Products That Count Podcast

As a product leader, what does it mean to operate at the top of your license? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by VNS Health Product Director Mark Bailes, Better RX Head of Product Todd Blaquiere discusses the concept of "operating at the top of your license" in product management, and how product managers and leaders can work towards this goal. The conversation covers the challenges of transitioning from a well-trodden path of product management to a more "righteous path" focused on customer discovery, outcomes, and continuous improvement. Todd shares his insights on how individual contributors can take on additional responsibilities to demonstrate leadership, as well as how product leaders can create an environment that enables their teams to operate at the top of their license.

How can product leaders navigate product leadership in uncertain times? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, NEOGOV CPO Denise Hemke speaks on navigating the role of product leadership during a period of significant change and uncertainty. Denise shares insights on balancing compliance and innovation in a regulated government software space, the evolving expectations of the Chief Product Officer, and strategies for continuous learning and transparency within product teams. She also discusses the impact of AI on product management, including opportunities for automation, improved decision-making, and personalized customer experiences.

What does it take to decarbonize and detoxify the plastic supply chain? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, host Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing Matereal CEO and Co-Founder Jacqueline Ros Amable to discuss decarbonizing and detoxifying the plastic supply chain, the importance of Go-To-Market strategy and organizational structure in growing a start-up, as well as how proactive management of a diverse group of team members and stakeholders contributes to the success of product development.

How can AI be leveraged for customer insights? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, Appfire CPO Andy Boyd speaks on scaling product teams and leveraging AI to gain deeper customer insights. He discusses the role of the CPO in defining a winning product strategy across a portfolio, building high-performing teams, and putting systems in place to drive organizational effectiveness. Andy also highlights how AI can complement product management by helping teams better understand the voice of the customer through data analysis and synthesis. He provides practical advice for product managers looking to break into the field, emphasizing the importance of cultivating curiosity, connecting with product leaders, and taking advantage of training resources.

What key frameworks and strategies can be implemented to drive product success? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, WISEcode CPO Dylan Casey speaks on his unique background as a former professional cyclist who transitioned into product management at companies like Google and Goldman Sachs. He shares insights on developing a strong product development framework, establishing rituals and processes to free up time for creative work, and how AI is poised to impact and empower product managers.

How can product design and marketing be optimized with psychology and AI? In this episode hosted by Nacho Andrade, Solsten CEO & Co-Founder Joe Schaeppi speaks on his background in UX design, clinical psychology, and adventure therapy, and how that blend of skills informs his approach to product development. He highlights the limitations of demographic and behavioral data in predicting customer behavior, and explains how Solsten uses AI and psychology to provide companies with more accurate insights to optimize their product design, marketing, and advertising. Joe also offers his thoughts on the role of AI in creativity and the future of human-computer interaction.

How can product leaders scale enterprise tech businesses? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik, Globalization Partners SVP and Head of Product Gangadhar "GK" Konduri shares his extensive experience building and scaling products across various industries, including customer data platforms, digital customer experience, and HR tech. Listeners will gain valuable insights into establishing product-market fit, navigating compliance requirements for SaaS product, and the role of AI in product development.

How can product leaders drive product innovation through organizational agility and AI adoption? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Cox Automotive EVP and CPO Marianne Johnson discusses her approach to leading product development at scale. She shares insights on leveraging organizational agility, data-driven decision-making, and the transformative potential of AI to deliver exceptional customer experiences. From aligning product strategy with corporate vision to building high-performing teams, this conversation offers a masterclass in product leadership that can inspire leaders across industries.

How can product leaders accelerate innovation through AI and ecosystem partnerships? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Capgemini Engineering Chief Digital Officer and Intelligent Products & Services Leader Nicolas Rousseau speaks on the rapid pace of innovation and the role of Chief Product Officers in navigating the changing technology landscape. Nicolas shares insights on the acceleration of time to market, innovation, and customer expectations, with AI at the forefront. He highlights the importance of optimizing product development processes for short-term gains and long-term potential, as well as leveraging AI expertise across different industries. Nicolas also addresses the challenges of scaling AI products and managing thousands of intelligent devices, emphasizing the need for speed and foresight in product development amidst rapid technological change.

How can product leaders navigate large organizations? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, JPMorgan Chase & Co VP of Product Rashmi Ketha discusses her journey from data science to product management. Rashmi shares insights on navigating large organizations, building successful products, and the skills needed to break into product management. She emphasizes the importance of relationship building, communication, and taking small steps to explore new opportunities. The discussion also covers virtual work etiquette and advice for aspiring product managers.

