Products That Count Podcast

The daily workflow of a product manager can mean toggling between as many as a dozen different tools, each fulfilling a different, specialized function. Of course, it takes a specific brain space to design and create the products used by product teams themselves. So, what’s it like to build the tools used to build product? This week we take a peek behind the curtain with JourneyApps Chief of Product Kobie Botha, who speaks on product management for developer platforms.

Broadway may not be the first industry that comes to mind with the word tech. However, with over 14 million attendees a year, product leaders are catching on to the cross-consumer opportunities evident in the live theater space. How has one of the most legacy, analog industries there is evolved to thrive in the digital now? The Shubert Organization Director of Digital Product Kyle Wright speaks on the evolution of digital in live theater and how data technology continues to enhance live storytelling.

Market dominance used to be about feet on the ground and sales execution, but in an increasingly digital world, it’s driven by digital experiences which are the responsibility of product teams. How do organizations gain and maintain market leadership in this new Age of Product? Products That Count CPO James Gray sits down with the 2021 Product Awards Advisory Board to discuss the superpowers available to product managers during the product lifecycle and the merits of a product acceleration platform.

The first year of the new decade barreled through like a freight train, delivering a cosmic ultimatum to all businesses. Some companies staggered, while others soared. In our Product Talk Year in Review, we handpicked an episode for each season led by our hosts Anthony Atlas, Samantha Scott, Adam O’Donnell, and Patrick Blute. Relive insights from leaders at Airbnb, Oscar, Skylar, and Heap, and listen to what it was like to drive digital innovation in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic.

This year takes the cake when it comes to twists and turns, but through it all, the hosts of Product Talk continued to drive forward the product conversation with stellar discussions and in-depth profiles with product leaders. Featuring guests from industry giants like Tinder, Verizon, and Microsoft, catch up on some of the most listened to episodes of the year, brought to you by two of our hosts, Universal Electronics Product Director Nikki Ahmadi, and CreditKarma Product Director Christina Lucey.

When working in a team setting, communal recognition of the decision-making hierarchy goes a long way to achieving smooth execution. However, when the roles themselves remove risk accountability, lower buy-in from team members can lower product quality itself. How do product leaders encourage ownership by the entire team instead of by single individuals? Hubspot Product Director Louise Bernstein speaks on accountability, customer experience, and how to drive product ownership by every member of the team.

Scaling product for the global market doesn’t come easy. False assumptions of cross-market needs and flubbed product adaptations have been the death of many a product. So how can product leaders lay the groundwork from the beginning in order to scale a product successfully? Mighty Capital Sr. Manager Adam O’Donnel sits down with Canela Media CEO Isabel Rafferty Zavala to discuss their recent funding from Mighty Capital, trends in digital media, and how to scale product for global markets.

The internet leveled the playing field in many ways. Consumers and employees alike now have a larger voice, leading companies to be impact aware, and to care about more than just the bottom line. In an increasingly ethical marketplace, how do product leaders build integrity into the heart of company culture? nate Product Marketing Lead Patrick Blute sits down with Airbnb Former Chief Ethics Officer Rob Chesnut to discuss conscious consumerism and the evolution of integrity in tech.

Getting that senior product title is the dream of every product manager. The expectations of the position, however, can be different than the reality. What does it take to run the team and how can product managers prepare for that day? In a series of conversations with senior product leaders, Credit Karma Product Director Christina Lucey sits down with GoodRX Sr. Product VP Ravi Dev to discuss the role of Head of Product, and how efficient execution and versatility play into excelling at a strategic role.

The ideas are refined and the design is locked; now comes the time to build. Sounds simple, but product teams know otherwise. In an era of digital innovation, complexities grow by the layer. So, how do product leaders bring a product to life? Wrapping up our Age of Product Series, Microsoft fmr Product Lead and Products That Count CPO James Gray sits down with nate Product Marketing Lead Patrick Blute to discuss the superpowers available to product managers during the build stage of the product life cycle.

