?
Why is inclusivity important in product design and development?
How can we begin to identify and overcome some of our own blind spots?
References:
- Why does Siri sound white?
- Census Data
Very few of us take a straight-line path into product management, and Chris is no exception. He talks about how his background helped prepare him for a career in product management, and what he learned along the way to help him be successful.
A few things Chris wishes he knew coming into product management:
- Product managers often make decisions without all the information. How can we better prepare for this?
- Not everyone understands the value of product management. How can we do better?
- Product management is incredibly fun. As much hard work as it is, there are few careers as rewarding.
Listen for a ton of other great information on moving into product management, the origin of Doritos, hamburgers, and using tacos to gauge your purchasing habits.
What is product discovery?
- It is the process of building great products
- It is about building the right product and ensuring we build the product right
Why is product discovery important?
- We need to address risks in product development
How do we do product discovery?
How does remote work impact product discovery?
- We need to think about communication
What are some examples?
What is design thinking?
- Empathizing
- Defining
- Ideating
- Prototyping
- Testing
- Implementing
Why is design thinking important?
"Design thinking gets us out of our normal way of doing business and opens the door to numerous possibilities"
How can we implement design thinking?
What are the most important aspects?
Links and mentions:
Design thinking framework (Nielson Norman Group)
Sprint (book)
Lightning Decision Jam
What is user research?
- A tool to understand needs
- A way to find out what you don't know
What are types of research?
- Interviews
- Focus groups
- Field studies
- Usability tests
- Surveys
- Questionnaires
- many more...
Why do research?
- To inform the design, the direction and gather insight
- "Be ready to be surprised"
Tips
- Have a plan
- Do it often
- Doesn't have to be perfect
- Adopt the mindset of a scientist
- Have fun and get the reps
- Volunteer to be on the other side to understand what it's like
Referenced in the show:
User Research Basics
Stop doing user research. Start having conversations.
How are we dealing with working from home currently?
How has working remotely changed workflows for product managers?
What are some tools and practices product teams are using to bridge the gaps?
What are businesses doing to adapt now and in the future?
Is this the new normal?
What is the ideal structure for product managers and product designers?
What about scenarios when you can't have the ideal like when there are too few product managers or product designers?
How should product managers and product designers combine forces?
How can product designers better collaborate with product managers?
How can product managers better collaborate with product designers?
What are some keys to success?
Shoutouts:
- The User Experience Team of One (book)
- Ermal Fraze, inventor of pop-top soda can
What is product design?
Who is a designer?
What's the difference between web design, visual design and product design?
What makes a good product designer?
How can you get into product design from other design fields?
How can you get your company to buy into product design?
Why is thinking about design important to save costs and work for your business?
What is product management?
What makes a good product manager?
What is the difference between a product manager and a product owner?
What is the difference between product management and project management?
Why is it important to know the difference?
How can we incorporate the right mindset in order to avoid the build trap or becoming a feature factory?
- Break Free of the Feature Factory
- Escaping the Build Trap
How can we get our organizations to begin to buy into product management?
In our first episode, we (Kyle and Eva) take a moment to introduce ourselves and talk about how we each got into product management and design. We also dive into various topics including our favorite moments in product, challenges in product management and design, how we define our roles, and where we see the industry going.