In this episode, Sabrina Mach interviews Camila Ragazzi, a legal expert specializing in compliance within product development.

They discuss the importance of integrating legal considerations early in the product lifecycle, especially in the context of emerging technologies like AI.

Camila shares her journey of bridging the gap between legal and product teams, emphasizing the need for clear communication, trust, and collaboration.

The conversation highlights the challenges faced in legal involvement, the successes achieved through proactive engagement, and practical tips for fostering a collaborative culture that values compliance as a key component of product development.

TAKEAWAYS

• Legal compliance should be integrated from the start of product development.
• Building trust with clients is essential for product success.
• Clear communication is vital to avoid miscommunication between teams.
• Proactive legal involvement can prevent costly retrospective analyses.
• Cultural change is necessary for better collaboration between legal and product teams.
• Using technology can enhance understanding and efficiency in legal processes.
• Regular check-ins and cross-functional training can strengthen team relationships.
• Legal teams should be seen as solution-oriented, not just risk-averse.
• User testing can provide valuable insights for legal professionals.
• Establishing common goals helps unify cross-functional teams.

SOUND BITES

• "Trust now is everything in a product."
• "Miscommunication is the common failure."
• "Late stage involvement creates friction."

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Role of Compliance in Product Development

02:42 Bridging the Gap Between Legal and Product Teams

03:11 Navigating Compliance in Product Development

09:33 The Impact of AI on Collaboration

15:49 Integrating Legal into Product Development

20:42 Challenges and Miscommunication in Cross-Functional Teams

28:26 Building Effective Processes for Collaboration

33:47 Cultural Shifts for Better Collaboration

39:39 Creating a Proactive Legal Mindset

46:27 Principles for Successful Collaboration

47:39 The Importance of Legal in Product Development

KEYWORDS

legal compliance, product development, collaboration, AI, ChatGPT, trust, communication, cross-functional teams, user testing, legal design, efficiency

SUMMARY

In this conversation, Liz Leakey⁠ and Sabrina Mach⁠ discuss the importance of user-centered design in creating effective data products.

They highlight the unique challenges posed by data products, the significance of understanding user personas, and share real-world applications of data discovery processes.

Liz emphasizes the need for empowering users through well-designed data products and addresses common objections to integrating design and product perspectives.

The conversation concludes with practical advice for starting a journey in data discovery and key principles for success.

TAKEAWAYS

• User-centered design is crucial for effective data products.

• Data products serve a diverse range of internal users.

• Understanding user personas helps tailor data products to specific needs.

• Design thinking can bridge the gap between technology and user needs.

• Stakeholder engagement is essential for successful data discovery.

• Stopping projects early can save time and resources.

• Tracking the value of data products is important for their longevity.

• Creating a culture of curiosity and exploration is key to innovation.

CONNECT WITH US

• Liz Leakey (Guest on the show)

• Sabrina Mach (Host of the show)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Background and Expertise in Design

02:25 Discovery for Data Products

04:19 Understanding Data Products

05:30 User-Centric Approach in Data Discovery

08:02 Personal Experience in Data Discovery

11:11 Connecting Business Value with User Needs

15:07 Redefining Data Products

18:42 Unexpected Successes in Data Collaboration

20:51 Empowering Users Through Data Products

25:43 The Case for Design in Data Products

30:09 The Importance of User-Centric Design

33:45 Starting Your Data Discovery Journey

35:47 Pro Tip: Sunset a Data Product

38:07 Pro Tip: Track the Value of Your Data Product

39:18 Principles for Successful Data Discoveries

42:26 Why the Design Perspective is Needed for Creating Better Data Products

45:07 Liz's Content Recommendations

47:48 A question to our Listeners

SUMMARY

In this conversation, Jens Riewe and Sabrina Mach explore the intricacies of product leadership, particularly in the fintech sector.

They discuss the importance of rethinking products, embracing failure, and fostering a startup culture that encourages innovation.

Jens shares insights on building a team that prioritizes user insights and the challenges faced in a startup environment.

The discussion also delves into the role of leadership in creating a supportive atmosphere for creativity and the necessity of adapting to market changes.

Finally, Jens offers practical tips for those looking to rethink their products and leadership approaches.

TAKEAWAYS

• Rethinking products is essential for success in a competitive market.

• Embracing failure as a learning opportunity fosters innovation.

