People of Product: Recent Episodes
George Brooks and Daniel Linhart
Digital products power our lives, but they wouldn’t exist without the expertise and passion of real people. This podcast brings together industry experts to have conversations beyond tech, tools, and process. We’re here to talk about the ROI of empowered teams. Listen as we discuss building, leading, equipping, and inspiring product teams to create transformational change within companies. People of Product is hosted by George Brooks & Dan Linhart - the founders of Crema.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
The dangerous gap between “like” and “buy”
It’s safe to say that Mark’s career has given him a well-rounded perspective. He’s built products, sold products, serviced products, and advised on products in the cybersecurity space. This 360-degree view has made one tough, but important truth obvious:
“People can say that they like what you do, but that’s very, very different than them getting out of their pocketbook and spending money on it. That is two different scenarios, completely different scenarios.”
This is how it goes in many social or professional settings - people are nice. They will be supportive, offer suggestions, say that it’s great and never buy. Mark learned to find design partners who would be brutally honest about budget, replacement vs. net-new spend, and whether they’d actually pull the trigger.
120 CISOs in six months
When building Secure Blueprint, Mark didn’t send out async surveys or run a few user interviews. He talked to 120 CISOs over a 6-month period. It’s worth noting that in these conversations, he wasn’t asking about UI preferences, he was mapping their operational reality:
Budget cycles and how they allocate CapEx vs. OpEx
How they report progress to boards
How products fit into maturity assessment processes
The goal is to understand if your product would be integrated into daily workflows or become a “once a month nice-to-have.” The former gets adopted. The latter gets churned.
The vaporware market
With 10,000+ cybersecurity products in the market, Mark sees a bit of an ugly pattern. There’s quite a bit of ‘buzzword bingo’ and empty promises make it nearly impossible for customers to identify real innovation.
“You can have to wade through all of the vaporware. And when you sort of peel it back, there’s nothing there. Literally, like there’s nothing there. Or what they claim is literally not accurate.”
Everyone is slapping “AI-powered” or “cloud-native” on their pitch decks. CISOs wade through pitch after pitch, and even 25-year industry veterans like Mark get confused by the marketing fodder.
Simplicity could be your competitive advantage
CISOs speak one language to their technical teams and another to the board. If they can’t translate your value prop up the chain for budget approval, your product dies.
“The more you simplify things, the more you can amplify things. If you overcomplicate things because it’s a tech sell, then as soon as the technical seller goes up for budget, you lose translation.”
Proximity to customers creates velocity
Mark has led both massive teams and small ones. His current approach at Evolve favors small, senior teams — not because small is necessarily better, but because proximity to customers creates speed.
“The more layers you have, the further away they are to the customer and the farther away they are to the purpose.”
When developers see client data in real-time and make decisions based on what’s happening right in front of them, they don’t wait for tickets. They solve problems.
TL;DR: Build at the intersection
Cybersecurity products succeed when they balance technical depth, business viability, and operational reality. Stay close to customers, simplify ruthlessly, and know the difference between someone thinking something is interesting vs. handing you a credit card.hnical depth, business viability, and operational reality. Stay close to customers, simplify ruthlessly, and know the difference between "that's interesting" and "here's my credit card."
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
What if fear isn’t the enemy of growth, but a compass pointing toward where you ought to go next? Aaron Nordyke, Head of Product at Drypowder, has built his career by leaning into discomfort rather than avoiding it.
From engineering leadership to his first product role at a pre-seed startup, Aaron shares how emotions signal professional values, why balanced teams outperform individual expertise, and how trust is built through daily consistency rather than grand gestures. This is a testament for product leaders who see fear as information rather than an obstacle in the way.
Fear as a kind of north star
Most people run from fear, but Aaron Nordyke has learned to follow it. He’s learned, especially over the last couple of years, that emotions are our friends. They’re trying to tell us something, trying to tell us what we value.
When his former boss offered him a product role despite having very little product experience, Aaron’s first instinct was panic. But he’s developed a different relationship with that discomfort:
“I would use that fear to guide me toward learning as much as possible. I would grab what people consider the industry standard books, and I would pour through them and practice them.”
This isn’t about being fearless! It’s about being fear-informed. For product leaders constantly facing the unknown, Aaron suggests looking for the opportunity to turn the anxiety into action. It isn’t always easy or natural, but it’s a positive and necessary response.
The art of seeing and lifting others
Drawing from Carl Jung’s concept of the “King Archetype,” Aaron has developed a leadership philosophy centered on recognition rather than being recognized.
“King energy is not about being seen. It’s about seeing others. You get out there specifically to see others, to see excellence, and to honor that excellence and lift it up.”
This translates into specific practices, like monthly skip-level meetings where you could tell you group things that are impressing you, that certain people are doing. The goal is providing encouragement:
“If you tell somebody that what you’re doing is what I want you to continue doing. That is constructive feedback that gives them certainty they are on the right path.”
Aaron believes that this approach addresses a universal truth: Where everyone is a beginner, everyone is a little bit scared. By creating space for people to feel safe in their uncertainty, he’s seen teams consistently flourish across different technical domains.
Trust as your only currency
In the high-stakes world of startups, Aaron abides by Reid Hoffman’s definition of trust: “consistency over time.” This isn’t about grand gestures, rather, it’s about daily deposits. Every single time that you meet that expectation, a trust deposit is made. “You’re putting a marble in the jar,” referencing Brené Brown’s marble jar concept.
For early-stage companies like Drypowder, this patience can feel counterintuitive. “Unfortunately, we’re not very patient when we’re trying to fundraise and get our early customers.” But Aaron understands the math: “You can’t withdraw from something that they don’t know.” In other words, you have to make trust deposits before you can ask for customer feedback, team commitment, or investor confidence.
The compound effect is powerful. When you’ve built that consistency, you can expect that it will be done again. In a world where everyone can create products, trust becomes the ultimate differentiator.
TLDR;
Fear isn’t your enemy! It’s your compass for professional growth. Build teams around complementary strengths, not individual perfection. Create certainty for others by consistently recognizing their excellence. And remember: trust is built through daily consistency, not grand gestures.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Even the sharpest product managers can fall into the “project manager” trap. Jason Houseworth, CPO at OpenLane, believes it’s happening in the industry more than PMs care to admit. In this episode, hear Jason’s view on why people tend to get caught up in managing activities instead of creating value. We cover using AI as a collaboration partner (instead of a tool), thinking like an entrepreneur in an enterprise environment, and getting uncomfortably close to the user. A killer combo to create value for your business.
Lean fully into the “value creator” mindset
Jason doesn't love the title "product manager" - and he’s got good reason. He's seen too many people fall into the trap of simply managing activities. It’s ironically one of the primary reasons PMs like differentiating themselves from project managers. But how well are we doing this as an industry?
“I don't want people to be a manager. I prefer just the term value creator, because that's what I expect people to pursue. I want you to create the fastest path to the most value. And what that means is you have to understand the user need you're solving for, and ultimately the value that you're creating for them.”
Activity does not equal benefit or value. As Jason reminds us, product managers can get endorphins by going down the checklist, but that does not mean that what you're actually doing is creating value for the end user.
2 traps that inhibit product excellence
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Letting others interpret your data - Whether it's qualitative feedback from users or quantitative insights from analytics, Jason believes product people need to get their hands dirty. "You need to be the one who is exploring the data and really pulling the thread in Domo or Mixpanel... You have to be there. You have to get your hands dirty."
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Using AI as just a tool - The mistake isn't using AI, it's thinking of it as just another tool. Really unlocking AI comes from thinking about it the same way you would a teammate or a collaboration partner.
Innovation = Proximity + Speed
Jason thinks of innovation as being relatively simple.
