Product Team Success

Following our frameworks episode, Ross Webb now brings you the proof in action. Five Product Operations leaders share their transformational success stories, demonstrating how Product Ops delivers measurable business impact—from revenue retention to time savings through automation. Featured Webinar (September 12th): Join Ross Webb and Anna Prevo for "How Product Operations Enables AI Strategy at Scale" See real examples of measurable impact on retention and delivery speedLearn to measure team capabilities across four core competenciesGet tactics that resonate with executives Register now: https://www.productboard.com/events Success Stories & Key Insights: 1. Ada Johnson - Creating Cross-Team Visibility Built repository showing how siloed teams impact each otherUnlocked economies of scale through collaborationFocus on scale, speed, and impact through playbooks"Shining a light" on dependencies transforms team effectiveness 2. Orla Mears - Standardisation Without Rigidity Unique position to see across entire product organisationSpreads best practices whilst remaining flexiblePrevents PM burnout by putting "wheels under the car""Show them rather than just talking about it" 3. Anna Prevo - Customer Connection to Revenue Dramatically increased renewal rates after implementing feedback loopsTransformed from feature factory to customer-focused developmentImproved morale, reduced bugs, faster delivery"You already have Product Ops—it's just hidden in PM time" 4. Aliyah Mohammed - Voice of Customer Evolution Started with tech debt, evolved to strategic engineReduced duplication, created meaningful workData-driven prioritisation: "People lie, but data does not"Brings together teams that otherwise wouldn't talk 5. Lucy Pitticas-Rothwell - Measuring Impact & AI Automation Created framework for measuring non-digital workSix types of Product Ops impact definedAI automation giving PMs back creative thinking time"Siphoning off automatable parts for better business outcomes" Notable Achievements: Renewal Rates: Significantly increased over 2-4 quarters (Anna)Time Savings: Hours weekly per PM through AI (Lucy)Team Morale: Reduced attrition, increased engagement (Anna)Quality: Reduced bugs and release escapes (Anna)Strategic Alignment: VOC influencing product strategy (Aliyah) Key Takeaways: Product Ops impact spans efficiency, strategy, and cultureCustomer connection directly correlates with revenue retentionAI automation frees PMs for creative, strategic workCross-team visibility unlocks hidden valueFlexibility with standards prevents burnout whilst driving consistency Action Items: Map your cross-team dependencies like AdaIdentify best practices to spread across teamsEstablish customer feedback loops with measurable metricsDefine your types of Product Ops impactExplore AI tools to automate repetitive PM tasks Call to Action: Stop letting your product managers burn out on operational tasks. Start enabling them to solve customer problems and drive business value. Join us September 12th to learn how Product Ops enables AI strategy at scale. Previous Episode: Part 1 covered frameworks for measuring ROI with Graham Reed, Javier Garcia-Azorres, Tommy Oakes, Chris Compston, and Joe Alim.

