Product Confidential: The reality of PM life!

In this episode, product expert, Dave Baines, discusses the discovery-delivery disconnect, exploring why teams often neglect discovery, signs of imbalance, and practical strategies to improve the integration of discovery into product development. Highlights include Discovery and delivery balance Signs of imbalance in product teams Strategies to integrate discovery into workflows Bridging the Disco...

In this conversation, Shreya Deora, a senior product manager, shares her journey from being an economist to a product manager, discussing the skills that have helped her in her role. She emphasizes the importance of innovation in product development, particularly through design sprints and the use of AI. Shreya highlights the need for a user-centered approach to innovation and the significance of...

In this episode of Product Confidential, Michael Palmer interviews Caroline Clark, a product leadership coach and aspiring space psychologist, about the imposter phenomenon. They discuss its origins, manifestations, and the impact of self-perception and environmental factors, particularly in product management. Caroline shares insights on navigating imposter feelings, the importance of supportive...

Join us in this insightful episode of Product Confidential as we dive deep into the world of streaming platforms with Stephen, a Senior Product Manager at Channel 4 Streaming. Discover the unique challenges and strategies involved in creating successful streaming platforms, balancing work-life dynamics, and the evolving media landscape. Timestamps : [00:00] Introduction to Stephen and Michael's ro...

In this enlightening episode, Evie Brockwell engages in a profound discussion with Nesrine Changuel, a seasoned product management leader with a wealth of experience from industry giants like Skype, Spotify, and Google. Nesrine shares her journey of discovering the power of emotional connection in product design, emphasizing the importance of creating products that not only meet functional needs b...

In this episode, Evie Brockwell sits down with Kate Syuma, the former Head of Growth Design at Miro, to explore the evolution of growth strategies in the tech industry. Kate shares her journey from joining a small startup to leading a growth team in a billion-dollar company. They discuss the shift from traditional marketing to product-led growth, the role of AI in modern growth strategies, and the...

Join us in this insightful episode as we sit down with Steve Vorley , Group Product Manager at Booking.com, to explore the art of time management and overcoming burnout. Steve shares his personal journey and practical strategies to reclaim control over your schedule, prioritize effectively, and enhance productivity. Whether you're a product manager or anyone juggling multiple responsibilities,...

Join Evie Brockwell in this insightful episode of Product Confidential as she sits down with Alex Wiley, a dynamic product designer with a rich career journey. From designing websites at 15 to leading a product department, Alex shares his experiences of career pivots, battling imposter syndrome, and finding true passion in product design. This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck in t...

In this episode of Product Confidential, join host Evie Brockwell and seasoned product management leader Beks Yelland as they explore the evolution of product management roles over the past two decades. From the early days of extensive documentation to the agile revolution and the rise of data-driven decision-making, Beks shares her insights on how the role has transformed. Discover how AI is resh...

From Pandemic Setback to Google PM: Gabor’s Playbook for Career Comebacks In this inspiring episode of Product Confidential , Michael Palmer sits down with Gabor Mayer , a Google product manager and career coach, to unpack his incredible journey from pandemic-era unemployment to landing a coveted role at Google. Gabor shares real talk on job hunting, why LinkedIn visibility matters more than ever,...

Is Your Team Truly Agile or Just Faking It? In this energising episode, Evie Brockwell and Michael Palmer sits down with renowned author and consultant J ohanna Rothman to unpack what real agility looks like in project management. They dive into the tell-tale signs of "fake agile," why collaboration beats rigid frameworks every time, and how feedback loops can supercharge your team’s eff...

What happens when machines get smarter… and leaders forget to stay human? In this thought-provoking episode, Arne Kittler unpacks the seismic shift AI is bringing to product management—and why empathy, curiosity, and trust are more crucial than ever. We get real about the risks of blindly chasing efficiency, the messy reality of integrating AI tools, and how today’s product leaders can future-proo...

In this episode of Product Confidential , we sit down with Debbie McMahon, Chief Product Officer at the Financial Times , for a candid conversation about leadership, innovation, and career growth. Debbie breaks down what it really takes to step into a senior leadership role, from navigating company politics to making high-stakes decisions. She shares how the FT is leveraging AI to enhance storytel...

