Product Voices

In this episode of Product Voices , JJ Rorie sits down with Amanda Di Dio, Vice President of Partnerships at Optimistic Design, to explore how product teams can thoughtfully navigate AI without losing sight of what matters most: people. Amanda shares her journey from traditional program and product management into systems thinking and human-centered design—and how that shift changed the way she vi...

In this insightful episode of Product Voices , JJ Rorie talks with Gopikrishnan Anilkumar , Principal Product Manager at Amazon and member of the Forbes Technology Council, about how artificial intelligence is transforming the craft of product management. Gopikrishnan shares his journey from traditional software product management to leading AI-driven teams at major companies like Amazon, Walmart,...

In this episode of Product Voices, Vinod Thomas, a product manager at Google, discusses his non-traditional journey into product management. He emphasizes the importance of transferable skills such as communication, collaboration, and data analytics, while debunking the myth that coding is essential for the role. Vinod highlights the value of networking and building genuine professional relationsh...

On this episode, Dr. Chui Chui Tan dives into the critical importance of culturalization in product management. She explains that culturalization involves deep adaptation to local cultural nuances, behaviors, and mentalities, requiring continuous adjustment.  Dr. Tan outlines three levels of culturalization and emphasizes the need for strategic research to uncover unmet needs and cultural sensitiv...

On this episode, we have a great dialogue and debate about the current state of product leadership. What's good. What's bad. What's ugly. :)  You'll hear from Beks Yelland and Therese Stowell, both bringing their expertise and unique perspectives to the conversation. 

In this episode of Product Voices, I speak with Cristina Crespo, VP of Product at Paytient, about the crucial role of empathy in product management.  Cristina defines empathy, differentiates it from sympathy, and emphasizes its impact on creating user-centered products. We discuss how empathy correlates with business success through frameworks like the product-led growth flywheel, and she shares s...

In this episode of Product Voices, we engage in an in-depth discussion about the evolving landscape of product management and the challenges it faces in what we term the "new age of product."  Two exceptional guests, Tara Goldman and Mackenzie Hughes, who bring decades of experience in leading product teams and navigating the complexities of the tech industry, help unpack the realities o...

In this episode, I talk with Teresa Cain, a prominent product and design expert, about her book "Solving Problems in Two Hours: How to Brainstorm and Create Solutions with Two-Hour Design Sprints."  We delve into the two-hour design sprint methodology, emphasizing its role in rapid problem-solving and empowerment of product managers to lead collaborative sessions and shares practical ste...

Hannah Clark, the Editor of The Product Manager, joins to discuss the complexities of change fatigue in product management. We explore how the relentless pace of change can drive innovation while simultaneously leading to team exhaustion and frustration.  Hannah shares insights from her experience in startups and emphasizes the necessity for leaders to balance innovation with stability to maintain...

Connor Joyce, author of "Bridging Intention to Impact" and senior user researcher at Microsoft joins us to discuss his book where he emphasizes the importance of focusing on user outcomes and behaviors in product management.  He shares his journey in writing the book, stressing the need for evidence-backed decision-making and experimentation to drive successful products. Connor advocates...

Purni Siddarth, Principal Product Manager at Peek shares key insights from her experience at Expedia, Dividend Finance, and Peek, emphasizing the importance of optimized processes, software choices, and infrastructure for successful scalability. She advocates for a minimum viable approach, collaboration, and feedback to drive effective product scaling. Tune in for valuable perspectives on enhancin...

Join us in this episode as we chat with Chad McAllister, a renowned product management expert. Chad emphasizes the importance of continual learning in product management, touching on key aspects like strategy, portfolio management, and team dynamics. He offers advice on leveraging diverse backgrounds, transitioning into product management, and aspiring to leadership roles. Chad's insights she...