• Prototyping helps in understanding user behavior and refining products.

• Leadership sets the tone for a culture of innovation and trust.

• It's important to create an environment where team members feel safe to experiment and fail.

• Stop doing estimation sessions to focus on quality over speed.

• Act your way to new thinking by encouraging experimentation.

• Reading novels can provide new perspectives and inspire creativity.

• Networking with peers can help in overcoming common challenges.

• Every team needs a different setup to thrive and innovate.

• SOUND BITES

  • "Networking is key to growth."

  • "Stop doing estimation sessions."

  • "Act your way to new thinking."

  
  

  CONNECT WITH US

  • Jens Riewe (Guest on the show)

  • Sabrina Mach (Host of the show)

  
  

  CHAPTERS

  00:00 Introduction to the Conversation

  00:27 Jens Riewe's Background and Journey

  03:26 Rethinking Products in FinTech

  11:27 Challenges of Startup Culture

  15:27 Embracing Failure and Learning

  22:26 User-Centric Product Development

  26:52 Integrating Renovation into the User Journey

  31:56 The Now Next Later Roadmap

  37:57 Rethinking Leadership for Product Success

  41:45 Challenges in Product Development

  48:43 Getting Started with Rethinking Products

  55:44 How This Helps us Create Better Products

  58:44 Jen's Content Recommendations

  01:03:06 Connect with Jens

  01:04:07 A question to our listeners

  
  

  KEYWORDS

  product leadership, fintech, startup culture, user insights, leadership, prototyping, failure, learning, product management, innovation, de-risking products, risk management, product discovery, continuous discovery, fail fast
  

  
  

In this conversation, Fátima Rodríguez Calvo shares her insights on applying product thinking to platform teams, emphasizing the importance of understanding internal users, overcoming challenges in product management, and the necessity of collaboration and communication.

She discusses her journey into product management, the significance of measuring success, and the role of ROI calculators in demonstrating value.

Fátima also addresses common misconceptions about product thinking and provides actionable steps for integrating these principles into platform teams.

TAKEAWAYS

• Product thinking is essential for platform teams to deliver value.
• Internal users are often overlooked but are crucial for product success.
• Collaboration with stakeholders enhances the product development process.
• Measuring success is vital to track progress and make informed decisions.
• Using ROI calculators can help demonstrate the value of platform products.
• Start small and build trust with stakeholders through experimentation.
• Understanding user needs is key to creating effective internal tools.
• Product thinking should be applied incrementally, not all at once.
• Engaging with users can provide valuable insights for product development.
• Continuous learning and adaptation are necessary for successful product management.

SOUND BITES "You can start small and very lightweight." "Collaboration is really a key piece." "The platform products are products themselves." CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro to Show and Guest 01:02 Challenges in Applying Product Thinking 02:59 Defining Product Thinking for Internal Users 06:13 The Importance of User Engagement 09:10 Exploring the Retailer Project 11:56 Recommendations for Product Thinking Implementation 15:22 Prioritizing Ideas with ICE Framework 18:01 Calculating Impact and ROI 23:40 Understanding Adoption Rates and User Value 25:15 The Role of ROI Calculators in Stakeholder Engagement 27:40 Defining Success Metrics for Product Development 30:41 Overcoming Challenges in Product Thinking 33:35 Building Trust Through Small Experiments 36:53 Communicating Learnings and Failures 39:10 Using Evidence to Drive Decisions 42:54 The Importance of Multiple Ideas in Decision Making 45:11 Misconceptions About Product Thinking 49:08 Identifying Minimum Viable Products 50:54 Finding Smaller Slices for Experimentation 53:58 Lessons Learned from Product Thinking Implementation 01:02:52 Getting Started with Product Thinking in Platform Teams 01:05:20 The Importance of Product Thinking for Platform Teams 01:07:00 Recommended Resources for Product Thinking

CONNECT WITH US

• Fátima Rodríguez Calvo (Guest on the show)

• Sabrina Mach (Host of the show)

KEYWORDS

Product Thinking, Platform Teams, Internal Tools, User Experience, Product Management, ROI, Agile, Software Development, Stakeholder Engagement, Continuous Discovery, Developer Experience, Developer Productivity

In this conversation, Christine Kuhn discusses the integration of sustainability into product management, particularly at Kleinanzeigen.

Christine shares her journey into sustainability, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and a holistic approach that balances ecological, economic, and social factors.