“If you take the people who are solving the need and you get 'em as close to the customer as possible, and then you shorten the iterations... then that, to me is really how you innovate. Because you're staying really close. You're listening and you're releasing a lot."
Even in enterprise environments, Jason advocates thinking like an entrepreneur. "I strongly believe that even if you're working for a large enterprise, you've gotta think like an entrepreneur. You've gotta think small."
Building psychological safety
Drawing from Google's Project Aristotle research, George & Jason talk about how the perfect teams aren’t what you'd necessarily expect.
"Do you think that the perfect team had the smartest people? No. And was it the overachievers? No. It was the people who were really good at reading into other people.”
This goes back to building psychological safety - environments where people trust each other enough to take risks and speak up regardless of hierarchy. In an environment where people trust one another, guess what happens? You feel like you can take risks. You can raise a challenge, talk about what is or isn't gonna work, and why.
What's exciting about the future
Jason's most excited about the democratization of prototyping through AI. His 21-year-old son built an entire platform in six hours using AI tools, got feedback from a Reddit community, and had paying customers within weeks. Gen Z and those that follow have been born into an age with miraculous technologies, and some are seizing the opportunity to do some neat things.
"To see somebody who understands how to build software, but to then be able to create something that solved a need so quickly and get feedback on it and know the parts that it's just kind of a tool that people aren't interested in... To be able to iterate like that in days because of generative AI. That's really exciting."
People of Product is brought to you by Crema - a design & technology consultancy
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Description: Most companies jump straight to AI use cases, whereas Dan Williamson at Ryan Companies US, Inc. started with education first. Rather than chasing the bells and whistles or sexy use cases, his team focused on helping people rethink their roles and understand how this tech will change their work.
Dan explains why he looks for willing business partners instead of fighting resistance, how rockstar superintendents became his best AI evangelists, and what happens when you prioritize eliminating the bane of most people's day over shiny objects.
Education over bells and whistles
Dan's approach to AI implementation at Ryan Companies flips the typical playbook. Instead of leading with sexy use cases, his team made an unexpected choice.
"One of the biggest things we did from a strategic standpoint related to AI wasn't all the bells and whistles - which use cases are you going after, what's the sexy thing you're doing right now? It was honestly communicating and educating with our company, giving them the right education, giving them a foundational understanding in order for them to rethink about their roles and rethink about how this technology will change their work. Because it ultimately will."
A three-module curriculum that he proved works
Working with the University of Minnesota, Dan built a practical education framework:
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Hour-long fundamentals: "Give them semantics to talk about the words, to understand and read an article better. Remove that fog, the unknown unknowns."
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90-minute hands-on: "I have this suspicion that no one takes the time for themselves unless you tell them to do it. If I were to give them an enterprise chatbot license and say 'go take 90 minutes and tinker,' they're not going to protect that time. So we protect that time for them."
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Design thinking workshop: "We've given individuals a new toolset and new language to think about innovation, but we haven't taught them how to innovate and change."
Finding willing partners, not fighting resistance
Dan's change management philosophy is refreshingly honest: "I truly look for partners in the business who are willing to come on that journey. There are areas where there's been resistance, and that's just maybe not where we started. That doesn't mean we won't get there, but we're trying to prioritize the partners at Ryan who are really willing to go on the journey with us."
His approach involves getting on job sites: "We've tried to engage and empathize with our business partners as much as possible—getting on the job site, having them tell us their problems, listening really intently and coming at those problems with a different perspective."
The best ambassadors aren't who you think
"The best sellers of those ideas in domains where I'm not the expert—if I have our rockstar superintendents going out and selling the use cases we have, that's going to be a huge win. I hope it's them finding the value and driving that narrative more than I am."
TLDR: Start with people, not technology
Dan's approach proves that successful AI transformation requires treating it as a human challenge first, technical challenge second. Key lessons:
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Education beats evangelism - Build foundational understanding before pushing use cases
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Find willing partners - Work with early adopters rather than fighting resistance
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Create internal champions - Your best evangelists are domain experts, not tech teams
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Protect learning time - People won't make time for AI exploration unless you structure it.
People of Product is brought to you by Crema - a design & technology consultancy
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Description: Designers are coding, engineers are writing specs, and product managers are prototyping with tools that didn't exist 3 months ago. Julia Kanter, Senior Director of Product at Zillow, has watched her team's roles become more pixelated as the tectonic plates beneath the product landscape keep shifting. She explains why the need for product sense has become more acute when everyone can do a bit of everything. And why approaching this moment with curiosity, agency, and humility might be the smartest move of all.
The new reality of product teams
Julia's perspective comes from leading AI and experience teams at Zillow, where she's witnessed firsthand how rapidly evolving tools are reshaping what it means to build products. The traditional boundaries between roles are blurring in ways that require teams to develop new patterns of collaboration.
"I think across tech it's clear that our roles are becoming more pixelated," Julia explains. "An engineer can be product minded or spin up their own spec, and a designer can code. That is great, but it does require practice in how to do that day to day and redefining your way of working with your partners."
When everyone can prototype, what happens?
The democratization of building tools has created unprecedented opportunities for rapid experimentation. Julia describes building a prototype at 40,000 feet during a flight, responding to feedback she'd received from real estate agents earlier that day. This kind of immediate iteration would have been impossible just a few years ago.
But this accessibility comes with a caveat. While anyone can create a demo or proof of concept, getting something to production quality remains a significant challenge. The gap between "it works in the demo" and "it works reliably for thousands of users" is where product sense becomes crucial.
The 3 work postures that still matter
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Asking good questions - Good judgment starts with good questions! Stay curious.
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Exercising judgment - When you can spin up a deep research report in a matter of minutes, discernment becomes imperative. What can be trusted? What should you use? What should you ignore entirely?
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Taking agency - The tools are there, but they require someone willing to dive in without waiting for permission. High agency product people are experimenting, learning, and iterating faster than they ever have.
2026 predictions
Julia predicts 2025 will be "the year of messy AI tech" where everyone is piloting and experimenting, with 2026 being when things start falling into place. This mirrors the pattern we saw with multimodal AI exploration in 2023 and broader implementation in 2024.
For product teams, this means the current period is about building muscle memory around new tools and workflows rather than expecting immediate perfection.
This is the worst that AI tools will ever be!
TLDR; Having product sense is the differentiator
When everyone has access to powerful building tools, the ability to know what to build becomes the key differentiator. Product sense - that combination of customer empathy, business understanding, and strategic thinking - becomes more acute when the barriers to creating are lower.
The message is clear! Embrace the fluidity, be ready to develop new collaborative processes, and remember that all the tools in the world can't replace good judgment about what customers actually want.
People of Product is brought to you by Crema - a design & technology consultancy
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Prioritization is one of the hardest parts of product management — and most teams are getting it wrong.
They’re chasing the loudest voices instead of real impact.
They’re getting distracted by shiny objects like AI.
They fail to solve incongruencies between various areas of their organizations before executing.Mark Vanderweide, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Bungii, has seen this play out across startups, enterprise organizations, and M&A deals. In this episode, he breaks down how great product leaders fight the noise, focus on real value, and align teams before things spiral out of control.
Additional topics include:
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the difference between buyers and users and why it matters
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key takeaways from Mark’s experience in product management in different company sizes
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how to navigate the challenge of aligning newly acquired teams and leadership
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managing competing interests from sales, ops, engineering, and leadership
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AI hype vs. practical use cases
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what separates high-performing product teams from dysfunctional ones
People of Product is brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Data vs. gut instinct. What really drives the best product decisions?Nate Juraschek, Head of Product at Telarus, has spent 20+ years navigating the highs and lows of product leadership—from Sprint and H&R Block to fast-moving startups. Along the way, he’s learned one truth: data is only as good as the story you tell with it.Topics covered in this episode include:
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How to use data as a guide when following gut instincts
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Why curiosity is the secret weapon of great product leaders
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The most powerful (and underrated) analytics tools to start using today
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How a background in filmmaking prepared Nate for the world of building digital products
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How AI is changing the way we track, analyze, and act on product data
Whether you’re in product, UX, or tech leadership, this conversation is rich in insights to help you make more confident decisions.