Product Operations professionals constantly battle to justify their role whilst simultaneously transforming how product teams work. In this first episode of our two-part series, Ross Webb brings together five Product Ops leaders who've cracked the code on quantifying ROI with concrete frameworks and calculations. Featured Webinar (September 12th): Join Ross Webb and Anna Prevo for "How Product Operations Enables AI Strategy at Scale" Learn the Product Team Success ScorecardDiscover how to bridge the gap between AI strategy and executionGet tactics to shift leadership conversations from process to outcomes Register now:https://www.productboard.com/events Key Takeaways: 1. Graham Reed - The Time-Saving Framework Calculate hourly rates against time savedReallocate saved money towards frontline activitiesProves Product Ops roles pay for themselves through efficiency gains alone 2. Javier Garcia-Azorres - The Three-Bucket Framework Bucket 1: Speed and efficiency through shared methodologyBucket 2: Shared language and visibility building trustBucket 3: Shared vision through aligned tooling and dashboardsApplied to 400+ person organisation to eliminate chaos 3. Tommy Oakes - Product Ops as Product Management for PMs Track KPIs just like product teams doFocus on enablement metrics: time saved, reduced reworkMeasure cross-functional alignment and team morale"Eat our own dog food" with product development lifecycle 4. Chris Compston - Business Impact Over Internal Metrics The customer isn't the product team—it's the end customerLink Product Ops work directly to business outcomesExample: Standardised intake process led to longer-term contractsFocus on revenue impact, not just efficiency 5. Joe Alim - Practical AI Tool ROI Compare tool costs against time savedExample: $200/month tool saving 5 hours = $300 net positiveFocus on making better decisions that drive revenueUsage-based pricing requires careful cost-benefit analysis Notable Quotes: "A typical Product Operations salary can pay for itself in the amount of money saved" - Graham Reed"Product Operations is the 'how' to Product Management's 'what' and 'why'" - Javier Garcia-Azorres"My customer as a Product Ops professional is the same customer of the product teams" - Chris Compston Action Items: Calculate your own time-saving metrics using Graham's frameworkApply Javier's three-bucket approach to your organisationDefine KPIs for your Product Ops functionLink at least one Product Ops initiative to business revenuePerform cost-benefit analysis on your current tools Next Episode: Part 2 explores real-world implementation stories and measurable impact from Ada Johnson, Orla Mears, Anna Prevo, Aiyah Mohammed, and Lucy Pitticas-Rothwell.

Too often, product managers work as human middleware between data sources and stakeholders, drowning in analysis instead of making strategic decisions that move the needle. Life is short—you need to get your time back. In this episode, Ross Webb (who built data-driven products generating £50M+ revenue) explores how AI transforms decision-making by automatically analysing customer feedback from every source and synthesising actionable insights whilst you focus on strategy. What You'll Learn: Why extraordinary curiosity is the most important product management skill (and how AI amplifies it)How to adapt frameworks to serve your business instead of constraining itWhy field experience with customers beats desk research every single timeThe customer-obsessed mindset that separates experience leaders from feature buildersHow AI can automate customer feedback analysis and data synthesis from multiple sources Featured Guests: Christoph Bodenstein - Data literacy expert on curiosity-driven analysis and AI transformationHarris Kaldis - Framework adaptation specialist on flexible processes and strategic communicationMichael Cooper - Customer intelligence expert on field experience and direct customer connectionAlba Simon - Customer experience specialist on friction elimination and consumer empathyJoão Moreira - Startup strategy expert on balancing agility with structured product thinking Key Takeaways: The future belongs to PMs who combine AI-powered data processing with deep customer empathyFrameworks should be tools that serve you, not rules that constrain strategic thinkingDaily customer contact should be non-negotiable for any serious product managerAI can handle the heavy lifting of data synthesis, freeing PMs for strategic insight and action Sponsored by FlowFocus AI - The agentic AI system that connects your entire product stack (Jira, Amplitude, PostHog, roadmapping tools, competitive intelligence) and saves product managers 5-10 hours per week. Because life is too short to be human middleware.

In this essential episode, Lane Shackleton shares crucial insights about navigating AI's transformation of product management. From the concept of a "multi-agent world" to practical frameworks for building resilient product teams, Lane provides a roadmap for product leaders who want to thrive rather than just survive the AI revolution. Key Takeaways 🤖 The Multi-Agent Reality AI agents will increasingly build products without human product managers at the centerProduct managers must embrace curiosity about AI tools and accept that they're completely replaceableThe human role evolves to focus on empathy and understanding what other humans truly want ⚡ Building Adaptability Muscles Systems matter more than goals (referencing James Clear's philosophy)Jerry Seinfeld's approach: consistent daily rituals trump sporadic intense effortsFocus on repeatable processes that propel you towards objectives 🎯 Decision-Making Excellence Craft decision-making rituals from first principlesAsk: "How do we want people to feel when making decisions in our organization?"Design processes that increase decision throughput while maintaining quality 🔄 The Power of Consistency Happiness defined as "wanting to continue what you're currently doing"Ask yourself: "Is this something I can and want to do consistently?"Small, consistent actions compound into significant results Action Items for Product Leaders Audit Your Current Systems: Identify which processes drive real results vs. which are just busy workDevelop AI Curiosity: Regularly experiment with new AI tools and understand their implications for your roleDesign Decision Rituals: Create structured approaches to how your team makes important choicesFocus on Consistency: Choose sustainable practices over sporadic intense efforts Notable Quotes "You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems." - James Clear (referenced by Lane) "I think we have to be super curious about everything coming out in AI... Also have to be super empathetic to the idea that I as a product manager am completely replaceable." - Lane Shackleton Guest Bio Lane Shackleton is the Chief Product Officer at Coda, where he leads product strategy and development for the innovative document-database hybrid platform. With extensive experience in product leadership and a deep understanding of how AI is transforming the product management landscape, Lane is a thought leader on building adaptable, future-ready product organizations. Resources Mentioned Coda: https://coda.ioJames Clear's principles on systems vs. goalsTop Prods Community: https://topprods.community