From ideation to development, when it comes time to conceive a product there’s a slew of factors to consider. Product leaders need to be able to translate sketches into a realized product. So, where to start, when it's time to start? Next in our Age of Product Series, Microsoft fmr Product Lead and Products That Count CPO James Gray sits down with Universal Electronics Product Director Nikki Ahmadi to discuss the superpowers available to product managers during the conceive stage of the product life cycle.

The path to great design can be a fragmented maze of interface, research, and user experiences. But good design means good business. With an expanding inventory of design tools available to product leaders, which ones light the way best? Continuing our Age of Product Series, Microsoft fmr Product Lead and Products That Count CPO James Gray sits down with Prezi Product Director Neha Taleja to discuss the superpowers available to product managers during the design stage of the product life cycle.

The product life cycle can be broken down into five stages: conceive, design, build, collaborate, and operate. Fluid, adept execution at each of these stages is needed for lasting product success. So what exactly are the superpowers that lie within each? In this Age of Product series, Microsoft former Product Lead and Products That Count CPO James Gray interviews product leaders on competencies that every great product manager needs. In this episode, Tatari Sr. Product Manager Bryce York shares his expertise on the powers of operation.

The Age of Product is truly upon us. With it comes a plethora of opportunities for growth and innovation. What are the superpowers that lie hidden within the lifecycle of product development and how do product leaders take the most advantage of them? In this Age of Product series, Microsoft fmr Product Lead and Products That Count CPO James Gray interviews product leaders on the competencies great product managers need at the different stages of the product life cycle. In this episode, IBM fmr Product Lead, Pivotree Product Director, and Product That Count chapter head Nita Maheswaren shares his perspective on the superpowers for effective collaboration and the importance of building trust across teams.

Risk-taking is vital to career and company growth, but how do we calculate that risk as product leaders? Product Talk host Nikki Ahmadi sits down with Shellye Archambeau, silicon valley pioneer, Verizon Board Director, and former CEO of Metric Streams, to discuss the power of planning, intention, and how to enhance the skill of taking risks.

Product managers excel at building products. However, sometimes that isn’t enough for a product to be successful. So, how can we avoid failure? As part of our series in partnership with the Growth Marketing Conference, Product Talk host and product executive, Thomas Daly sat down with Craig Zingerline, CPO at Sandboxx to discuss how we can successfully grow our products and user base.

Some fintech products have unique obstacles when delivering enjoyable user experiences. Behind the financial curtain are regulations, tied to sluggish timelines. How do you balance quick and enjoyable user experiences while following regulations? Product Talk Host Patrick Blute sat down with Vouch Insurance CPO, Rajat Kongovi, to discuss how innovative fintech companies approach this challenge.

Every product manager relies on at least one skill to help drive their success and that of their product. Among the more useful skills agreed upon by PMs is empathy for their target customer and stakeholders. How does one practice empathy to deliver the best product? As part of our Product Management series, Product Talk host Adam O’Donnell sat down with Bitcoin Founder & CEO Marc Blinder to discuss empathy and how it plays into product management.

In a COVID world, the role of product teams building for healthcare is central to our society. Telemedicine, in particular, is an ever-growing field with plenty of opportunities for improvements. It provides both patients and health professionals the tools needed to remain in contact and work efficiently. As part of our Innovation in Healthcare series, Product Talk host and Etsy product exec Samantha Scott, interviews Ro Product Head, Jessica Prager, and discusses the healthcare industry and building products that make us healthier.

Part of the product development process is understanding where the finished product stands in the market. While this can easily be confused with product branding and storytelling, it’s an entirely unique and separate phase of creation and marketing. How do you differentiate a product’s branding from its positioning while still illustrating its value? As part of our Confidence and Product Management series, Product Talk host Nikki Ahmadi sits down with Huawei fmr Product VP, April Dunford, to define product positioning and its role in development and marketing.