Watch the full episode on YouTube
This episode is brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Pat McLoughlin is the Director of Product at MoneyLion and former founder and CEO of Digs, a fintech platform for residential real estate. Digs provides tools that help renters save for their first home and homeowners maximize wealth while working with real estate agents and mortgage lenders.
In this episode, Pat tells the story of how Digs came to be, and how he pivoted from pursuing architecture as a career to following a new interest in real estate, fintech, and educating first-time homebuyers when they needed it most.
He takes us through the challenges and successes of scaling, fundraising, and eventually exiting through an acquisition.Additional topics:
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Transitioning to a for-profit model
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Building the Digs team
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Navigating COVID and fundraising uncertainty
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Team dynamics and scaling
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Joining MoneyLion and building influence in a new organization
Join the conversation! 👇🏼What unexpected skills or experiences from your past have shaped the way you approach challenges today, and how might hidden lessons from your own journey fuel future innovation?
People of Product is brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Alicia Lopez, Chief Innovation Officer at Flatiron Corp, is an innovation enthusiast with a rich background in civil engineering and over 25 years of experience in the construction industry. Originally from Spain, Alicia has worked globally—from India to the Middle East—bringing a holistic approach to innovation.
In this week’s episode, Alicia shares her insights on building a culture of innovation, aligning it with company goals, and emphasizing the strategic importance of fostering collaboration across departments. Topics covered:
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defining innovation in the workplace
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fostering a culture of innovation
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AI and digital twins
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challenges and future of innovation
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the role of change management in innovation
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Tannis Liviniuk is the Digital Advancement Executive at Zachry Group and has a background in industrial construction, working on an array of different projects from greenfield and brownfield to shutdowns, freeze-ups, and fire rebuilds.
In this week’s episode, we dive into the challenges of user adoption of new tools, the importance of understanding the end user, and the ethical questions surrounding AI.
Other topics covered include:
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the role of AI in data management
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the ethics of AI and technology resistance
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effective engagement with tech companies
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building strong relationships in tech
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Tyler Campbell is the owner of Storybuilder Creative and co-host of the Construction Brothers podcast. His background in steel detailing coupled with experience creating videos in the commercial construction industry grants Tyler with unique insights into areas where construction tech falls short and how it can be improved. Topics include:
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Challenges with technology adoption
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The importance of proximity
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Generational shifts in the industry
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Technologists in the field
Brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Dustin Burns is the VP of Technology at McCownGordon Construction. His approach to technology impacts corporate culture, creating higher associate engagement and productivity. Dustin believes technology is useless if it doesn’t help people, and that construction is the most important industry in the world. In this week’s episode, he breaks down how new tech solutions are transforming the AEC industry — from preventing rework and reducing safety risk to changing the way the next generation views trade careers.Topics covered in this episode include:
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the shifting perspective of working a trade
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the role of technology in client experiences
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safety and efficiency in construction
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looking outside of the AEC industry for construction tech solutions
Brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
What does it take to build the future environments that support where we live, work, and play? Eveart Foster is the Integrations Subject Matter Expert at Autodesk and has had a unique opportunity throughout his career to see the entire life cycle of the built world experience, from engineering and design to pre-construction planning. This week Eveart takes us through the role of data maturity in the architecture, engineering, and construction world. Other topics covered include:
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the importance of holistic thinking
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AI and automation potential in construction
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creativity and AI tools
Join the conversation 👇🏼How do you see data maturity, AI, and automation shaping the future environments where we live, work, and play? What challenges or opportunities will these technologies bring to the architecture, engineering, and construction industries?
Brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
The path to product management can be an unconventional one. This week, Jessica Dubin shares her story of transitioning from the education sector, where she graduated from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education, to becoming Chief Product Officer at Remesh, an AI-focused research platform. Along the way, she observed how context influences how we work, serve our users, and develop products.In this episode, we’ll discuss:
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navigating leadership and organizational challenges
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balancing transparency and focus
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understanding what motivates teams
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setting up new employees for success by gathering context for them
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customer context and user engagement
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the importance of retrospectives
Join the conversation 👇🏼 Jessica’s path from education to product management shows how diverse experiences can shape leadership. What unconventional career shift or unique background have you encountered in your own journey, and how has it influenced the way you work or lead?
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
We all want our teams to be agile, but when is agile too agile? This week I’m joined by Hannah Clark, editor at TheProductManager.com and host of The Product Manager Podcast. Hannah shares insights from startup project managers at various levels who navigate challenges like “shiny object syndrome,” lack of collaboration while working remotely, and other issues that arise in rapidly scaling startups.
Topics covered include:
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the disconnect between product development and people management
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balancing innovation with stability
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the cost of switching directions
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balancing trust and change in leadership + shiny object syndrome
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empowering teams and maintaining momentum
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navigating psychological safety and feedback
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the value of the “complainer” in teams
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intentionality in remote work
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the future of work culture
Join the conversation 👇🏼How do you ensure your team stays focused on long-term goals without stifling the innovative spirit that drives startups forward? Share your experiences with balancing agility and stability in fast-paced environments.
Brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Currently serving as President of Diode Ventures, the infrastructure development arm of Black & Veatch, Brad Hardin has worked as a LEED-accredited architect, construction manager, and technology leader in a national and international capacity with a focus on business development/procurement, technology strategy, and growth. Join me in this week’s conversation with Brad as we discuss the crucial role of infrastructure development for the future of artificial intelligence and how to integrate advanced technology effectively and sustainably while highlighting the significance of a strong, collaborative team and a culture of continuous learning.Topics covered in this episode include:
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the challenges of archaic systems
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benefits of prefabrication and automation in construction
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the fascinating possibilities of quantum computing
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community engagement and public perception
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the role of humans in a tech-driven world
Join the conversation 👇🏼
What antiquated legacy systems do you notice in your professional or personal life that need to be updated? Are they updates technology can achieve, or are they better left for humans to handle?
Brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Imagine the job site of the future, where autonomous drones are moving material across the worksite and earth is being moved by vehicles being operated by people across the world, all driven by AI. These are a few of the things we get to talk about this week on the podcast with Jeff Danley. Jeff Danley, is the Director of Innovation at Burns & McDonnell, and he has over 20 years of experience driving innovation at the intersection of technology and business. He’s been at the forefront of technological evolution, from the early days of the internet to the transformative impact of mobile devices, and now he leads the charge in leveraging AI to redefine industry standards. The topics we cover in this episode include:
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the future of construction sites driven by AI
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autonomous drones
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the importance of connectivity
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the challenges of integrating new tech into a traditionally laggard industry
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building a “digital fabric” to connect people, equipment, and materials
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enhancing safety on job sites using AI
Join the conversation 👇🏼
What issues involving safety, efficiency, and connectivity have you encountered in your professional environment that could be remedied by AI?
Brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Join me in a conversation with Eric Hubery, VP of Innovation at Arco Construction, as we explore the parallels between the design-build process in technology and construction and how Eric navigates the tension between making sure that the organization is rowing in the same direction while also giving permission to experiment, innovate, and maybe even stretch the rules a little bit every once in a while.
In this episode, we’ll talk about:
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challenges and opportunities in balancing organizational efficiency with the need for innovation
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the importance of solving 'gray area' challenges
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the role of AI and robotics in construction
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training, communication, and empathy in innovation
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overcoming adoption and scalability challenges
Join the conversation! 👇🏼What are some ways that organizations can encourage growth and innovation while maintaining consistent deliverables for our clients?
