Products That Count Podcast

How can product teams manage remote communication? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Deel Director of Product Barbara Bermes, Deel Product Lead Eugene Shulitskyi speaks on managing communication in a remote work environment. They discuss best practices for communicating over Slack in a remote setting, such as using templates, naming conventions, and video recordings. Eugene shares examples of templates used for go-to-market announcements. The conversation also covers avoiding misunderstandings, common pitfalls of remote communication, and tools for streamlining productivity.

What are the challenges faced when financing sustainable infrastructure projects? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight to fight climate change has never been more clear. In this episode hosted by Silicon Valley Bank (a Division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong, Banyan Infrastructure Head of Product Katie Gardner speaks on her unique background in mining engineering and how it informed her approach to problem-solving as a product manager. She describes Banyan's mission to solve challenges around financing sustainable infrastructure projects through streamlining complex processes. The conversation explores opportunities and challenges in tackling climate change through technology and mobilizing capital for climate solutions.

How can companies build high-performing asynchronous teams? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Deel Director of Product Barbara Bermes, DuckDuckGo SVP of Product Beah Burger-Lenehan discusses remote work culture and communication strategies at DuckDuckGo. She speaks on how the company operates remotely and the tools they use like Asana, Mattermost, and Zoom. The interview also provides insights into how DuckDuckGo structures work, evaluates employees, and continuously improves processes to support a remote workforce.

How can product leaders build impactful user experiences? In this episode of Product Talk with Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, UXReactor CEO Satyam Kantamneni speaks on founding a UX design firm. The discussion highlights the history of UX in addressing user needs, especially in complex systems. Satyam speaks on the roles of user research, interaction design, and collaboration between product management, design and engineering teams. He emphasizes understanding user problems before building solutions. Tune in for insights on building an effective UX practice and the impact of AI on the future of the field.

What does the acceleration of the CPO role signify? In this episode hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Mighty Capital Managing Partner SC Moatti speaks on how the CPO role has accelerated in recent years due to digital transformations and AI opportunities. Renee and SC predict that M&A activity will increase in 2023 as AI becomes a strategic priority. They also note the increasing presence of women in product leadership roles and its implications for more female CEOs in the future. Overall, this episode analyzes the evolution of the CPO role and how AI is shaping product development, operations, and corporate strategies.

How can product leaders launch accessible and inclusive products? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Jonathan Ozeran, Disney Fmr VP of Product Dave Lankford shares insights from his career launching major products at Disney, MLB, and other companies. He discusses the importance of designing for diverse audiences, including those with disabilities. Lankford also emphasizes the value of collaboration and inclusivity when building great products. The discussion looks to the future of product management with new technologies like spatial computing. Tune in for valuable lessons on innovation, accessibility, and leadership.

What do product leaders need to consider when transitioning from corporate to startup? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Caribou CPO Christine Dupuis shares her experience transitioning to PM roles at Google and Montreal startups, emphasizing the value of internal experience. Christine also provides insights into fundraising for startups and what makes a great product and product manager. The discussion highlights the importance of critical thinking, moving fast, and diversity in building products that serve all users.

How can digital products fight the climate crisis? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Silicon Valley Bank ( a Division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech SVP Maggie Wong, Climate Product Leaders Co-Founder François Burra speaks on fighting climate change through digital product development and decarbonization education. François shares his experience teaching courses on reducing the digital industry's emissions and emphasizes product managers' important role in sustainability. He discusses their climate product management playbook, which provides 33 best practices to help PMs address climate change in their work. The conversation covers opportunities for more sustainable product development, the benefits of climate-conscious practices, and becoming better equipped to tackle the climate crisis through education and action.

How can product leaders balance customer identity and security in technical products? In this episode hosted by Products That Count CEO Hoda Mehr, Okta CPO Cassio Sampaio speaks on the challenges of balancing customer identity, security, and privacy in technical products. The discussion covers topics such as building complex B2B SaaS products, technical considerations for cloud computing, and the future of product management. Tune in for valuable perspectives on navigating an evolving technical landscape.

How can product leaders in the banking industry scale their products? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik,  U.S. Bank SVP & Product Leader Sean Scott discusses his career journey in product management and how it differs working in the banking industry compared to tech companies. He shares insights into how product managers at banks approach scaling products by focusing on customer needs and feedback through various phases of maturity. Sean highlights key factors that have impacted the banking industry including digital transformation, agile methodologies, and growing customer demand for digital banking experiences. He also provides lessons learned around the importance of testing ideas with customers and the challenges of introducing changes to established banking processes. Tune in to discover product management best practices for scaling in regulated industries such as banking.

