We’ve just hit 50, and we’re ready to celebrate!

By 50, we don’t mean 50 years old. We’ve hit 50 episodes covering all things product. 

We’ve interviewed the best and brightest in the industry, getting their personal stories and incredible career journeys. From the start of their product paths, their successes, and all the lessons they’ve learned along the way, we’ve got podcasts from every walk of life. The one thing they all have in common is a love of product.

Join Tiama Hanson-Drury, our fantastic host, as she hits her milestone 50th interview with Shelley Perry, Board Director, Operator turned Investor and SaaS ScaleUp Expert. 

What’s in store for you?

Shelley talks about all things network and scaling. It's not just what you know but who you know and how you can leverage those relationships for your product. Take it from her: your network can become an essential part of your professional toolkit. And it's not just about getting jobs; it's about sharing expertise, learning from others, and contributing to a broader community to find the right leaders for your company.

Shelley shares the secrets of building genuine relationships over time and how that can help scale your product. Engaging in communities, sharing valuable content, and participating in discussions are all powerful ways to expand your circle. Learn to be an active part of conversations in your industry. Shelley teaches you how to Invest in your people so they’ll invest back in you.

Key talking points

• The importance of networking throughout one's career for advancement and support. 
• How to chart your career path, get feedback, and transition to new roles. 
• Finding the right product leader for your company's stage of growth. 
• The unique challenges of growing a startup into a successful scaleup. 

A little about the guest

Shelley attended the University of Denver and is now an investor, board director, and advisor specializing in helping SaaS companies accelerate growth during the scale-up stage. She has deep operator experience from her past roles as a software operator, CPO, and CEO and loves to share her expertise to help others in their product journey.

Want more?

There are 49 more episodes of goodness to listen to. It’s time to make a cup of tea, cozy into a blanket, and listen away. Or maybe you’re more of a podcast-on-the-go type of person. Hit that play button as you start your drive to work or get on that running path. 

Wherever you are, our podcast is ready for you.

Be sure to catch more episodes of For the Love of Product!

In this episode, we’re joined by Ninika Nanda, a visionary leader with an impressive track record. Over the past two decades, she has seamlessly navigated product and engineering roles, showcasing a deep understanding of both domains. Join her conversation today to learn how she spanned various sectors, including banking, financial services, and retail e-commerce, all of which have made her a better product leader.

Dig into her story to see how Ninika embraced entrepreneurship, serving as a founder and contributing to the inception of impactful ventures. Throughout her roles, Ninika has consistently demonstrated proficiency in leadership strategy, adept team building, and fostering vibrant communities. Ninika teaches people how to foster collaborative environments that encourage creativity and productivity. A testament to her diverse skill set, this podcast is for anyone looking to enhance their product leadership.

Key talking points

• Product leadership focus: Explore the passion and practice of product leadership, unraveling the head and heart behind product-led growth.

• Cultural integration and diversity: Insights into Ninika’s journey, relocating to the UK, fostering a rich understanding of inclusivity, diversity, and cultural integration.

• Seeking fulfillment: Ninika's professional journey is marked by a search for fulfillment, where she recognized her passion for solving customer and business problems, leading her to transition from engineering to product roles.

• Mentorship and community building: Understand dedication to mentorship and community building, emphasizing knowledge-sharing and fostering growth within the product field.

• Engaging with industry leaders: Learn how to create meaningful discussions with seasoned CTOs, heads of product, visionary founders, and investors, providing valuable insights and stories. 

• Women in leadership roles in product: Ninika speaks on her presence as a woman leader in the product space, highlighting the significance of her perspective on women-related leadership.

• Embracing change and challenges: Ninika emphasizes the importance of being open to change, welcoming challenges, and not being afraid of failure. Her willingness to experiment and face the unknown has played a crucial role in shaping her career and life.

A little about the guest

Ninika initially started as an engineer and later transitioned to product roles due to a quest for fulfillment and a desire to solve customer and business problems. Following her MBA, Ninika transitioned to a fulfilling role as a business analyst, focusing on building business case strategies and commercializing products. She developed leadership skills, led small and large teams, and gained confidence in utilizing her leadership. 

Ninika faced another turning point when she joined her husband in the UK. This involved leaving a senior position and a fantastic team to adapt to a new culture and environment. The move brought a mixture of excitement and nervousness, highlighting the challenges of relocating and experiencing a new culture. 