Where to find Eric: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericwhobrey/
Brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams.
00:00 Introduction to the Intersection of Technology and Construction
01:20 Meet Eric Hubery: VP of Innovation at Arco
01:58 Exploring Gray Areas and Innovation Challenges
04:48 The Role of AI and Robotics in Construction
10:18 Design-Build Collaboration and Agile Methodologies
20:05 Operational Challenges and Data Management
29:57 Adoption and Change Management in Construction
35:37 Looking Ahead: The Future of Construction Innovation
38:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
This week on the podcast we explore how J.E. Dunn Construction is transforming into a technology-focused company under the leadership of Mark Stocks, VP and Director of Enterprise Architecture. Celebrating its 100th anniversary, J.E. Dunn is leveraging clean data and the 'big three'—AI, ML, and citizen development—to drive growth and efficiency.
Mark shares how the construction firm is adopting Microsoft's CoPilot for meeting summaries and form-building, integrating Autodesk for project management, and utilizing low-code/no-code platforms to streamline business processes. Join us as we delve into the importance of clean data, practical applications of AI and ML, and the cultural shift towards technology in a traditional industry.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peopleofproduct.substack.com
People of Product is back from a hiatus! In this brief episode, we'll fill you in on what to expect from the next season.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peopleofproduct.substack.com
Technology is changing the way we approach construction - from planning and visualization to project management. In this week's episode, Aaron Henderson of STACK Construction Technologies shares insights from his perspective after having shifted from traditional construction consulting to the tech-driven realm. George and Aaron talk about showcasing some of the exciting aspects of construction to attract new talent, niching down to specialize in specific markets, and picking the right technologies when each project is unique.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peopleofproduct.substack.com
In 2024, the core principles of PdM haven’t changed. The number one role of a product manager is getting to the root of how serve your customer better. How do you make them LOVE your product and your business. Innovation is the name of the game, but how can you front new technologies while still creating value for customers? This and more on the episode with guest Blake Reichenbach, a product manager at Hubspot.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peopleofproduct.substack.com
George Brooks interviews Anna Jordan-Douglass, the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Makefully Studios. Anna shares her profound journey through the realms of technology and creativity. Basked with an innate passion for making learning more interactive and fun, Anna explains the sheer magic of assimilating play with education and shares insights into her collaboration with the Jim Henson Company, and how she gathered experiences that later led to the creation of her very own Makefully Studios. With a strong team that shares a similar vision of fostering creativity and enhancing learning, Makefully Studios has emerged as a vibrant platform for crafting playful learning environments for children. Tune in to delve deeper into the insightful world of creative learning and Anna's impactful work in the field.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peopleofproduct.substack.com
George Brooks interviews Lamees Butt, the Senior Vice President of Global Alliances and Channels at Zoovu. Lamees shares her passion for improving the customer experience and reducing employee workloads through AI-powered solutions, the importance of focusing on customer value, and reimagining the customer journey to drive growth. They discuss the role of AI in personalizing the buying experience and helping businesses make data-driven decisions. Lamees also highlights the opportunities for B2B organizations to transform their processes and create better digital experiences. Tune in to gain insights into the future of AI and how it can revolutionize business operations and customer satisfaction.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peopleofproduct.substack.com
George chats with Ryan Glasgow, CEO of Sprig, a seasoned product expert. They discuss the key to successful product development: understanding customer problems. Ryan emphasizes the value of asking the right questions and draws insights from his experience at Weebly, where user feedback revolutionized their mobile app. They also dive into the broader concept of customer-centric product management, exploring the impact of genuine understanding on product-market fit and the significance of unconventional team structures and early "aha!" moments.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peopleofproduct.substack.com
George Brooks interviews Bryan House, Chief Experience Officer at Elastic Path. They discuss the world of composable commerce, the synergy between product management and customer success, and the role of user-centricity in e-commerce development.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peopleofproduct.substack.com
George Brooks interviews Artem Koren, Co-founder of Sembly.ai. Artem shares the journey of creating Sembly, an AI-powered meeting companion. Artem unveils Sembly.ai's unique team structures for different technological components and emphasizes the flexibility required in handling NLP (Natural Language Processing) and AI development. The interview showcases the pivotal role of product managers, who drive innovation, user experience, and customer interaction. Discover how Sembly.ai transforms meetings with its AI teammate, revolutionizing the way we collaborate.
George interviews Karthik Suresh, co-founder of Ignition, a platform that unlocks revenue opportunities by aligning product, marketing, and sales teams around new market initiatives.
Ignition aims to help companies achieve a solid product-market fit and successful product launches by providing an AI-powered platform that guides users through the entire go-to-market process. Their discussion delves into the challenges of coordinating product launches, the importance of effective messaging and positioning, and how Ignition's AI technology assists in creating standardized go-to-market plans.
Join George Brooks in a conversation with Jon Darbyshire, the visionary founder of SmartSuite. Explore the art of user experience, relentless iteration, and the value of customer feedback in crafting a game-changing work management platform. Throughout this episode, Jon reveals the key principles of effective product design, emphasizing the value of continuous iteration and incorporating customer feedback. Whether you're an entrepreneur, product manager, or design enthusiast, this conversation sheds light on the power of user experience in shaping a successful product.
George Brooks interviews Jon Ricketts, CEO and Co-Founder of a game-changing software platform that is set to transform content creation—Writerly AI powered by Generative AI. Tune in to learn how generative AI is reshaping content creation and marketing automation, and its incredible potential for businesses worldwide.
George explores Crema's transformation from a digital product agency to a design consultancy and explains how to harness the power of design to drive innovation, solve business challenges, and create compelling visions for the future.
Dan interviews Tyler Hilker, Crema's VP of Strategy, and they dive into the world of design consultancies. They discuss how this type of consultancy harnesses design thinking and holistic strategies to solve complex business challenges and answer the question, "How or when does a company know they need the help of a design consultancy?"
George interviews Sean Steppe, senior manager of Restaurant Systems at Hawaiian Bros Island Grill.
Hawaiian Bros is a breakout restaurant that is expanding across the country, using technology to create a better end-user experience, not only for ordering and checkout processes but also in the kitchen and on the backside of their organization. Hawaiian Bros uses technology and data to help make decisions and provide better service to their customers as they scale up. With the freedom to test and try new things, they are breaking and refocusing to use tech to push the brand forward in the restaurant space.
George and Michelle dive into some misconceptions about what AI can mean in the workplace and touch on the importance of recognizing what AI is and what it is not. Additionally, they discuss the necessary steps to train a model, from collecting and preparing data to testing and evaluating the model, the importance of ML ops, and understanding the impact of using third-party libraries and packages.
George interviews Gharib Gharibi, the Director of Applied Research and Head of AI at Triple Blind, a startup based in Kansas City that has now expanded globally. Triple Blind enables data-driven innovation while preserving privacy, allowing for the training of fair and generalizable models with diverse data from multiple institutions.
George and Gharib discuss the need for collaboration between academia, industry, researchers, and policymakers to shape the future of AI and build responsible and fair AI, plus the challenges faced by customers and prospects in understanding the full potential of AI and how to use it, as well as the importance of usability in AI tools.
In this episode of People of Product, George Brooks speaks with Carmel Wynkoop, a partner at Armanino, a Top 25 CPA and consulting firm. Carmel leads the business analytics and automation practice at Armanino, providing data-driven practice improvements and automation for international clients in various industries.
They discuss the potential of AI and how organizations can start small to achieve small wins that create momentum toward realizing the full potential of AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation (RPA).