Too often, product managers work as human middleware between their teams and tools, burning out great people with administrative friction instead of building energising high-performance cultures. Life is short—you need to get your time back. In this episode, Ross Webb (who built product teams at Amazon serving 80,000+ IT professionals) explores how AI transforms team leadership by streamlining management processes, reducing PM stress, and enabling sustainable high performance. What You'll Learn: Why top product leaders think like part-time recruiters and become "talent factories"How actively seeking to be wrong makes you a better, more effective leaderThe balance between decision-making authority and collaborative experimentationHow to drive high performance whilst preventing team burnout and maintaining wellbeingHow AI can automate performance tracking, workload balancing, and communication coordination Featured Guests: Jordan Burton - Talent development expert on the "talent factory" mindset and ecosystem buildingHarrison Baker - Leadership specialist on curiosity, questioning, and situational readingAnnika Schmid - Decision-making strategist on reversible vs irreversible choices and rapid experimentationKris Jones - Performance management expert on sustainable high performance and burnout prevention Key Takeaways: High-performance teams aren't about finding perfect people—they're about creating systems for excellenceThe shift from "smartest person in the room" to "surround myself with incredible talent" defines leadershipSpeed of learning often trumps perfection of planning in most product decisionsAI can eliminate the administrative burden that burns out talented team members Sponsored by FlowFocus AI - The agentic AI system that connects your entire product stack (Jira, Amplitude, PostHog, roadmapping tools, competitive intelligence) and saves product managers 5-10 hours per week. Because life is too short to be human middleware.

Too often, product managers work as human middleware between systems and stakeholders, drowning in administrative overhead instead of driving strategic change. Life is short—you need to get your time back. In this episode, Ross Webb (who led product transformations at Amazon and Just Eat) explores how AI transforms leadership effectiveness by handling administrative burden, freeing leaders to focus on strategic thinking and meaningful change management. What You'll Learn: Why compassion alone won't drive lasting transformation in established organisationsHow to standardise platform integrations to unlock 30% year-on-year growthThe balance between rigorous planning and genuine agile principles (not "lean theatre")How to build crucial stakeholder alliances when you're the outsider coming inHow AI can automate status updates, reporting, and process coordination Featured Guests: David Behlich - Transformation specialist who's driven change in 70,000+ person organisationsDominic Le Garsmeur - Platform strategy expert who achieved 30% YoY growth through standardisationKris Jones - Strategic planning advocate who balances preparation with agilityNiko Korner - Organisational politics navigator and stakeholder alliance builder Key Takeaways: Successful transformation requires both inspiration AND enforcement—some people need to be movedFocus on foundation before chasing growth; sometimes slow down to speed upUnderstanding organisational politics is essential for senior product leadershipAI can eliminate the administrative friction that keeps leaders reactive instead of proactive Sponsored by FlowFocus AI - The agentic AI system that connects your entire product stack (Jira, Amplitude, PostHog, roadmapping tools, competitive intelligence) and saves product managers 5-10 hours per week. Because life is too short to be human middleware.