What is the future of work and product leadership going to look like? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Zoom CPO Smita Hashim speaks on her journey in product management, the importance of mentors and personal growth, the role of empathy and collaboration in leadership, and how Zoom is leveraging AI to enhance the product experience for customers. Smita shares insights on prioritizing product features, planning for the long-term, and the evolving role of product managers in the age of AI.

How can product leaders navigate remote communication challenges? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Workleap Director of Product Barbara Bermes, Upwork Director of Engineering Sebastiano Armeli speaks on managing remote teams and effective async communication. He discusses strategies for using Slack productively, setting clear expectations for response times, and fostering a healthy remote work culture. Sebastiano emphasizes the importance of empathy, clarity, and leading by example in digital communications. He also touches on detecting high performers in remote settings, the future of remote work, and what makes a great product manager. The conversation provides practical tips for leaders navigating the challenges of distributed teams and remote collaboration.

How does democratizing EV charging access facilitate the decarbonization of the mobility sector? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing Voltpost CEO and Founder Jeff Prosserman to discuss decarbonizing mobility by enabling EV charging through lamp posts, leveraging everyone's unique skillset to contribute to sustainable product development, as well as keeping impact and diversity top of mind during the process.

What do product leaders need to consider when leading product strategy at SMBs? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, BILL CPO Irana Wasti shares her expertise on leading product strategy for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). She discusses the importance of customer-centric innovation, adapting to rapidly changing business environments, and integrating AI into product experiences. Irana emphasizes the need for experimentation in product development and explains how her immigrant background has shaped her adaptable leadership style. She also explores the challenges of serving diverse SMB needs at scale and offers valuable insights on leveraging AI to enhance both internal operations and customer-facing solutions.

How can product leaders master remote communication and team collaboration? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Workleap Director of Product Barbara Bermes, Spotify Senior Product Lead Srividhya Chandrasekaran shares valuable strategies for effective remote communication and team collaboration. She discusses Spotify's innovative approach to asynchronous work, including the use of Slack, team manuals, and collaborative tools. Srividhya offers practical tips for managing communication overload, fostering team cohesion, and maintaining productivity in a distributed work environment. She also explores the future of remote work and shares her favorite resources for continued learning in product management.

How can healthcare leaders make a difference with innovative models for food security and health equity? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, U.S. Hunger President & CEO Rick Whitted shares his journey from corporate banking to healthcare leadership. He discusses U.S. Hunger's innovative approaches to addressing food insecurity and social determinants of health, including their community activation events and full cart program. Rick emphasizes the importance of understanding lived experiences, leveraging technology and data, and creating connected ecosystems in healthcare. He offers valuable perspectives on the future of healthcare, the role of community-based organizations, and advice for aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs.

How is AI reshaping product management for one of the most iconic brands in the world? Join us for the latest episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, where CONA Services CPO Petra Romano shares her experiences leading product development for Coca-Cola bottlers. She discusses the evolution of the CPO role, emphasizing the importance of innovation, AI integration, and customer-centricity. Petra highlights her team's approach to prioritization, stakeholder management, and delivering impactful products. She also offers valuable insights on time management, learning from challenges, and the future of AI in product management.

What do product leaders need to consider when hiring in a changing tech landscape? In this episode hosted by Nacho Andrade, Launchpad Recruiting Labs Founder John LaMarche shares his expertise on building high-impact product teams in today's evolving tech industry. He discusses current hiring trends, the impact of AI on product roles, and strategies for job seekers to stand out in a competitive market. John offers valuable insights on networking, personal branding, and the shift towards fractional work, providing actionable advice for both recruiters and job candidates in the product management field.

How can product leaders leverage AI to scale product businesses? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik, PEAK6 Head of AI Yuying Chen-Wynn speaks on her experience scaling product businesses globally and leveraging AI. Yuying shares lessons from building products internationally at Microsoft, in China, and for the education sector. She emphasizes the importance of timing when bringing products to market and adapting quickly when market conditions change. Yuying also discusses how she used AI to rapidly automate content creation and scale an education business in China. Tune in for insights on international product development, leadership mindsets, and Yuying's vision for how generative AI will transform business models.

How can data be used to build trust with customers? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Varo Bank CPO Wook Chung discusses how the company is using data and behavioral insights to build trust with customers and provide innovative lending solutions. As a digital-first bank aiming to serve the underbanked, Varo is developing new ways to underwrite customers based on their behaviors and transactions over time. Chung shares how they are visualizing the trust relationship and using data to offer near-instant access to credit when customers need it. This interview explores Varo's mission to create a financial operating system that combines traditional banking services in a seamless digital experience, while ensuring regulatory compliance.