AI is becoming more complex as it begins to touch multiple facets of our everyday lives -- including business. In this week's episode, George and Dan discuss what AI could mean for the future, from the way we work to the products we create.
Discover how sprints can help break down epics into achievable chunks of work, making them more manageable and attainable in this week's episode of People of Product.
George and Dan discuss the importance of defining a sprint interval in Agile methodology and how it can impact productivity while providing tips on achieving alignment and setting clear goals for the sprint throughout a cross-functional product team.
Whether it's a project as a whole or just a sprint, story points and velocity are key tools in trying to predict the future and make the most of your team's time and effort. This week, Dan and George delve into the topic of story points and velocity in Agile and the importance of these principles in helping teams to stay on track and accomplish their goals, in addition to explaining the value of story points in planning and prioritizing tasks, tracking progress, and predicting completion time.
George and Dan delve into the world of epics, both in literature and in the tech industry. Learn how epics and stories in the digital product world can be deconstructed into smaller, more manageable chunks in order to achieve success.
Having a roadmap is important, even in an Agile environment, because it provides a shared understanding of where a project is headed. In this week's episode, Dan and George discuss the process of creating a roadmap, including the timeline and the stages involved, such as planning, prototyping, and user engagement. They also touch on the benefit of being agile and making adjustments as necessary, while still maintaining the overall direction towards the project's north star.
The best products are built by creative individuals working together towards a common goal. However, with the diversity of skillsets, experience levels, and influences present in a team, achieving alignment can be a challenge. George and Dan discuss how to overcome obstacles and maintain a productive and aligned product team in this week's episode of People of Product.
The idea of starting a custom software initiative within your company is a daunting one. From gathering buy-in from leadership to In this week's episode, we'll break down some of the best ways to tackle the overwhelming beginnings of a custom software initiative.
Dan and George are back from break and taking it back to the basics in a new 7-part mini-series. What is a Digital Product? From software to online courses, digital products have become an integral part of many businesses and industries. Dan and George discuss the definition of a digital product, the different types that exist, and what types of digital products can help enable businesses to thrive in this episode of People of Product.
We're taking a break to reset and consider different formats and pacing for People of Product. We'll be back in the fall with more amazing episodes about people doing the best work of their lives!
In the post-pandemic era, people are burnt out. We’re searching for ways to have better human connection and productivity at work. But those things can only happen in spaces with psychological safety. The challenge is that it takes even MORE intentionality to foster. In this episode, Dr. Tharaka Gunarathne (psychiatrist & consultant with FORM) shares his methods for how to foster high levels of trust at work while avoiding further burnout.
The job market in tech is volatile. But there are factors within your control to land the gig you’re looking for. In this episode, Sarah Doody - Founder & CEO of Career Strategy Lab - shares advice from years of talking with candidates, hiring managers, and UX teams. Hear what you can do to escape the all-too-common journey of 100 plus failed applications.
Inspiration is everywhere! In the workplace, it can be especially powerful when turned into action. With an abundance of things to latch onto, it’s helpful to know where the best inspiration comes from. In this episode, Dan & George share how to better tune into sources of inspiration and apply the strongest motivations in a meaningful way.
From instant messaging to video conferencing tools, there are scores of new products for highly collaborative teams to sift through. But how do you pick the best for your needs? In this episode, we share the tools we use today at Crema and the potential challenges of using each. Find a list of the tools we cover in the episode description.
Jen Choi is Senior Director of Innovation & Impact at the Atlanta Hawks. She leads their first-ever Innovation Lab that doesn’t stop at creating great fan experiences. They’re dreaming beyond with new ways to support and engage the greater community, from public voting booths to sports NFTs. Hear some of the challenges, experiments, and solutions this future-setting incubator is dealing with today.
Building a great product is only half the battle. Strong product marketing helps direct how the product gets to market and tells a compelling story about why people need it now. It’s a unique discipline that sits at the intersection of pure marketing and product, and it’s helping break down silos between the two. Martina Lauchengo from the Silicon Valley Group, and author of “Loved”, is on the show to talk about the fundamentals of product marketing and how to apply them.
Martina's book "LOVED" is available at Target online.
Let’s face it. There’s a natural barrier to communication in remote work. When the luxury of proximity is gone, velocity and trust can dwindle. In this episode, Dan & George break down the different types of isolation, the consequences, and ways to overcome silos.
Winning experienced candidates out of the small technical talent pool is TOUGH. Increased demand and salary inflation has made hiring a real challenge in the age of digital transformation. In this episode, we share how we've been successful in hiring the most highly sought-after roles on the job market (without a recruiter).
We’ve all seen the increasing dissatisfaction in the workforce and the “great resignation” take its toll. Today teams have to be constantly assessing the collective “agreements” made about how work gets done or people will check out. Aaron Dignan - founder of The Ready and author of Brave New Work - is back on the show. In this episode, Aaron & George discuss how teams create consensus and clarity around their norms and policies and Murmur’s newest digital tool that is facilitating this sociocratic work.
Beyond their strong technical knowledge, great developers bring “big picture perspective” and get wildly creative. If you can broaden your scope beyond your own discipline, then you can guide your team to make intentional decisions that solve even greater problems during ideation. In this episode, Creative Technologist & “Exploratory Team” member CK Hicks shares how developers provide perspective for both technical feasibility and innovative possibility.
Great designers have a deep focus on understanding the user and getting close to their needs. This is why having an experienced designer involved from the earliest stages of research and ideation is so powerful. In this episode, Product Designer Aubrey Schmidt describes her role in the early innovation space.
Many have gone through “workshops” that are more like glorified business improv sessions. But high-impact facilitated sessions dedicated to unearthing the real problem can help teams get aligned on the best possible solution. In this episode, expert facilitator Justin Mertes describes the outcomes of early-stage tech exploration and the real consequences of jumping into the work without a deep understanding of the context.
Crema can help make the most meaningful and impactful products when we come in as early as possible to explore all of the possibilities. Before you lay the foundation, you have to make sure you’re headed in the right direction. Hear why our team is deepening our exploratory services this year and what it might mean for your project.
There are a lot of differing opinions on the true significance and future impact of Web 3. Is it all hype? Novelty? Or a true paradigm shift that will change the internet as we know it? In the last episode of this 3-part series, we share why our team is exploring Web 3 and the direction we think things are headed.
In the Web 3 universe, there’s a crazy amount of jargon you need to know. NFTs, DApps, wallets, DAOs, smart contracts, the list goes on. In this episode, we’re going to rapid-fire define a few important terms. This quick rundown is for anyone new to the Web 3 world looking to join the conversation.
Confused by Web 3.0? We were too. The promises of the next iteration of the web are lofty: data de-centralization, transparency, and trust on the web. It won’t happen over night, but the next wave of the internet is coming. In part one of this 3-part podcast series, we’re breaking down the basics. What is web 3.0? What important change is it bringing?
Eisha Armstrong - CEO & Co-founder of Vecteris - is helping businesses think about how to “productize” their service offerings. Finding a way to effectively serve your clients through a one-to-many model requires a huge shift in mindset. In this episode, George Brooks & Eisha discuss how to gauge whether you have something that can be productized, what it takes to get started, and some common mistakes people make along the way.
Making commitments to your team is no small thing. You’re making a promise in the present to hold to a specific, desired end. In this episode, Dan & George talk about the importance of agreement and accountability in work-related commitments.
There are several different kinds of resources companies have to work with: capital, human, material goods, and time. In this episode, Dan & George discuss the logistics of each and how to be good stewards of all the resources available to you.
Organizations are both constrained and enabled by the people within them. Each person brings a defined set of skills, capabilities, and habits that leaders have the opportunity to build upon. In this episode, Dan & George discuss how to thoughtfully support individuals and their structures in a way that doesn’t diminish growth.