Too often, product managers work as human middleware between tools, teams, and market intelligence. Life is short—you need to get your time back. In this episode, Ross Webb (former Principal PM at Amazon and Just Eat, who took products from 0 to £50M+ revenue) explores how AI agents are transforming go-to-market success by automating research, competitive analysis, and cross-functional alignment workflows. What You'll Learn: Why B2B2B environments require different GTM strategies and how to navigate complex stakeholder layersThe "echo-back approach" that transforms customer problems into quantifiable business valueHow to build genuine harmony between sales and product teams (not just tolerance)Ecosystem design thinking: ensuring every piece needed for market success is alignedHow AI agents can automate competitive intelligence and market validation workflows Featured Guests: João Moreira - Product leadership expert on B2B2B complexity and cross-team collaborationTzvika Shahaf - Strategic consultant on customer problem validation and business value translationDavid Moore - Sales-product alignment specialist and relationship building expertAlba Simon - Ecosystem design thinking pioneer and organisational strategy expert Key Takeaways: Product-market fit requires orchestrating the entire ecosystem, not just building great productsDirect customer engagement beats secondhand feedback from sales teams every timeUnderstanding each team's KPIs and workflows creates win-win collaboration opportunitiesAI can automate the administrative burden of market research, freeing PMs for strategic thinking Sponsored by FlowFocus AI - The agentic AI system that connects your entire product stack (Jira, Amplitude, PostHog, roadmapping tools, competitive intelligence) and saves product managers 5-10 hours per week. Because life is too short to be human middleware.

Product Team Success: AI-Powered Product Operations - Episode 2 The brutal reality: While product leaders debate whether AI will replace them, the smart ones are already using it to reclaim 5-10 hours per week from soul-crushing manual work. Episode Overview Ross Webb reveals why most product teams are using AI completely wrong and how four product operations pioneers have cracked the code on transforming from overwhelmed operators into strategic powerhouses. This isn't about treating AI like a fancy search engine—it's about weaponising it as the strategic partner it actually is. Key Insight: The product managers winning with AI aren't using it to do their job—they're using it to eliminate the parts of their job that shouldn't exist. Featured Guests 🎯 Chris Compston Why effective AI isn't about speed—it's about decision qualityThe counterintuitive truth about building high-performing teams with AIHow to increase decision-making quality, not just task completion speed 🚀 Anna Prevo How to automate the boring stuff whilst keeping the human magic that mattersThe framework for amplifying product effectiveness without losing customer empathyWhy humans must stay in the loop for what truly counts ⚡ Orla Mears The "alchemy" framework that turns overwhelming complexity into crystal-clear actionHow AI transforms jumbled thoughts into efficient processes in secondsWhy "if you're not using AI, somebody will replace you" 💡 Aliyah Mahomed Why embracing uncertainty is your competitive advantage with AIHow to be comfortable with ambiguity whilst implementing AI workflowsReal example: Automating customer support taxonomy to save 2-3 hours weekly Key Takeaways What Most PMs Are Doing Wrong: Asking ChatGPT to write better user storiesUsing AI for one-off tasks like "summarise this feedback"Treating AI as a personal assistant for ad-hoc requestsFocusing on speed over decision quality What the Top 5% Do Differently: Build systematic AI workflows that run automaticallyUse AI to amplify human empathy, not replace itFocus on decision quality over task completion speedEmbrace uncertainty and iterate rapidly The Starting Point: Automated Competitive Intelligence - the highest-impact, lowest-risk workflow to begin with. No more manual competitor tracking spreadsheets or missing crucial positioning changes. Quotable Moments 💬 Chris Compston: "Product operations should increase the quality of decision-making, not just speed up bad decisions." 💬 Anna Prevo: "We can't get so far away with all of these machines doing the work that we forget what we're doing." 💬 Orla Mears: "AI takes all the jumbled stuff in my brain and brings it into an efficient process." 💬 Aliyah Mahomed: "Be comfortable with ambiguity. The goal isn't perfection—it's continuous learning." Actionable Insights Start with Decision Quality: Don't optimise for speed—optimise for better decision-makingAutomate the Mechanical: Free up human capacity for empathy and strategic thinkingEmbrace Uncertainty: Winners experiment and iterate rather than waiting for perfect strategiesBegin with Competitive Intelligence: Highest-impact, lowest-risk entry point for AI workflows Resources Mentioned FocusFlow AI: The product management AI toolset built based on insights from dozens of product leadersAI Competitor Intelligence Workflow: Fully agentic AI system for automated competitive monitoring