In this episode, we discuss the vital skills of listening and observing and how these can lead to success in product management. Guest Monika Murugesan, a seasoned product executive, advisor, mentor, and guest lecturer at Northwestern University, shares practical tips are shared for enhancing these skills, leading to informed decision-making and successful product development.

Sheetal Rajpal , an amazing product leader with experience at Amazon, LendingTree, and PepsiCo joins the podcast to discuss the future of B2C subscription products (and all digital products, for that matter) and how ML, AI, data analysis, and more will be shaping that future. Learn more at ProductVoices.com .

In this episode of Product Voices, our guest Kalia Aragon, Director of Product at Flatiron Health, discusses infrastructure and future-proofing products. She emphasizes the importance of diverse teams and a problem-solving approach. Kalia highlights the key attributes of future-proofing and advises product managers to engage early, build tech competency, and foster communication. She raises concer...

On this episode, we discuss how to stand out in the product management job market. Our guest is Chris Mason, co-founder of Intelligent People, a product management recruitment agency. Chris shares his expertise on the evolving job market and the increasing visibility of product management as a discipline. He highlights the growing number of graduates and better training options in this field. Chri...

In this episode, we explore the crucial relationship between the Chief Product Officer (CPO) and the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). We discuss the need for partnership, open communication, and trust between these roles. Our guest, Jodi McDermott , shares valuable insights on building a strong CPO-CTO foundation. We emphasize the importance of compromise, alignment, and transparency in leadership,...

In this episode, we discuss the book "Product Momentum Gap" with authors Andrea Saez and Dave Martin. We explore indicators of a momentum gap in product management and the importance of aligning on customer value. Implementing the product value creation plan (VCP) helps filter out requests that don't align with defined value. Regularly articulating the VCP ensures alignment with the...

Natalia Burina, a product leader with deep expertise in AI, joins this episode to discuss Generative AI and its potential impact for product managers. The conversation with Natalia, a former leader at Meta, Salesforce, Samsung, eBay, and Microsoft, weaves through many important focus areas, including: The potential and limitations of generative AI.  Generative AI and its potential impact on busine...

In this episode of Product Voices, Gayatri Diwan , a seasoned product leader, joins to discuss product strategy and its importance in product management.  She emphasizes that product strategy should answer three important questions:  Why the product is needed Who it is being built for, and  What it aims to achieve. Gayatri also shares her seven-step plan for creating a product strategy: Who is you...

Melissa Perri and Denise Tilles, authors of Product Operations: How Successful Companies Build Better Products at Scale , discuss the concept of product operations and why it is crucial for product teams and organizations. Product operations is the enablement function of product management, providing data and insights for strategic decision-making and ensuring alignment within the product developm...

In this episode, we explore the Octalysis Framework with expert Amit Arora to understand how it drives product adoption. The conversation covers the 8 core drivers of customers: Epic Meaning, Accomplishment, Empowerment, Ownership, Social Influence, Scarcity, Unpredictability, and Avoidance. We discuss the relevance of psychological drivers and the importance of human emotions in decision-making....

In this episode of Product Voices, we venture into a world transformed by emerging technologies, with esteemed guests Eva Agapaki, Tatyana Mamut, Katharina Koerner, and Yuying Chen-Wynn. These tech pioneers offer their insights into emerging technologies that will impact our world for years to come. We grapple with the immense promises of AI as it has evolved from predictive to generative, and fro...

In this episode of the Product Voices podcast, we speak with Yasmin Kothari , the product director for Bumble for Friends. Bumble for Friends is an app designed to connect people nearby who share similar interests and friendship goals. It provides a convenient way to expand your friendship circle, with features like group conversations and a 72-hour response window. Yasmin shares insights on build...

What if there was a roadmap to break into the dynamic field of product management? We've got Rajat Tiwari on the show today, a promising future product manager and current master's student at Johns Hopkins, to guide you through his personal journey. Rajat's humble beginnings dreaming of Silicon Valley led to the creation of a hospitality website showcasing his web development and AP...