We can tell you what collaboration is not. It is NOT simply calling a meeting or “brainstorm” session with a group of people. It’s a wildly complex relationship between a team of diverse practitioners co-laboring on a creative endeavor together. In this episode, Dan & George analyze the intricacies of great collaboration and the T-shaped awareness required of every collaborator on a thriving team.
Founders tend to over-index on confidence. What if all leaders & entrepreneurs had the humility to seek guidance in their journey? Matt Thieleman, CEO of Pilea, is on a mission to connect every founder with a coach so they can effectively seek the good for themselves, others, and ultimately the globe. In this episode, Matt & George talk about the mindsets & behaviors of truly great leaders and what it takes to be coachable.
Our culture loves the hustle. While periods of intense contribution can be good, there are risks in grinding too hard for too long. In this episode, George & Dan discuss the discipline of rest, striking a healthy work-rest balance, and how to plan for fruitful breaks. Spoiler: Working harder doesn’t always give different or better results. Intervals of rest can too!
What does the success of marketing, sales, product teams, and company culture all hinge on? Asking good questions! It sounds simple, but asking the right questions the right way is an art. Marcus Sheridan - international keynote speaker & author of “They Ask, You Answer” - shares the power behind making others feel understood and valued by communicating more effectively.
Whether you realize it or not, your team has put semi-permanent “structures” into place that concretely shape the way your team gets work done. They don’t change often, but they provide necessary form around the work that’s being done. Company purpose is a crucial structure that helps define everything your company does. In this episode, George & Dan discuss purpose as a structure and how it should influence your company as it grows.
In this episode, George Brooks is joined by Teresa Torres - speaker, coach, and author of Continuous Discovery Habits. This conversation is a full analysis of ideation. Knowing that your work on digital products is never really done, learn how to effectively collaborate in a way that continually brings fantastic new options to the table.
Contribution for everyone on a product team looks different. It’s ultimately about bringing your full self & unique skillset to the table to bring about specific results. In this episode, George & Dan discuss the structure as well as the true value of contribution. Understanding what your individual contribution means to the success of the greater team will help your team better thrive.
Many of the world’s most impactful advancements were made possible with technology. Even so, we tend to focus on the negative effects of tech. In this episode, Dan Linhart is joined by Carey Jenkins, CEO of Substantial, to discuss the importance of digital optimism. The pair chat about how an optimistic outlook is necessary in order to positively influence culture, ethics, and the changing nature of the landscape in a post-pandemic work environment.
The future of marketing is agile. This past year, the number of firms that went agile surpassed the 50% mark. In this episode, George Brooks is joined by Andrea D. Fryrear, co-founder of AgileSherpas, to discuss how agile has found its place in the marketing world, and how organizations can prepare for the shift.
Bringing ones’ full self to the job requires purpose. The difficult but important work that companies have to be doing is getting every single individual aligned under one unified purpose. This requires leadership to diligently attend to the matters of diversity, inclusion, & equity. In this episode, Art Johnson - CEO of Infinity Systems Inc. & author of “The Art of Alignment: A Data-Driven Approach to Lead Aligned Organizations” - discusses the constructs of measurements to align teams to mission & vision with actionable questions to getting there.
People are realizing that the future of work is to be a technology organization. Everywhere teams are considering whether or not they should own their software to address their specific needs. In this episode, George Brooks & Dan Linhart break down the opportunities & challenges of building custom tech and how Crema steps in to bring product ideas to life.
Does your organization look the same today as it did two years ago? You’re likely stalling in “zombie mode” because you’re de-prioritizing innovation. Elvin Turner is an innovation advisor & best-selling author on a mission to elevate organizations to “unicorn status” by placing learning at the center of all. In this episode, George Brooks & Elvin cover where leaders have to start in their journey towards innovation, the mentalities that hinder growth, and how to scale the practice of learning across an organization.
It’s not a coincidence that some of the most successful leaders are funny. Balanced humor in a professional setting is how you build trust and have a significant impact. Andrew Tarvin is the Founder & CEO of Humor That Works, a well-traveled comedian, and keynote speaker. In this week’s episode, George & Andrew talk about the cross-section of humor and the workplace and tips for how to infuse comedy into your organization to work more efficiently.
Kai Haley is head of UX Methods and Research at Google. She leads a highly unique internal program that systematizes UX practices across many groups within the monolithic organization. In this episode, George Brooks & Kai discuss methods for creating alignment across product lines, the challenge of creating a shared language, and how to best manage alignment as a distributed team.
Knowledge is power - and to gather more knowledge you have to gain access to different conversations and experiences throughout your life and career. It’s about tuning yourself into the opportunities that present themselves or just taking advantage of the access you already have. In this week’s episode, George & Dan talk about how to empower yourself and others to collect insight and open up access to conversations within your organization.
C. Todd Lombardo, Author, Consultant, and VP of Product & Experience at Openly, joins George for a conversation around product roadmaps, implementing change within your organization, and the dangers of building features that never get used. Hear how he got started as an author and the learnings he’s gleaned throughout the process.
Author, Silicon Valley Product Group Partner, and former product leader at eBay Marty Cagan shares his views on empowered product teams and the leadership required to make these teams possible in our latest episode. Learn why it’s important for product teams to serve customers first, how to encourage accountability on your teams, and the main reason to partner with a digital product agency.
Director of Design Pamela Porto sits down with Dan and George to share how her craft team created design principles tied to a mindset rather than a specific product, how keeping on client work in her new leadership role helps her empathize with her team, and how she plans to incorporate more user research into the design workflow going forward.
Crema’s Director of Development Rob LaFeve shares the challenges and opportunities that he’s discovered in his new role, touching on the shift from tangible output to more high-level decision-making and how he acts as a ‘switchboard’ for his team.
Self-proclaimed ‘super user’ and Crema’s Director of Testing Courtney Johnston von Nieda describes a day in the life of a test engineer in our latest People of Product interview. Though finding broken things and saving the day is a fun perk of the job, there’s a much larger mission to integrate with developers, improve the business overall, expand testing knowledge across the team, and so much more. Whether you’re a test engineer yourself or a product newbie, you won’t want to miss this one.
Get a sneak-peek into the daily functions and strategies of being a product manager. In this episode, Crema’s Director of Product Management Michael Luchen shares what the role entails, how to manage priorities, the hardest part of the job, favorite tools, and more!
How do you build a product community from scratch? Mike Belsito shares how he and his partner launched the Product Collective and INDUSTRY conference in 2015 as well as some tips for how they’ve pivoted to make the virtual version of their event such a success. If you enjoy helping people and continuous learning, this episode is a can’t-miss!
What’s it like acting as a liaison and advocate in the product space? Tracy Edwards, Chief Product Officer at SBI, shares her experience leveraging different tactics to get stakeholders onboard, working within SBI’s ‘initiative vs capability’ structure to align her product vision against other company initiatives, and identifying the right problem and evangelists from the get-go to ensure product success. This episode gets to the core of what products are really about: communicating how technology is filling a human need.
Mariah Hay is the VP of Product for Help Scout. She’s continually working & innovating towards including human perspective in all steps of the product design process. What does it look like for a team to practice human-centered design? What are some of the challenges of this kind of work? George Brooks and Mariah sit down to discuss how we can be getting closer to people to create products that will help them thrive.
Corporate loyalty is dead! Now is the time to make your stake in the ground and build a foundation of experience and work that will carry you through any future career you wish to pursue. In this episode, Jeff Gothelf unpacks the ideas from his newest book, “Forever Employable” and explains how to reverse the flow of opportunity so that employers are chasing YOU.
People of Product is hosted by George Brooks and Dan Linhart.
