159: Build What Matters and Ignore the Rest ft. Mark Vanderweide
Prioritization is one of the hardest parts of product management — and most teams are getting it wrong. They’re chasing the loudest voices instead of real impact. They’re getting distracted by shiny objects like AI.They fail to solve incongruencies between various areas of their organizations before executing.Mark Vanderweide, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Bungii, has seen this play out across startups, enterprise organizations, and M&A deals. In this episode, he breaks down how great product leaders fight the noise, focus on real value, and align teams before things spiral out of control. Additional topics include:* the difference between buyers and users and why it matters* key takeaways from Mark’s experience in product management in different company sizes* how to navigate the challenge of aligning newly acquired teams and leadership* managing competing interests from sales, ops, engineering, and leadership* AI hype vs. practical use cases* what separates high-performing product teams from dysfunctional onesPeople of Product is brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
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158: How to Read the Data Like a Story and Make Smarter Moves ft. Nate Juraschek
Data vs. gut instinct. What really drives the best product decisions?Nate Juraschek, Head of Product at Telarus, has spent 20+ years navigating the highs and lows of product leadership—from Sprint and H&R Block to fast-moving startups. Along the way, he’s learned one truth: data is only as good as the story you tell with it.Topics covered in this episode include: * How to use data as a guide when following gut instincts * Why curiosity is the secret weapon of great product leaders* The most powerful (and underrated) analytics tools to start using today* How a background in filmmaking prepared Nate for the world of building digital products* How AI is changing the way we track, analyze, and act on product dataWhether you’re in product, UX, or tech leadership, this conversation is rich in insights to help you make more confident decisions.Watch the full episode on YouTube This episode is brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
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157: No Clear Path Into Product ft. MoneyLion's Pat McLoughlin
Pat McLoughlin is the Director of Product at MoneyLion and former founder and CEO of Digs, a fintech platform for residential real estate. Digs provides tools that help renters save for their first home and homeowners maximize wealth while working with real estate agents and mortgage lenders.In this episode, Pat tells the story of how Digs came to be, and how he pivoted from pursuing architecture as a career to following a new interest in real estate, fintech, and educating first-time homebuyers when they needed it most.He takes us through the challenges and successes of scaling, fundraising, and eventually exiting through an acquisition.Additional topics:* Transitioning to a for-profit model* Building the Digs team* Navigating COVID and fundraising uncertainty* Team dynamics and scaling* Joining MoneyLion and building influence in a new organizationJoin the conversation! 👇🏼What unexpected skills or experiences from your past have shaped the way you approach challenges today, and how might hidden lessons from your own journey fuel future innovation?People of Product is brought to you by Crema - Get the most out of your existing product teams. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
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156: How to Build an Innovation-Driven Culture (and Actually Make It Stick) ft. Alicia Lopez
Alicia Lopez, Chief Innovation Officer at Flatiron Corp, is an innovation enthusiast with a rich background in civil engineering and over 25 years of experience in the construction industry. Originally from Spain, Alicia has worked globally—from India to the Middle East—bringing a holistic approach to innovation.In this week’s episode, Alicia shares her insights on building a culture of innovation, aligning it with company goals, and emphasizing the strategic importance of fostering collaboration across departments. Topics covered:* defining innovation in the workplace* fostering a culture of innovation* AI and digital twins* challenges and future of innovation* the role of change management in innovation This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
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155: The Hype and Reality of AI Solutions in AEC ft. Tannis Liviniuk
Tannis Liviniuk is the Digital Advancement Executive at Zachry Group and has a background in industrial construction, working on an array of different projects from greenfield and brownfield to shutdowns, freeze-ups, and fire rebuilds.In this week’s episode, we dive into the challenges of user adoption of new tools, the importance of understanding the end user, and the ethical questions surrounding AI. Other topics covered include:* the role of AI in data management* the ethics of AI and technology resistance* effective engagement with tech companies* building strong relationships in tech This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Digital products power our lives, but they wouldn’t exist without the expertise and passion of real people. This podcast brings together industry experts to have conversations beyond tech, tools, and process. We’re here to talk about the ROI of empowered teams. Listen as we discuss building, leading, equipping, and inspiring product teams to create transformational change within companies. People of Product is hosted by George Brooks & Dan Linhart - the founders of Crema. www.peopleofproduct.us
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