She explores practical strategies for product managers to raise awareness, shift consumer mindsets, and measure success in sustainability initiatives.

The discussion highlights the challenges and misconceptions surrounding sustainability, as well as actionable steps for individuals and organizations to adopt a sustainability mindset.

TAKEAWAYS

• Sustainability consists of ecological, economic, and social pillars.
• Authenticity is crucial to avoid greenwashing.
• Shifting consumer behavior towards secondhand products is essential.
• Sustainability should be integrated into company culture.
• Measuring CO2 footprint helps track sustainability efforts.
• Educating users about sustainability can influence their choices.
• Testing initiatives can provide data to support sustainability efforts.
• Balancing short-term and long-term goals is a challenge.
• Technology choices can impact sustainability outcomes.
• Sustainability can enhance the long-term value of products.

SOUND BITES

"Sustainability is definitely more than a trend."

"We try to make secondhand your first choice."

"It's about prolonging a product's life."

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro to show

00:26 Intro to Guest

01:40 Christine's Journey into Sustainability

04:19 Kleinanzeigen's Core Values and Sustainability

07:01 Authenticity in Sustainability Practices

08:46 Integrating Sustainability into Daily Product Management

12:24 Shifting Consumer Behavior Towards Sustainability

15:57 Leveraging Community for Sustainable Practices

18:35 Measuring Success in Sustainability Initiatives

21:54 Making Sustainability Tangible and Measurable

25:14 Segmenting and personalising the experience

27:17 Understanding Sustainability and Misconceptions

30:27 Shifting Perceptions on Secondhand Goods

34:35 Hard things when integrating sustainability

37:08 Challenges in Product Management and Sustainability

39:57 Integrating Sustainability into Company Culture

43:52 Technology Choices and Sustainability

45:50 Principles for Successful Sustainability Conversations

50:03 Balancing Business and Sustainability Focus

53:04 Creating Better Products through Sustainability

55:10 Connect with Christine

55:56 A question to our listeners

The product expert Andrea Bandera highlights that any product modernisation is also always a business modernisation. A fact that is often overlooked.

But when a Business Model becomes obsolete, companies must modernise their products and the organisation that enables the creation of those products.

Andrea shares his experience in working with ERP companies that are trying to make the shift from custom solutions for large individual customers to creating products that are used by multiple small and midsized customers.

TAKEAWAYS

• Modernization is essential for products to remain competitive.
• Understanding the organizational ecosystem is crucial for successful modernization.
• Shifting from a technology-driven approach to a customer-centric mindset is necessary.
• Risk aversion can hinder modernization efforts; organizations must embrace experimentation.
• New competencies in product management and design are vital for modernization.
• Effective communication and collaboration across functions are key to success.
• Measuring product usage helps identify areas for improvement.
• Leadership must be willing to challenge the status quo for effective change.
• Modernization is an ongoing journey, not a one-time project.
• Customer value creation should drive product development.

• The Journey of Product Modernization
• From Technology to Organizational Change

SOUND BITES

• "Every product will face a moment to modernize."
• "Modernization is not just about technology."
• "Think of the product as the outcome of the ecosystem system."
• “Ask yourself: What is valuable for customers that affects our business”

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro to show

00:29 Intro to guest

03:54 Understand the Ecosystem that Generates the Product

11:26 A Shift in Target Audience is a Business Change

19:21 Managing Risk and Embracing Experimentation

23:42 The First Step To Modernise New Business Strategy

28:10 Shifting from full plan to thin slice

33:20 Lessons learned: Value of talking to customers

35:31 Lesson learned: Breaking down complexity is hard

38:22 Success Principle: Understand the system around the product

39:03 Success Principle: Bring in Design and Product Competencies at Leadership Level

42:39 Tips for Newly brought in Leaders

46:42 Thinking in Adaptive Systems: People, Technology, Tools and Interactions

49:47 Success Principle: Measure Signs of Positive Progress

50:58 Success Principle: Think of the Product as a System

51:54 Success Principle: Start From the Money

52:48 Andreas View on How to Create Better Products

55:20 Andrea's Content Recommendations

59:46 Connect with Andrea

01:00:45 A question to our listeners

CONNECT WITH US

Andrea Bandera (Guest on this show)

Sabrina Mach (Host of this show)

In this conversation, Raffaella Roviglioni discusses the critical role of user research in de-risking product development.