The show is edited by Larissa McCarty.
Brought to you by Crema.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
The greatest entrepreneurs, innovators, & product people are the ones who are seeking to try more things. Continuously gathering experiences or trying a hand at new skills is what gives you perspective & allows you to move forward. In this episode, Dan & George discuss the life-long pursuit of “tasting new things” and how it will impact the work you’re doing today.
Diana Kander is a well-known professional entrepreneur who coaches corporate teams to practice and measure innovation. She’s showing the business world how to challenge certainty in order to foster curiosity. In this episode, Diana delivers tactical advice for how to overcome fear and passivity to grow more curiosity in your personal and professional life.
Most would agree that an environment with candid, kind, & consistent feedback is ideal. But how do you get there as an organization? In this episode, Dan and George describe what it takes from leadership to promote a safe and healthy space for feedback. Plus, practical tips for how to give and receive feedback better.
Feedback is tough. Both from the giving and receiving end. However, when done in an appropriate & actionable way across an organization, something magic happens! Feedback becomes easier and extreme growth takes place. Listen as Dan & George make the case for fostering an environment of radical feedback.
Let’s talk about everyone’s favorite business artifact: org charts! It’s simple documentation at face value that provides the necessary structure for support. But there are many benefits to org charts beyond just that. In this episode, George & Dan explain the unique structure of the matrix management model plus how org charts enable companies to retain and enhance culture, scale profitably, and deliver great work.
People of Product is hosted by George Brooks and Dan Linhart.
The show is edited by Larissa McCarty.
Brought to you by Crema.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Meet Justin Mast - Founder & CEO of Bloomscape, fifth-generation greenhouse grower, & serial entrepreneur. Listen in as he shares his pathway to success, where the plant market is headed, and how Bloomscape has leveraged tech to improve the “plant parent” experience while maintaining their core values.
Overwhelmed by the 2021 to-do list? Learn why it’s important to prioritize the initiatives that have higher risks + how you can still make time for innovation that aligns with your principles.
Implementing any new tool within an organization takes time and will likely cause some friction - even the great ones! In this episode, Tyler Hilker and Justin Mertes discuss what factors prompt organizations to adopt new products despite the hurdles, the characteristics of those powerful products, plus recommendations for navigating the change.
People of Product is hosted by George Brooks and Dan Linhart.
The show is edited by Larissa McCarty.
Brought to you by Crema.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Crema is going on a short holiday break. But before we do, let's take a look back at 2020.
Business advisor and author Barry O’Reilly joins George this week to discuss why ‘copy and paste’ transformation doesn’t work, why being able to rapidly test a hypothesis and ask good questions is imperative to business success, and how to align your team around the deeper issues.
Stockpiling funds feels comfortable during a pandemic, but now is not the time to freeze. If you want to spark a tech revolution within your organization and do more than just survive, you’ve got to innovate. In this episode, hear why teams are investing in digital transformation now and how to start small by creating “startups within.”
Why has Apple suddenly lowered its commission rate for small businesses on the Apple Store? And why have they faced so much heat from hey.com and the European Commission this year? We explore these questions and more in the latest episode of People of Product.
People of Product is hosted by George Brooks and Dan Linhart.
The show is edited by Larissa McCarty.
Brought to you by Crema.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Values & principles - companies love to boast about them! But what does it mean to put these into practice? Is there a real difference between the two? In this episode, George and Dan talk over the nuance of principles vs. values and make a case on the importance of defining these foundational concepts in your organization.
People of Product is hosted by George Brooks and Dan Linhart.
The show is edited by Larissa McCarty.
Brought to you by Crema.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
LiDAR technology in the new iPhone 12 is paving the way for a whole new world of innovation. George and Dan sit down with CK Hicks, a Lead Architect at Crema and emerging tech guru, to discuss what LiDAR technology is, how it’s being used with the new iPhone, and the larger implications of this depth perception capability.
Is Roam Research just another note-taking tool? The #RoamCult claims they’re on the precipice of a new era of idea management. It’s not just the ingenious features like bi-directional linking that make this platform next-level. It’s how it gets to the core of thought-tracking in a more human way. In this episode, find out what makes digital products have a truly devout fanbase.
Links/Sources:
Roam Research - https://roamresearch.com/
We’ve revamped the Option Five podcast and are excited to introduce you to: The People of Product. It’s the same show you love, but with some updates and a fresh take on the world of digital product and the people behind the tech.
Dan and George sit down with Richard Banfield, VP of Design Transformation at InVision.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
"Humble Confidence" - contradiction, or culture saver? Dan and George explain how humble confidence can bring out the best in your teams.
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
Dan and George return to the mics to discuss the next phase of the Option Five podcast & philosophize about the way humans in product teams learn best.
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
In this week's episode, George and Dan discuss how size affects level of structure, how to prevent team members from getting siloed within a product team, why customized professional development is the most effective, and more.
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
George and Dan trot down memory lane in our latest episode, reflecting on their favorite Option Five podcast moments. From interviews with renowned authors to discussions around learning frameworks, the podcast has been a springboard for some pretty amazing ideas. Sixty episodes down and we’re just getting started…
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
Over the past 7 months, we’ve been forced to unlearn what we assumed was the only way to work and live. At this time, many of us have created new & better habits to adapt to our new situations.
Think… what if you kept searching for routines to replace so that you could continue to grow? In this week’s episode, George & Dan discuss how to hone in the skill of “unlearning.” Look within and decide if you possess the humility it takes to let go of practices that might have worked in the past but aren’t beneficial for the future.
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
On a scale of 1-10, how curious of a person are you? In this episode, George & Dan unpack the real value of curiosity on an individual and team-wide level, backed by research from Harvard’s 3-part series, “Why Curiosity Matters.” Hear some of the life-changing advantages of curiosity and how to foster a more naturally curious environment at work.
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
So many enterprises want to innovate but don’t know how to balance monetary and time allocation between their existing business model and riskier ventures. George interviews Brian Ardinger, Director of Innovation at Nelnet, to learn his formula for starting small and validating innovation ideas with the 2-3-4 method. You won’t want to miss this one!
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
Dave Feldman, VP of Design at Heap, uses his 20 years of tech experience to drive a conversation around collaborative teams and user manipulation (aka ‘guidance’).
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
The sole purpose of building tech isn’t to make us more efficient or profitable, it’s to make our work and lives better. In this episode, George and Dan discuss how creating software can serve as a generous act towards employees or customers. Hear why organizations are investing in tech to create space for re-skilling and repurposing of creativity.
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
Imagine the alignment you could achieve by giving your Craft Teams an entire day to dive deep into high-priority topics and build their relationships with one another. George and Dan chat with Crema’s Director of Product Management, Tucker Sauer-Pivonka, about the PdM Summits he’s put on this year and the planning process that went into them.
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
What would happen if organizations made the radical decision to remove bureaucracy? In this week’s episode, George talks with Aaron Dignan (founder of The Ready and author of Brave New Work) about how to challenge institutionalized thoughts to work in a more adaptive and human way. Get ready to move towards doing “the best work of your life.”
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
Dan Olsen and George Brooks talk product teams and principles in our latest episode. They delve into the importance of having an 'A team', how shared knowledge can resolve conflict, and the dangers of silos.