In this episode of the Product Team Success podcast, I explore how AI-agentic workflows are transforming product operations teams, saving product managers 5-6 hours per week while delivering deeper strategic insights than ever before. Episode Highlights: After fifteen years leading product teams at Amazon, Just Eat and beyond, I've discovered that the difference between overwhelmed and empowered teams often comes down to one thing: how effectively they can harness agentic AI. Five exceptional product operations leaders share their practical implementations: Graham Reed: Holistic AI Systems Moving beyond point solutions to create integrated AI workflowsThe challenge of multiple disconnected AI tools in the product lifecycleWhy organizations need solutions that tie together the entire product development process Tommy Oakes: AI as the Ultimate Copilot Why we're in the "late early adopter" phase of AI implementationThe importance of keeping AI in the "passenger seat" - enhancing rather than replacing PMsHow AI enables product professionals to focus on high-impact complex problems Lucy Pinticus Rothwell: Revolutionizing Customer Feedback Analysis Implementing an LLM chatbot that analyzes Zendesk support ticketsTransforming hours of manual analysis into minutes of AI-powered insightsThe importance of leading with customer needs, not pursuing "AI for AI's sake" Joe Alim: AI-Powered Competitive Intelligence Using Perplexity for enhanced market researchHow AI dramatically expanded what one person can accomplish in competitive analysisThe surprising results when comparing AI deep research against manual competitive analysis Javier Garcia-Azorriz: Standardizing Feature Requests Creating an automated workflow using Zapier, Google Sheets and ChatGPTStandardizing feature requests for easier digestion at scaleHow automation transformed quarterly planning sessions The Future of Product Operations The future isn't about managing more tools—it's about creating cohesive AI systems where machines handle routine analysis while humans focus on strategic decisions. Whether automating feedback analysis, streamlining competitive research, or generating holistic product insights, agentic AI is transforming how product teams operate. About This Episode This episode is brought to you by Productboard, the leading product management platform trusted by customer-centric organizations like Zoom, Salesforce, and Autodesk. For over a decade, Productboard has helped product leaders build the right products faster by mastering the voice of their customer.

🔥 WATCH NOW: The AI Workflows for Product Ops masterclass with Productboard Graham Reed and I reveal how Product Ops teams can save 5-7 hours weekly using AI automation that actually works. Productboard partnered with us to bring you practical templates, prioritisation frameworks, and implementation strategies you can use immediately. Watch here: https://bit.ly/3EttnIr In this illuminating episode of Product Team Success, host Ross Webb explores the essential connection between product operations and business strategy. Joined by four pioneering product operations leaders, the conversation reveals how strategic alignment transforms not only organizational decision-making but can significantly accelerate your career trajectory in product operations. Guest Highlights The episode features insights from multiple product operations experts: Graham Reed shares why product ops must align with business direction to deliver maximum value and how adopting a strategic mindset can differentiate you as a product ops leaderJustin Woods demonstrates how developing weighted frameworks properly evaluates true business impact—a transferable skill that makes you invaluable across organizationsAlan Arnfeld breaks down product ops' role as an insight enabler rather than a decision maker, a crucial distinction for gaining greater organizational influenceKatie Hudson offers practical wisdom on maintaining consistency and accountability, showcasing leadership skills that get noticed by executives Key Insights Strategic Alignment is Non-Negotiable Product ops has to be aligned to where the business is going. Understanding the direction helps product operations leaders focus their efforts appropriately—whether the organization is prioritizing growth, streamlining development cycles, or improving cross-functional collaboration. Quantify Value in Business Terms When evaluating ideas and priorities, it's essential to translate everything to a common denominator. As Justin notes, "Money speaks" in business contexts. By quantifying impact in financial terms, you normalize requests from customers and internal stakeholders, making prioritization more objective and defensible. Position Product Ops as an Enabler One of product operations' most valuable functions is providing insight into which products and initiatives deserve investment. This involves creating frameworks and processes that enable better decision-making rather than making the decisions themselves—establishing product ops as a strategic partner rather than merely an implementer. Consistency Builds Trust and Credibility Katie emphasizes that consistency in planning frameworks is "key" to success. When people understand the cadence and structure of product processes, they can build good habits and prepare appropriately. Maintaining this consistency and holding the organization accountable to established frameworks builds your reputation as an effective leader. Serve as Connective Tissue Product operations professionals often act as translators between different departments, helping each understand how their priorities and metrics connect to the larger strategic picture. This role requires the ability to speak multiple "languages"—from engineering throughput to revenue projections—and synthesize these perspectives into cohesive action plans. Conclusion Aligning product operations with business strategy isn't just about organizational effectiveness—it's a career accelerator. By understanding business direction, quantifying value, enabling better decisions, maintaining consistent processes, and connecting cross-functional teams, product operations leaders can position themselves as indispensable strategic partners within their organizations.

