Product Mastery Now for Product Managers, Leaders, and Innovators

Choose useful beliefs to become a better product manager Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, three-time returning guest Nir Eyal discusses his latest book, Beyond Belief . The conversation dives into how our underlying beliefs shape our actions, careers, and the products we build, with science-backed strategies for challenging limiting beliefs, reframing workplace motivat...

Innovation portfolio management connects strategy and execution Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode, I’m interviewing Noel Sobelman, author of Innovation Portfolio Management , about how organizations can bridge the gap between strategy and execution through effective innovation portfolio management. We discuss the structure, governance, and decision-making processes behind managing innova...

The innovation playbook behind global FMCG giants Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode, I’m interviewing Deirdre Walters, co-founder of Untapped Innovation and former Procter & Gamble R&D leader, on the importance of deep user understanding in product development. Deirdre Walters shares the origins and application of the Technical Product Story Framework, a story-driven approach to...

Innovators think, “There has to be a better way” Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, I’m interviewing serial entrepreneur and innovation leader Phil Burks. Phil shares the humble beginnings of his now-global software company, the Genesis Group, lessons learned from solving his own business problems, the importance of intuitive and practical innovation, a...

Masterclass on how to innovate for product managers Watch on YouTube TLDR In this kick-off to a new innovation series, I’m breaking down what innovation means inside organizations, dispelling myths, sharing insights from a recent one-day innovation workshop, and emphasizing customer-centric value. I introduce tools like the Bain Company’s Elements of Value Pyramid, discuss how innovati...

Product managers catalyze radical transformation using AI Watch on YouTube TLDR Most AI initiatives in business are failing, not because of technology, but due to weak systems and leadership challenges. Maggie Nichols and Jon Adams join me in this episode to discuss why AI isn’t delivering on its promises and what product leaders can do to drive real transformation. Success hinges on system-level...

Go where your customers work to understand their needs TLDR This episode of Product Mastery Now features Paul Krug, Senior Product Manager at Komatsu, discussing the role of culture in product management. We explore how to foster a collaborative team environment, get customer insights, and navigate organizational challenges to deliver products customers love. Introduction Today, we are exploring P...

A framework for making the most of AI rather than letting it replace you Watch on YouTube TLDR AI is fundamentally changing the role of the product manager. While core skills like solving customer problems and using human judgment remain, many traditional and entry-level tasks are being automated. Tom Leung, Director of Product Management at Meta, joins me to share his thoughts on the evolving rol...

Apply techniques from the military to show up as the person you want to be when the pressure is on Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, I’m joined by former UK Special Forces operator and mental performance coach Simon Jeffries. We dive into actionable strategies and systems for product teams to perform under intense pressure without burning out or breaking. From bui...

Product management practices to stay entrepreneurial as your company grows Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, I’m interviewing Lean Startup pioneer Eric Ries about his new book, Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great . We discuss the friction that arises when established organizations try to innovate like startups, the underlyin...

Delighting customers turned this McDonald’s fry guy into an owner/operator of 11 franchises Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, I’m interviewing Mike Yontz, owner/operator of 11 McDonald’s restaurants, about scaling customer experience, leadership philosophies, and innovation within the McDonald’s ecosystem. Mike shares his journey from “fry guy” to owne...

Step-by-step methodology for customer discovery – for product managers Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, innovation strategist Amy Meginnes shares a step-by-step methodology for effective customer discovery. Learn how to target the right people, frame and ask effective questions, conduct interviews confidently, and turn conversations into actionable insights while...

A five-step creative process for product innovation Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, I’m interviewing James Taylor, author of SuperCreativity: Accelerating Innovation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence . We dissect the myth of the lone genius in product management, discuss tools for developing creativity, explore the essentials of team and AI collaboration. Ou...

An outcome-driven innovation perspective on Jobs-to-be-Done Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode of Product Mastery Now, I’m talking with innovation veteran Mike Boysen about making Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD) practical, fast, and accessible thanks to AI-powered tools and frameworks. We revisit what JTBD really means, how it has evolved, why practitioners sometimes get stuck, and how AI helps dr...

How product managers can get the most out of AI-native development processes Watch on YouTube TLDR This episode, featuring Avi Zelenko, Principal Product Manager at Atlassian, explores how AI is transforming the traditional software development lifecycle (SDLC). Our discussion focuses on Atlassian’s Prompt-Eval-Iterate loop, using AI with PRDs, the creation and use of “golden datasets,...

Case studies of scrappy product management experiments Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode, I’m interviewing Jeff Lash, VP of Product Management at Insperity, to demystify product experimentation for product managers. Jeff unpacks scrappy ways to test assumptions, mitigate risk, and maximize learning, sharing case studies from his work in B2B product management. We discuss real examples, k...

Building products to teach kids to love science and embrace failure Watch on YouTube TLDR I’m interviewing Rachele Harmuth, Chief Product Officer at CrunchLabs, to discuss scaling a beloved STEM brand from viral YouTube content to hands-on products, classroom curriculum, and partnerships with platforms like Netflix. Rachele Harmuth shares her journey from toy design to product leadership and...

Insights from the innovation leadership graduate program at UFred Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode, I’m interviewing Dr. Michael Hobeck, Provost and Vice President of Academics at the University of Fredericton (UFred), about building innovation leadership in organizations. We discuss the specialized Innovation Leadership MBA/EMBA program at UFred, key skills and mindsets for innovation...

 Is Taylor Swift the best product strategist of our generation? Watch on YouTube TLDR This episode features Mike Hyzy, VP of Strategy and Innovation at CGI, breaking down how Taylor Swift’s approach to music and branding mirrors world-class product strategy. From testing new markets to managing an interconnected product portfolio, Swift’s business acumen offers valuable lessons for product manager...

Vision statements and strategic themes to connect product management to business goals Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode, I’m interviewing Morten Sorensen, Vice President of Systems IT Portfolio Management at the US Federal Reserve, about aligning product work with organizational strategy. We explore the importance of vision statements, the use of strategic themes, and practical tools li...

Engaging employees and systems for sustainable innovation growth Watch on YouTube TLDR This episode features Maggie Nichols, CEO of Eureka! Ranch, who breaks down how organizations can transform innovation from a risky bet into a repeatable system. She discusses practical frameworks for diagnosing and building innovation capability, the critical role of culture and psychology, and actionable steps...

From “move fast and break things” to responsible product management Watch on YouTube TLDR This episode explores how culture acts as a powerful predictor of long-term product success. I’m talking with product leader Namrta Raghvendra, who has extensive experience at Meta, Salesforce, LinkedIn, and Dell and understands the importance of team culture in building resilient, innovativ...

Alignment between product and project management Watch on YouTube TLDR This episode dives into the often-overlooked divide between product and project management and how bridging this gap can unleash greater innovation in organizations. Leah Huf and Jill Diffendall from the Project Management Institute (PMI) share research findings, actionable frameworks, and real-world experiences to help product...

Using AI to remove friction from the product innovation process Watch on YouTube TLDR This episode explores how product managers can dramatically speed up and improve early-stage idea validation using AI, featuring Nate Patel, co-founder of ProtoBoost.ai. We discuss practical innovation frameworks, reducing uncertainty, simulation of customer interviews, and the limits of relying solely on AI for...

Practical tips for product managers facilitating innovation workshops Watch on YouTube TLDR Innovation strategy workshops offer a powerful way to reimagine product roadmaps—if done well. In this episode, I’m interviewing Amy Meginnes, a seasoned innovation workshop facilitator from Philips & Co., who shares a framework for designing, executing, and following through on workshops that del...