Products That Count Podcast

Long gone are the days of printing out MapQuest directions or referring to the map in your glove compartment thanks to GPS technology. Amazingly, GPS technology is still being improved thanks to geofencing, which results in more accurate location detection. But how does geofencing work and who are leaders in this space? Luckily, our host Joh Olson got the chance to speak with the Co-Founder of Bluedot, Filip Eldic, about the creation of Bluedot and how their geofencing technology works.

The world of hospitality can be thankless at times. With customers coming from all aspects of life, it can be tough to make everyone happy with the service or product that they received. What does it take to build a successful hospitality product?  As part of our Building For Hospitality series, Tomer Molovinski, Consumer Product Lead at Resy, talks about his journey in product management, the hospitality principles he follows, and economic inspirations that help him stay ahead of the restaurant game.

Surbhi Kaul is a bit of an inspirational enigma. Growing up in an environment with minimal exposure to computers, gadgets, and other tech, she still became a leading figure in the AI and ML field. Where does she see AI and ML’s role in today's society and where is it heading? From programs recognizing images to self-driving cars, Surbhi Kaul’s perspective is one you don’t want to miss out on. Especially with her role as Head of Product & Sr. Director at Juniper Networks.

The path towards a career in product management is never straightforward. On this show we’ve spoken to many product leaders about their career trajectories and past professional experience. How can the skills acquired in a PhD program overlap with the skills needed for a career in product management? As part of our High Velocity R&D series, Zsofia Magarian, Head of Product at Ginkgo Bioworks, discusses how she is applying her PhD skills to her product career.

The world of product is full of stellar technology and innovation that truly deserves worldwide recognition. However, every now and then there is a product out there that does not meet everyone’s expectations, yet it still manages to thrive. This prompted someone to ask, why doesn’t the best product always win? As part of our The Feature is Now the Operating System Series, Christina Lucey interviews Quibb Founder, Sandi MacPherson, on why the best products don’t always win.

Technology has enabled us to be more connected to everything that's going on in the world. That said, it's easy for us to get overwhelmed with never-ending notifications - distracting us from getting things done and staying focused. How can we manage workplace distractions while staying on top of everything? In this special Book du Jour episode, Bestselling Author Nir Eyal shares insights from his new book "Indistractable" on how to take control of your day and mitigating the effects of rings/pings/dings.

More than ever, AI/ML technology is making an impact on how we interact with products that we use every day. From voice-enabled commands to learning assistants, everyday tools are smarter and more interactive. That said, it's important to understand how data plays a role in building these products and ultimately provide true value to users. What impact does data input have in making products "smarter" - and how do we analyze overall performance? As part of our Tech du Jour series, Credit Suisse CEO Jacob Sisk talks about how AI/ML is making an impact on people's everyday routine and how product managers can utilize "smart functionality" to deliver value at scale to users.

Access to healthcare resources is rapidly changing through innovations in mobile apps and testing practices. Unlike other products, there is no margin for error in delivering quality health information and results. It’s one thing to build great products - but how do you build quality health products at scale? As part of our High Velocity R&D series, Modern Fertility CEO Afton Vechery talks about personalized health products and infusing science into product development - exploring the overall impact on the product lifecycle & how to interact with users.

AI is often seen as a solution that replaces humans with automated solutions. However, the expansion of augmented AI has changed the game for how this technology can enhance user experiences. How can AI technology amplify everyday experiences that enhance how people look at the world? As part of our Tech du Jour series, CognitiveScale Product VP Jon Richter talks about the early days of Watson being used on Jeopardy to its current applications in making a difference for how people see the world.

In today's tech world, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to re-define how we build products and their overall performance. That said, these products are only as effective as the humans who build them. When building AI products, how do you leverage the right data and insights to drive results? As part of our Tech du Jour series, Capital One Managing Product VP Margaret Mayer talks about AI's impact on fintech, the finer points of machine learning & what defines great products.

Most people assume that designers and "creatives" represent a small portion of the population. However, the opposite is true when you enable creativity through interactive processes. What happens when product design becomes democratized and everyone gets involved? As part of our Diverse Voices series, Authentic Design Founder Surya Vanka talks about the impact of design swarms - from breaking down traditional product barriers to solving problems at scale.

The rise of artificial intelligence or AI is impacting how products are made and their overall capacity for learning. That said, it can be difficult to understand its overall impact. What do we know about AI's capabilities - and where are we still figuring it all out? As part of our Tech du Jour series, Jane.ai Founder David Karandish talks about AI's impact on software, where it's most over-hyped and how product teams should evaluate its potential for their roadmap.

Every entrepreneur dreams of turning their big idea into a real business. That said, 85 percent of startups end up failing to get off the ground. What should future leaders of “the next big thing” focus on to build success? Product Guru Bruce Cleveland talks about bridging the “Traction Gap” - providing a prescriptive how-to guide focused on market engineering techniques to enable startup success. 

Now more than ever, it's critical for products to connect with their customers on a personal level. That said, marketing tactics have shifted toward impersonal and intrusive ways of building rapport with target users. How can businesses stay rooted in their customers' values while scaling for success at the same time? HYP3R CEO Carlos Garcia shares the secret to building successful products at scale - while never losing focus of delivering customer delight.

To produce meaningful solutions, product managers must be user-focused. That said, they must also keep their business at the forefront of the decision-making process. How can product managers connect with customers in ways that also benefit the bottom line? GetUpside CEO Alex Kinnier discusses the Business of Product - from building value for users and businesses on equal terms, to the importance of hustling to get a new product of the ground.

The tech world may be flourishing with new innovation every day - but it is behind in the times when it comes to equal opportunity for under-represented groups. How can we increase opportunities for everyone to get into tech? As part of our Diverse Voices series, Pivotal Labs fmr Product Lead Michael Fisher talks about what it means to be a black man in tech and how to truly break barriers to enhance representation in the tech world.

Product managers often focus on reimagining a tool or solution from scratch. However, there's plenty of disruptive innovation that comes from incremental changes over time. What is the best way to make an impact with subtle tweaks to a solution? As part of our Product Lifecycle series, Instagram Product Lead Alex Plutzer on how to make your mark with gradual product enhancements. Plus, he talks about the importance of solving the right problem & effectively managing the product lifecycle.

It's easy to look at a simple product and think that it can't be hard to make. However, the simplest interfaces often require the most demanding development. What does it take to bring simplicity to life when facing complexities? As part of our Diverse Voices series, SpotHero Product Lead Jenny Wanger talks about lessons learned as a line cook, optimizing simple interfaces and what it takes to get ahead as a product manager.

In product management, we hear about the importance of data all the time. That said, not every product manager understands what to make of every data set they review. What does it take to make informed product decisions using data? As part of our Product Lifecycle series, Google Product Lead Dacheng Zhao talks about moving from retail management consulting into big data products, why data products stand out from the crowd & what it takes to become a great product manager.

Every product manager's journey takes them on a different path to find the perfect role. Often, this involves using skills from other industries to influence their product decisions. What are the best ways for "product outsiders" to apply these learnings to building great products? As part of our Diverse Voices series, Venmo Product Lead Ashley Phillips talks about how her journalism career ultimately got her into product management, moving from large companies to startups and her personal definition of great products.