Product Led Growth Leaders

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO of VEXA Software Solutions, Molly Denham. Molly discusses her transition to the private sector, where she founded VEXA Software Solutions, a company offering virtual executive assistant services. The conversation highlights the crucial role of administrative support for executives, the inefficiencies faced without it, and how Vexa Software enhances pro...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the VP of Strategic Accounts at BetterEngineer, and CEO and Founder of SwingBy, Brooks Rhinehart. Brooks discusses his extensive background in operations and strategic consulting, focusing on his work at Better Engineers, which addresses engineering staffing challenges for startups and enterprises. Brooks also explores SwingBy's innovative approach to com...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder of FobeSoft, Geordy Murphy. Geordy, with extensive experience in the hospitality industry, discusses the common challenges restaurant owners face in understanding and analyzing financial data. FobeSoft addresses these issues by providing real-time profit and loss statements, integrating with point-of-sale systems, and using AI to streamline data en...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Co-Founder of Hevi, Paul Culvenor. Paul discusses his mining industry background and the complexities of managing large-scale contracts. He explains how Heavy's AI-driven platform helps users navigate contracts, understand risks, and ensure compliance in real-time. The conversation covers the limitations of existing software, the importance of custome...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO of Aptive Index , Jason P. Carroll. Jason shares his journey from a toxic sales job to transforming company cultures, notably at Champion National Security. He emphasizes the importance of core values, hiring practices, and having the right people in leadership roles. The conversation also touches on diagnosing company culture, the impact of remote wor...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder and CEO of Next Play, Sid El Saghir. Sid discusses his transition from big tech to startups and the mission of Next Play to enhance live sports viewing by addressing boredom during game breaks. Initially offering a physical card game, Next Play is now developing digital games. Sid emphasizes understanding customer needs through feedback and leverag...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder and CEO of Face2Face, Nick Tomic. The discussion focuses on the communication challenges in the SaaS sector and how Nick's product enhances real-time interaction through video calls and screen sharing. Nick shares his journey, emphasizing the importance of human connection amidst automation. He discusses maintaining a lean, innovative team and...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder and CEO of Andrew Poles Executive Coaching, Andrew Poles. Andrew specializes in helping first-time founders transition from individual contributors to effective leaders. Andrew highlights the unique challenges these founders face, such as managing teams and meeting investor expectations. Andrew emphasizes the importance of bridging skill gaps, the...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the President of Spice Catalyst, David Fradin. David discusses the high failure rate of new products and the importance of a well-defined product market strategy. He critiques the "move fast and break things" mentality, advocating for a more deliberate approach. David introduces the SPICE framework and emphasizes understanding customer needs. He also...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Product Management Leader, Executive/Personal Coach, Facilitator, and Organizational Advisor, JC Landivar. JC shares his unconventional journey into product management, emphasizing the importance of understanding user needs and strategic decision-making. He discusses the evolving landscape of product management, the critical role of user feedback, and the...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Chief Accessibility Officer of AudioEye, Mike Paciello. Mike shares his journey from technical writing to founding web accessibility companies. The discussion highlights the evolution of web accessibility, emphasizing its importance in user experience (UX). Mike elaborates on the role of AI in enhancing accessibility, automating solutions, and making digit...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Co-Founder and Product Manager of Buska, Toni Dos Santos. Toni shares his extensive experience and insights, emphasizing the importance of business acumen in product management. He discusses his newsletter, "The Product Courier," which offers AI tutorials for product teams. Key highlights include the significance of engaging with customers early,...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO of Engaging Webinars, Jeff Brandeis. Jeff discusses the challenges of virtual presentations, especially post-COVID-19, and the common issue of unengaging webinars. He emphasizes the importance of understanding audience needs and creating interactive, educational content rather than sales pitches. Jeff introduces Engage Hub, a software tool that enhance...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Business Coach for Tech Founders of Human Interfaces, Vladimir Baranov. Vladimir shares his extensive background, from programming trading systems to scaling startups and launching satellites. Vladimir focuses on the challenges faced by founders, particularly in transitioning from engineering to business mindsets. He emphasizes the importance of understand...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Co-Founder of Sherlock, Mike Cofone. Mike shares his career journey from aspiring Olympian to data-driven sales expert. Mike covers challenges in email deliverability, transitioning to alternative communication methods, and leveraging AI in sales. Mike emphasizes the importance of direct outreach, gathering customer feedback, and integrating sales, marketi...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder of Basic Arts, Alex Smith. Alex discusses his transition from marketing to strategy, emphasizing the need to make strategic principles accessible to all founders. He highlights common misconceptions, such as the belief that a superior product guarantees success, and stresses the importance of finding a unique market position. The conversation also...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO of Simpro Software, Gary Specter. Gary, with over 25 years of experience, shares insights into the complexities of the field service industry and how SaaS can address these challenges. Gary explores the role of automation, AI, and IoT in transforming field services from reactive to proactive maintenance. The conversation also touches on the importance...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the President of FastCTO, Igor Belagorudsky. Igor shares his extensive experience in the startup ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of clear communication between founders and developers. He discusses common pitfalls, such as misaligned expectations and costly mistakes, and advocates for early investment in design and planning. Igor also highlights the bene...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Interim CTO of Memory My Way, Bill Boulden. Bill emphasizes the importance of a "completionist" mindset, focusing on core functionalities to bring products to market efficiently. He discusses the challenges startup founders face, including limited budgets and the necessity of generating revenue. Bill also highlights the evolving roles in the tech...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Owner and Principal Consultant of Tactical Business Partners, Charles Berg. Charles shares insights on early-stage product development, funding challenges, and the importance of a clear business model. He emphasizes the need for a minimum viable product (MVP) and the value of adaptability and focus. He covers the evolution of technology, the impact of AI,...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Co-Founder and CPO of Heartee Foods, Robert Imbeault. Robert shares his extensive experience in the SaaS industry, emphasizing the importance of user experience (UX) in product development. He discusses the origin of Ascend, focusing on simplifying compliance processes for supply chains. The conversation also covers the balance between sales and product de...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO of Planorama Lab, Matt Genovese. Matt shares his expertise in software engineering, product leadership, and technology, focusing on AI and IoT. Matt discusses the evolving landscape of SaaS applications, emphasizing the importance of clear requirements for development teams and addressing specific user problems. Matt highlights the potential of AI in a...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder of enäks, David Pop. David emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach that includes market research, consumer behavior analysis, and strategic marketing execution. He highlights the importance of balancing short-term wins with long-term goals and stresses the critical role of product quality. David also covers common challenges faced by start...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Owner of Dream Vacations, Nick Mornard. Nick shares his insights on the critical role of mindset in leadership, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's "why" to overcome challenges. He discusses common pitfalls for entrepreneurs, such as prioritization struggles, and highlights the value of mentorship. The episode also explores the...

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the President of Strawberry Innovation, Jules Strickland. Julie, a mechanical engineer with experience at NASA and Northrop Grumman, shares her journey as a non-traditional student and discusses innovation and leadership in high-stakes industries like aerospace. She emphasizes the complexities of patents versus trade secrets, the importance of fostering a cult...