What separates successful products from those that flop? In this insightful episode, Evie Brockwell and Michael Palmer sit down with Teresa Torres , a leading expert in product discovery , to uncover the secrets behind building products that truly resonate. They dive into: 🚀 Why products fail and how to prevent it 🔍 The power of assumption testing in product strategy 👥 Engaging stakeholders to...

Buzzwords and trends dominate the product world, but how much of it is just noise? In this episode, Evie Brockwell & Michael Palmer sit down with Mirela Mus to cut through the hype and uncover what truly drives product success. They dive into the risks of blindly following trends, the dangers of over-hiring, and why cultural sensitivity can make or break a product strategy. From understanding...

Great product decisions don’t just happen, they’re crafted with careful thought and strategy. In this episode of Product Confidential, Phil Hornby, a seasoned product leader, dives into the critical aspects of product management, with a focus on decision-making and how AI is reshaping these processes. He reflects on the evolution of his book and the importance of thoughtful decision-making that ba...

Feeling overwhelmed by the constant juggle of work, parenting, and life’s demands? In this episode of Product Confidential, hosts Evie Brockwell and Michael Palmer are joined by Hannah Clark. They explore the challenges of maintaining balance amidst the chaos. They discuss the early warning signs of burnout, the power of routine in managing ADHD, and the importance of self-compassion when things d...

Ever wondered what it’s like to manage products in the world of open source software? In this episode of Product Confidential, we dive deep into the fascinating journey of Karl, who transitioned from a Linux enthusiast in college to a product manager at Microsoft. What You’ll Learn: 👉 The evolution of Microsoft’s relationship with open source. 👉 Challenges of collaboration in open source communi...

Welcome back and happy 2025! "This is a little kickstart to January." We're kicking off with a solo episode from Evie as she dives into her extensive research on burnout in product management, sharing her personal story and insights. It's going to be an interactive, reflective episode so you can make the changes that you want to action this year! We're talking about what causes burnout, why it's s...

Ever felt swamped by the myriad frameworks in product management? We get into all of the details on the pros, the cons (hello imposter syndrome), and how to use frameworks effectively. Our guest is Ed Walsh. Ed is the Head of Product at Zapmap - the UK's leading EV charging platform shares all of his views in this episode. Discover why frameworks aren't one-size-fits-all, when they're genuinely us...

Join us in this engaging episode as we sit down with Claire, the Director of Sustainable Business Consulting at Transform. Claire shares her inspiring journey from her early passion for sustainability, her roles in digital product spaces, to her current position at Transform. She delves into the concept of digital sustainability, the environmental impact of digital products, and practical steps pr...

Have you ever really thought about what it takes to become an insane product leader? Have you been thinking that you might want to take this career path, but you're not sure how to make it happen? These are all of the insights that we're sharing with you today. From progressing my career to lead 5 teams worth $1 billion at the age of 27 & coaching over 20 product leaders, to Michael&#3...

Have you ever found yourself feeling like you ‘need to do it all’ to be good at Product? Has it led you to feeling stressed and overwhelmed? If so, you’re not alone. 92% of product people have either been burnt out, or close to burnout. We spent the last 6 months finding out exactly why this is happening, and what can be done about it. In this bonus episode, I’m joined by Nick Jemetta, Evelina Dzi...

Have you ever tried to use a Now, Next, Later roadmap - but your stakeholders still want exact dates? Do you find yourself spending far too long planning, and want to spend more time delivering value? If this sounds like you, we can relate. We've all been on the journey to get our stakeholders brought into a better way of doing things. & we all want to spend less time planning, and more ti...

Have you been trying to drive more impact in your product org, but it's just not working? Maybe you don't have clear goals from your product organisation, you don't see how your work relates, or it's just too hard to get clear targets. Does that sound familiar? We've all been there, but thankfully, we're joined by impact-guru Matt LeMay on today's episode. Matt unpacks...