Launch With Confidence

When every customer, executive, and competitor has an opinion about what you should build next, how do you know what actually matters? In this episode, Patrick Quiery, VP of Product at IntelliShift, joins Chris Rader to talk about how data, not instinct, guides great product decisions. From fleet management to SaaS, Patrick has spent over a decade transforming complex feedback into clear product d...

In this episode of Launch With Confidence, Chris sits down with Ciara Peter, SVP of Product at Robin. With leadership experience at Robin, Medallia, Gainsight, and Box, Ciara has spent her career helping SaaS companies navigate market shifts, competitive pressure, and evolving customer expectations. At Robin, she guided the team through one of the most turbulent eras in workplace software—navigati...

In this episode of Launch With Confidence, Chris Rader sits down with Randy Ford, Director of Product Management at Fidium Fiber. Randy has spent more than 20 years leading product teams across networking, cloud, and security, but what sets him apart is his conviction that the best ideas come from observing customers in their own environments. From stadiums packed with thousands of devices to smal...

In this episode of Launch With Confidence, Chris Rader sits down with product marketing leader and content creator Natalie Mackay to talk about pre-launch social proof, gathering deep customer insights, and unlocking the hidden go-to-market power of beta programs. Natalie shares actionable ways product marketers can partner with product managers to create messaging that resonates, drive conversion...

In this episode, Chris Rader welcomes Chip Duval, an experienced Senior Program Manager with expertise at companies like Sonos and Peloton. Chip dives into practical strategies for beta and alpha testing, sharing methods to identify and retain quality testers, collect actionable feedback, and integrate insights for product improvement. He emphasizes the importance of managing both quantitative and...

Quick note – The video files didn’t quite cooperate for this episode, so enjoy the audio-only experience. Keith’s wisdom still shines, so don't sleep on this one! In this episode, Chris Rader sits down with Keith McDonald, Beta Testing Lead at Square, to discuss the art of building beta programs that go beyond just finding bugs. Keith’s career spans more than a decade, including significant roles...

In this insightful episode of Launch With Confidence, we sit down with Jacob Faarkrog Christensen, the Customer Validation Lead at Bang & Olufsen, to explore the evolving role of AI in beta testing and product development. Jacob shares his journey of implementing AI models into their beta programs, which has significantly improved how they collect and analyze feedback. He delves into the chall...

On this episode of Launch With Confidence, we dive into the world of smart home products with Danielle Prince, Beta Coordinator at Wyze Labs. Danielle shares her journey from a support agent to leading Wyze’s innovative beta program, detailing the unique strategies and methodologies that drive their success. She explains how Wyze transitioned from decentralized social media-based testing to a stru...

Ever wondered how the tech behind baby monitors gets perfected? On this episode of Launch With Confidence, we’re joined by Dylan LeMay, Beta Program Manager at Nanit, who turns real-world chaos into irrefutable insights. As a new dad himself, he blends personal experience with professional expertise to ensure Nanit’s smart baby monitors excel in diverse environments. In this insightful conversatio...

Dive into the intricate world of digital product management with Raiana Zaman, Senior Product Owner/Analyst at State Employees Credit Union in North Carolina. Transitioning from a developer to a product management role, Raiana brings a unique perspective to the table, bridging the gap between technical execution and strategic product vision. This episode explores Raiana's journey, highlighting...

In this episode of Launch With Confidence, we sit down with Jalen McGee, a Product Manager for Microsoft Azure Arc. Jalen shares his journey from internships to product management, offering insights into the skills needed for success and the crucial role of customer feedback in product development. Together, they explore key aspects of product management: Internship Experience: Jalen discusses how...

In this episode, we’re exploring the world of product management with Maurice Leacock, a seasoned Product Director and current Product Management Consultant at Carrier HVAC. Maurice brings a wealth of experience from leading tech products to market, including robot vacuums, headphones, and fitness scales. We explore the importance of frameworks in product management, the role of passion, and the c...