How can product leaders build a product culture within their organization?In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Life Cycle Engineering Product Leader Tara Holwegner speaks on building a product culture. Tara discusses investing in people and developing future leaders. She expresses interest in learning about new industries and how products apply human-centered design and AI. Tara also highlights examples of using digital technologies for remote coaching and predictive maintenance in industrial operations. Tune in to the 400th episode of Product Talk to learn what makes great products, product managers, and a strong product culture within an organization!

How can PMs build scalable product businesses? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik, Hazelcast Fmr. CPO Manish Devgan shares lessons on scaling product businesses, including the importance of establishing a clear product vision and worldview. He discusses growth engines like technology advantages and insights into customer workloads. Manish also describes tactics such as establishing a product strategy board to gather customer feedback. Tune in for valuable perspectives on building scalable product businesses.

What does it take to lead product in the startup ecosystem? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Stay 22 Head of Product Laura Di Costanzo shares insights from her experiences in Montreal's startup ecosystem. She speaks on her journey in product management, from marketing to leading a team of 10 across product and design. She discusses her work optimizing operations with workflow management platforms and enhancing collaboration. Laura is also passionate about giving back to the Montreal product community through organizing events and launching a training program for aspiring product managers. The interview explores topics including product management skills, AI trends, and how to best support senior citizens through technology.

What do product leaders need to consider when building products for the SMB space? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, Altice USA Product & Tech SVP Rachel Owens shares insights from her diverse career journey in product management, from engineering school to roles at startups and Fortune 500 companies. She discusses how she applies lessons from different industries and experiences to build great products. Rachel emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and having an interdisciplinary skillset, and shares advice on how to create a culture of open feedback and iteration on teams.

How can product leaders balance focus and innovation to sustain high-growth trajectories as their businesses scale to new heights? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik, Vonage Product VP Amitha Pulijala speaks on her experience scaling B2B product businesses. She shares how Vonage's suite of products help businesses personalize customer conversations across touchpoints. Amitha discusses inheriting a business with 5,200 customers and prioritizing success metrics and experimentation. She led growth efforts post-acquisition that increased revenue 10x through disciplined focus. Amitha emphasizes the importance of product-led growth driving sales leads. She also stresses sustaining growth through alignment with vision and adapting strategies to growth stages.

How can product leaders drive business reinvention? In this episode of Capgemini's Leaders in Innovation series with Capgemini Americas Portfolio Lead Lisa Mitnick, Altria CPO & CIO Olivier Houpert shares insights from his 31 years of experience at Procter & Gamble and his decision to take on a new challenge at Altria. He speaks on Altria's transformation journey to launch reduced-risk smoke-free products through a focus on consumer needs, partnerships, and a test-and-learn approach to innovation. Olivier emphasizes the importance of remaining consumer-centric and optimistic about driving change in the tobacco industry to transition consumers to safer alternatives.

How can product leaders build trust and psychological safety within their teams to foster innovation and excellence? In this episode of the Product Divergence series with Ubiety Technologies Fmr. CPO Nacho Andrade, LinkSquares SVP of Product & Engineering Andrew Leverone discusses strategies for team building and leadership through vulnerability, empathy, and collaboration. Andrew shares insights on balancing product and engineering perspectives, understanding customer needs, and scaling teams through transparency and a bottoms-up approach. He also emphasizes the importance of embracing an agile mindset, frequent communication, and empowering team members to drive the business forward together through open dialogue.

How can product leaders pioneer innovation in the automotive industry? In this episode of Capgemini's Leaders in Innovation series hosted by Capgemini Americas Portfolio Lead Lisa Mitnick, Ford Director of Digital Experience Platforms Zafar Razzacki discusses his career journey from biotech and medical devices to Google and now Ford. He provides an overview of Ford's focus on digital experiences, electric vehicles, connectivity, and new business models. He also speaks on how Ford is working with partners in the ecosystem to create seamless experiences and considers the challenges of organizational change as the automotive industry transforms.

What are the key considerations for AI platform development? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Bank of America VP of AI/ML and Automation Platform Hira Dangol shares strategies for AI product development, highlighting the importance of diversity and leveraging AI, ML, and data insights to solve business challenges. The conversation also explores frameworks for building solutions that deliver total experience value and the pathways for community involvement, continuous learning, and responsible growth in AI.

What do product leaders need to consider when building a differentiated decarbonization platform? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, host and Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing Gravity Climate Founder & CEO Saleh ElHattab to discuss combining software and physical solution in decarbonization, positioning their product to provide sustainable value and how diversity impacts understanding customer needs and product go-to-market.