Raffaella shares her journey FROM focusing solely on user research TO understanding its strategic importance in product decision-making.

They explore various methods of identifying opportunities for innovation, the importance of continuous research, and the need for triangulating data from multiple sources.

Raffaella emphasizes the significance of understanding customer mental models and the necessity of mapping assumptions to inform better product decisions.

The conversation also touches on handling objections, lessons learned from research experiences, and practical steps for organizations to enhance their research practices.

TAKEAWAYS

* User research is essential for informed product decisions.

* Continuous research helps adapt to changing customer needs.

* Triangulating data from various sources provides a holistic view.

* Mapping assumptions can significantly reduce risks in product development.

* Flexibility and creativity are crucial in research processes.

* Involving stakeholders in research fosters ownership of findings.

* Understanding customer mental models is key to successful product design.

* Research should be an ongoing effort throughout the product lifecycle.

* Effective communication can help address objections to research findings.

* Investing in tailored research enhances competitive advantage.

SOUNDBITES

* "Research can reduce risk in product development."

* "User research is not a one-time activity."

* "Triangulation of data is crucial."

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro to Show

00:29 Intro to the Guest

01:44 Shifting Focus From Research Activities to Creating Impact

04:17 De-Risking Product Development with User Research

07:39 Qualifying Ideas and Prioritizing Features

13:31 Triangulation of Data for a Holistic Understanding

22:07 How User Research De-Risks Products

24:24 Why Best Practice Reports are not Enough

32:57 When to De-Risk: From Idea identification to Post-Launch

38:42 Misconception: Research is easy

38:42 Misconception: Sampling Doesn't Matter

43:41 Lesson Learned: Being Flexible and Creative in Research

46:30 Lesson Learned: Involving Stakeholders in the Research Process

52:52 Practical Takeaways for Aspiring User Researchers

58:49 Practical Takeaways for Advanced Researchers

58:49 Practical Takeaways for Business Leaders

01:01:29 Success Principle: Adaptability as a Principle in Research

01:02:27 Success Principle: Creativity in tackling challenges

01:04:08 Success Principle: Rigor in Ensuring Research Quality

01:05:04 Addressing Objections through Explanation and Rationale

01:10:34 Creating Better Product by Investing the Best Product Ideas

01:13:07 Raffaella's Content Recommendation

01:14:38 Connect with Raffaella

01:15:04 A Question to our Listeners

KEYWORDS

innovation, de-risking, product, product development, software delivery, UX research, user research, design research, qualitative research, product strategy, customer insights, digital transformation, research methods, product management, data strategy, hypotheses validation, qualifying ideas, prioritizing ideas, continuous discovery, risk reduction

James Loudon, founder of Campaigns Never Die, shares his journey of creating an AI startup in the gaming space. He saw an opportunity to use generative AI to help Dungeons and Dragons players save time and tell epic stories. James emphasizes the importance of listening to the community and being honest with them throughout the product development process. He also highlights the need for diversity of choice in the AI space to drive better service for the community. TAKEAWAYS

• Listen to the community and be honest with them throughout the product development process.
• Embrace diversity of choice in the AI space to drive better service for the community.Experiment with new technologies and iterate quickly to create better products.

SOUND BITES

• "Let the AI do the things that feel like work, so you can focus on the fun things."
• "Go play Dungeons and Dragons, it's an experience you won't find anywhere else."
• "Keep the lines of communication open with the community to avoid polarization."

CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro to Show 00:27 Intro to Guest and Topic 01:41 How the journey started: Passion for Building Things 02:30 What Ignited the Idea for the Start-Up0 3:57 How the Idea Supports the Game Play 05:31 Taking the Leap into the Start-Up 08:13 Validating the Idea by Engaging with the Community 13:40 Making the Game More Accessible with AI 17:51 The Tech Side of the Product 21:52 The Impact of the Community on Product Development 25:30 Avoiding the Fallacy: "I am the User" 28:09 Lesson Learned: Inspiration from Community Involvement 30:04 Lesson Learned: Listen More and Engage More

33:06 Success Principle: A Support Network and Follow a Passion 35:58 Success Principle: Remain Honest With the Community 36:50 Success Principle: Active Listening and Common Purpose 38:29 Creating Better GenAI Products 41:05 James' Content Recommendations 43:52 Connect With James 44:39 A question to our listeners