Dive into the world of beta program management in industrial robotics on this episode of Launch With Confidence. We're joined by Israel Nunez, Beta Program Manager at Universal Robots, who has transformed their beta testing into a crucial part of product development. In This Episode: (0:00) - Intro (1:00) - The origin story of Universal Robots' beta program and its evolution. (4:20) - The...

Unveil the groundbreaking developments in fitness technology and much more in this enlightening episode of Launch With Confidence. Join us as John Trainor, an expert in tech innovation and leadership, delves into the four pivotal themes that are reshaping the tech and fitness landscapes: Innovating in Connected Fitness Tech: Explore the latest fitness device and platform advancements that keep us...

Welcome to our latest episode, where we dive into the health and fitness industry with Alexa Murray from Whoop. Join us as we explore what's going on in women's health, the power of continuous discovery, and the art of involving your market in development. Alexa shares her insights on using OKRs, beta testing, and the balance of beachheads and blinders in tech innovation. Get ready to be i...

Managing programs for hardware companies is tough, so in this episode, we bring in a seasoned professional to help. We're joined by Mike Marrs a program manager at Watkins Wellness and formerly Hewlett-Packard, about his experience taking new products from concept to market.

About This Episode On the Delta Huddle Podcast, we've discussed two areas that really benefit from beta testing, that being support and customer success. And one other area that really really benefits from getting the voice of your customer in early is customer experience. Now, customer experience is much more than just how the customer interacts with your product. It also extends to how they...

About This Episode One of the joys of the Delta Huddle Podcast is the fact that we talk with experts in a wide array of fields, from transportation and fitness to B2B platforms and entertainment. Today’s episode is a foray into another field, with its own set of challenges: Healthcare. Factors like HIPAA compliance, potential test participants working 12-to-16 hour long shifts, and a wide-variety...

About This Episode Often on the Delta Huddle Podcast, we feature guests who have spent five, ten, and sometimes 30 years in the beta testing space. But this episode is a refreshing new perspective - that of a brand new beta manager leading a beta program forward. Elizabeth Hall is Senior Beta Program Manager at Appian, a low-code B2B platform for automating business processes. Coming from the worl...

About This Episode Passionate, engaged communities are at the heart of every successful beta program. It's been a theme that we've had in a lot of our episodes, and today's episode is absolutely exemplary of that. Jake Francis has built beta programs with the help of these engaged communities. In his current role as GPU Software Dev Engineer and Game On Driver PM at Intel, he connects...

About This Episode When it comes to writing the book on beta testing, there are few people more qualified than Mike Fine . Literally. He actually has a book on beta testing. As Senior Test Manager and co-founder here at Centercode, Mike has been in the industry for over 30 years, testing thousands of products ranging from network equipment and wellness apps to audio equipment and financial service...

About This Episode In the world of fintech, Square is a global leader. Their point of sale technology and services have enabled businesses across the world to succeed. And a global leader in fintech requires a global beta team, ready to test out new innovations and understand how to integrate with a multitude of financial systems and rules. And at the center of that team is Lindsay Brown. As globa...

About This Episode On this episode of the Delta Huddle Podcast, Chris Rader and John S. Little from Centercode were joined by Joe Ghali and Ryan Cantwell, Principal Trainers and Consultants from the 280 Group. Joe and Ryan have a combined 30 years of experience in the worlds of Product Management and Customer Success, helping teams in multiple sectors become more agile, vulnerable, and collaborati...

About This Episode: In this episode, we had the pleasure of hosting a remarkable guest, Pete D'Alessandro, Director of Digital Products at Cast and Crew. With his extensive experience in the entertainment industry and expertise in software development, Pete brought a wealth of knowledge to our discussion. Pete shared invaluable insights on managing beta testing and customer validation in the e...

About This Episode: What does it mean to really value something? When it comes to products and product development, does that mean enjoying a certain set of features? Or does it go beyond the simple feature set to encompass how a product makes someone feel? Or how immersed they are while they use it? Value is something that we’re always trying to provide - to whatever audience we serve, and in tod...