In this episode, we’re joined by Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia, CEO of Product School, a global leader in product management training with a community of over 1 million product enthusiasts. 

Carlos explores key aspects of the product management landscape, including finding the right community for your product, why hands-on learning is the best way to jump into the PLG world and the challenges entrepreneurs face. With his storied career and tons of experience to share, don't miss this opportunity to learn from an industry expert and expand your product management knowledge.

Key talking points 

• The importance of building a community 
• The format of Product School's courses, which are designed to be flexible for students and instructors
• How to master soft skills in product management, including communication, empathy, and collaboration
• The significance of hands-on and observational learning in developing soft skills and product management expertise.
• The challenges and sacrifices involved in starting and running a successful company
• How to carefully select the right investor or partner when raising capital

In this episode, we’re joined by Arvind Dutta as he reflects on his multifaceted career in product management, emphasizing the customer-centric nature of the role. Listen to how he faces the challenges of fostering collaboration within teams and shares the vital role Microsoft Teams played during the pandemic. Arvind also discusses the product manager's unique position as an influencer and the emotional pendulum experienced in the role, advising a balanced perspective. 

Arvind explores the evolving impact of AI, the need to customize frameworks, and the critical role of storytelling in product management, underlining its power to convey concepts effectively. This insightful podcast sheds light on the dynamic and emotional aspects of the product management profession while offering valuable insights for navigating its complexities.

Key talking points

• Arvind’s enticing career journey
• Challenges of collaboration
• Impact of Microsoft Teams during the pandemic
• Emotional pendulum in product management
• The role of AI in product 
• Customization of frameworks
• Importance of storytelling

In this episode, we’re joined by Liam Young, founder of Harper, a technology startup that helps retailers deliver in-store experiences to their online customers. Listen as Liam explores the origin of his company and the hurdles he faced during COVID-19, a tiring time for any business.

But there’s triumph despite the challenges, and Liam expands on how he pivoted from a marketplace to adding value to merchandisers and retailers as a B2B2C company during the pandemic.

Key talking points

• Liam’s career background 
• How he effectively sold his product to merchants
• What’s next for Harper from a growth perspective
• His plans for expanding Harper to additional markets
• What advice he’d give to people looking to get investments in their company
• Harper’s target personas and how they influence product decisions

Key Talking Points

• Working on foundational products across the different Meta apps.
• The high and low points of working at Meta over the last 17 years.

• The importance of prioritizing and categorizing user feedback when launching new features.

• How Naomi progressed into a product management role at Meta and how she added value to the company as a non-technical PM.

• Key skills you need to be a great product leader.

Hear Radhika's input on:

• How we create products that make change without unintended consequences
• Step-by-step processes to avoid product disease
• Focus on the who, what, when, why, and how of product design
• How to prioritize long-term vs short-term needs
• Inclusive visions and solving pain points in a holistic way

Take a listen as Elena dives into:

• The highs and lows of job interviewing in the product world
• Finding a company that works for both you and them
• Choosing a familiar role versus what is best for you
• What it takes to be a successful product leader and what does that success even mean
• How your unconventional career is a valuable service in product-led growth

Phoebe Gavin, Executive Director of Talent and Development for Vox.com, explores a number of key talking points, including:

• The power of coaching and content creation in a remote leadership world.
• Why investing in leadership skills is crucial for the success of any organization.
• Why it’s okay to pivot and respond to your audience's needs.
• Building a strong proof of concept and why this is so crucial
• Recognizing the influence of emotional states on the decision-making process.

Laura Marino, Chief Product Officer at TrueML (parent company of TrueAccord) takes us through her career journey and passion for growth stage companies and more, with key talking points including:

• Empowering consumers through digital channels and AI technology.
• The importance of women in product leadership.
• Why company culture is crucial during tough periods.
• The power of combining cultures to transform a complex tech space.
• Why alignment on goals is crucial to avoid making trade-offs between what's good for the client versus what's good for the consumer.

Vaidas Adomauskas, then Chief Product Officer of Uncapped, now CPO at First Circle, unpacks a number of key talking points, including:

• The best practices of Agile for different-sized orgs.
• His practical advice on embedding platform teams into product teams.
• The key indicators of whether you’re achieving optimal results.
• Why working in cross-functional teams is essential for customer satisfaction.
• Critical insights on how to scale a multi-product business.