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
George and Dan have Crema’s Director of Sales, Nate Olsen, on the show to discuss how to build relationships, educate, and offer the most viable solutions through a consultative sales process.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Dan discuss Venture Lab, an internal innovation initiative that gives Crema employees the time and resources to build real products in the hopes of providing value to the world and generating revenue for the company. Hear what our process looks like and the challenges you may come up against when launching something similar at your organization.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Dan and George explain Lab Fridays at Crema and the importance of carving time and space for innovation.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
This week, Dan and George sit down with Mark Harland and Matt Johnson from FORM, a product and consulting studio located in the UK. Together, they talk through how they help leaders better understand their purpose and strategize how to meet their organizational goals.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
This week George and Dan lay out what “the ideal” looks like for teams striving to collaborate in a frictionless way. They’ll discuss a handful of the key principles for the following: postures, disciplines, and structures.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Dan sit down to discuss the nitty-gritty of product team problems.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Dan and George sit down with Richard Banfield, VP of Design Transformation at InVision.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Dan sit down with Product Manager Alison Renfro to discuss the postures, disciplines, and structures that help her manage a product team. Between a thirst for learning, intentional scrum ceremonies, and unbiased empathy, Alison ensures people & processes come first.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Dan and George sit down with Rob LaFeve to discuss his perspective of leadership from his role as Lead Architect at Crema.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Dan are joined by Alexa, the Growth Team Lead at Crema, to discuss the various roles within the Growth Team and how they are indeed a small but mighty team.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Dan sit down with Justin, a coach at Crema, to discuss the various ways that Coaches can improve a team's ability to work together.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Dan discuss how the pandemic is affecting various companies in the tech industry.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Dan share our favorite tools that have helped us thrive while working remote.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Dan sit with Gabi Dombrowski to discuss how she manages her disciplines, structures, and postures as a Developer at Crema.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Dan and George provide a behind-the-scenes look at some of the things going on inside Crema.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Dan discuss the importance of shifting perspectives and taking inventory during COVID-19
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
In this week's episode, Dan and George discuss the concept of risk versus reward during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Mary Carnes is a guest in this episode of Option Five. She provides insight on her experiences managing disciplines, structures, and postures as a UX Designer at Crema.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Dan and George discuss the importance of keeping the values of love and generosity alive in your company during tough times.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
"Humble Confidence" - contradiction, or culture saver? Dan and George explain how humble confidence can bring out the best in your teams.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Follow us on Instagram: @Option5Podcast
Tweet at us: @cremalab
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
George and Dan discuss how various disciplines lead to better learning.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
In this week's episode, George and Dan are joined by Tyler Hilker, Crema's Director of Strategy and Design, to discuss the importance of retrospectives.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Dan and George dive into postures, disciplines, and procedures for learning.
Get your own Team Feelings chart: https://mcusercontent.com/6d58d143fc92a0731f5559531/files/251d5da6-1e1e-4454-86f1-d676ff618559/How_You_Feel_Crema.pdf
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
In today's episode, Dan and George discuss how innovation takes place in learning loops.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Dan and George unpack a process for learning that includes paying attention, collecting, making decisions, and experimenting.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Dan and George return to the mics to discuss the next phase of the Option Five podcast & philosophize about the way humans in product teams learn best.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Chris Jones, UX Director at FanThreeSixty, explains what it takes to be a great UX Designer and the patience required to get to that point in our latest episode. Plus, how to make your handoffs more collaborative.
Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjonesdesign/
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Amy Schweppe, the Senior Product Designer and Owner at PayIt, discusses what it’s like managing product within a rapidly growly startup + how she balances time between both roles in our latest episode of Option Five.
Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-schweppe-37549732
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Are you focusing on client needs rather than product needs? Today, Director of Experience Design and Strategy at H&R Block Brian Bustos talks about how the company is looking at the customer journey from a holistic standpoint, identifying teams that are designing similar experiences, and building in a way that’s modular enough to adapt to context.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
We have interviewed so many amazing people this year and learned a lot about running a podcast. Let's talk about what we have in store for 2020!
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Neil Shah, Team Lead of Technical Recruiting at Carvana, shares challenges and learnings in recruiting at Carvana as they experience rapid scaling. Plus, how recruiters can use their position to change lives.
Connect with Neil:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/njshah
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Keegan Mahoney--Engineering Manager at FlyWheel—explains why FlyWheel (a company with six product teams) scales slowly with plenty of tweaks along the way. Plus, why they let each team manage their own process.
Connect with Keegan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/keeganmahoney/
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
From working in an Agile format to eliminating "service organizations" and learning how to prioritize user pain points, George and Rodrigo discuss how data is changing the world of transportation, and how product teams at Strava and its subsidiary, Metro, are organized.
Connect with Rodrigo:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigodavies/
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Hear from Mike Brummett, Product Manager at Super Dispatch, about his journey from startup founder to marketplace manager. Plus, why having a development philosophy (or pieces from several) is so important to product success.
Connect with Mike:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjbrummett/
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
Keap’s Product Design Manager Steven Meyer breaks down the best way to organize and manage a product team within an enterprise. Learn why being ‘data informed’ rather than ‘data driven’ is such an important quality for designers and product leaders.
Connect with Steven:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmeyer1/
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Are you looking at the holistic nature of your product & asking yourself why a user decided to try your product in the first place? Are you prepared for the ‘Switching Chapter’ when a user begins to struggle with your product?
Connect with Rajesh:
https://www.prodify.group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeshnerlikar/
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Find Crema on the web at https://www.crema.us
Find us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Cremalab
Dan and Gideon Taub discuss how to handle strong opinions in a product team and the characteristics of a great product manager.
Connect with Gideon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gideontaub/
For more information about Pinkaloo Technologies, visit https://www.pinkaloo.com/
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Braeden discuss the importance of utilizing customer feedback in a product team, as well as some of the challenges one might face when scaling an organization.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Jeff discuss the importance of generating evidence in support of small, cross-disciplinary teams to move your company in the right direction. Plus, the rewards of creating a culture based around learning, not just deliverables.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
It's good to be back! In today's episode, we're discussing some updates and the future of the Option Five podcast.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
George and Dan discuss the best practices of growing your own Product Team, including finding the right talent, perfecting your hiring process, and retaining your talent.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Crema's VP of Engineering Matt Cole discusses the benefits of growing your own talent through an apprenticeship program.
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cole-3068b14/
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Dan and George discuss the book 'Multipliers' by Liz Wiseman, explain the how the book helps cultivate leadership at Crema, and point out some of their favorite parts in the book.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Tyler, Crema's Director of Strategy and Design, discusses the differences between strategy in a large agency and small product teams. Plus, find out the trick he uses to constantly improve his craft.
Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhilker/
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
Dan and George go over some best practices of keeping a company aligned through quarterly updates.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
In this week's episode, George invites Todd Henry, author of Herding Tigers, The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, and Louder than Words to talk about how to nurture creative leadership in life and work.
Connect with Todd Henry:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddhenry1
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
In this week's episode, Dan and George discuss how remote and distributed teams work at Crema and share 9 best practices.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
In this week's episode, Dan and George interview Landon Young and pick his brain about how he helps create alignment within a team as a product strategist at Crema.
Connect with Landon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/landonyoung/
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
In this week's episode, George and Dan discuss how size affects level of structure, how to prevent team members from getting siloed within a product team, why customized professional development is the most effective, and more.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
In this episode, Dan and George discuss Dan's recent trip to D.C. and dive into the main factors that can destroy a product team, including egos and a lack of transparency.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
In this episode, Dan and George discuss what alignment means, why it's important, and how to achieve alignment in a product team.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
In this episode, Dan and George answer the question, "How are product teams structured?" and explain how each member's role plays into the creation of the perfect product team.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
In this episode, Dan and George discuss how they decided on the title of the Option Five podcast and give the origin story of Crema.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.
This episode is a trailer for our new podcast, Option Five. Join Dan Linhart and George Brooks as they engage in hearty conversation around the future of the Option Five podcast.
Option 5 is brought to you by Crema.
Crema is a digital product agency that works with partners from top innovative brands to funded startups. Our team of creative thinkers and doers simplify the complex to discover the right solutions faster.