Join me and Graham Reed on April 22nd for an exclusive webinar on "The Future of Product Ops with AI & Automation" where we'll dive deeper into practical strategies for leveraging AI to streamline your product operations processes and elevate your career. https://www.productboard.com/events/the-future-of-product-ops-with-ai-automation/ In this episode of Product Team Success, host Ross Webb brings together six pioneering product operations leaders who reveal their battle-tested approaches to processes and tooling that can transform how product teams work together. Guest Experts: Graham ReedJustin WoodsAnkit KumarCraig McDonaldJerry LimberHolly Holbrook Episode Highlights: Process Isn't a Dirty Word (Graham Reed) Graham explains why effective processes are crucial for product operations success: Businesses fundamentally run on processes – the key is streamlining themProcesses serve as a form of communication across the organizationCentralized tooling helps share information efficientlyWhen done right, processes save time and reduce duplicationConsider all potential audiences when designing processes The People-Process-Tools Hierarchy (Justin Woods) Justin shares his structured approach to balancing people, processes, and tools: Start with people and processes before selecting toolsCreate separate process flows for different inputs (ideas, feedback, requests, defects)Capture information from both customers and internal teamsMaintain good hygiene between processesUse centralized collection toolsEstablish regular review cadences with SLAs Standardization Creates Clarity (Ankit Kumar) Ankit takes a practical approach to creating efficiency through standardization: Define clear handoff processes between teamsCreate a RACI matrix to clarify ownershipStandardize templates for PRDs, user stories, and acceptance criteriaDefine entry/exit criteria for each phase of development Balancing New Technology with Decision Speed (Craig McDonald) Craig provides insights on technology adoption in product operations: Product managers naturally gravitate toward new technologiesConsider how new tools impact decision-making velocityBalance innovation with practical implementationLook for technologies that solve genuine pain points Clear Artifacts Drive Organizational Scale (Jerry Limber) Jerry emphasizes the relationship between process and scale: As organizations grow, standardized processes become essentialFocus on artifacts that create clarity about what's being built and whyBalance standardization with space for team innovationBuild on a foundation of standardized reporting Feedback Loops Between Teams (Holly Holbrook) Holly explains how feedback enhances product operations: Create tight feedback loops between product and engineeringDevelop clear product requirement documentsUse daily standups to address questions quicklyBalance documentation with accessible communication Key Takeaways: Effective processes are communication tools that save time and reduce duplicationStart with defining processes before selecting toolsStandardize templates and handoffs to create clarity and efficiencyBalance new technology adoption with decision-making speedAs organizations scale, clear artifacts become essentialMaintain tight feedback loops between teams regardless of documentation quality Episode Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by ProductBoard, the leading product management platform trusted by customer-centric organizations like Zoom, Salesforce, and Autodesk. For over a decade, ProductBoard has helped product leaders build the right products faster by mastering the voice of customer. Resources Mentioned: ProductBoard Pulse - AI-powered voice of customer solutionUpcoming webinar with Graham Reed and Ross Webb (April 2025)

The Secret to Product Ops Success: Communication & Relationships Mastery Upcoming Event Join Ross Webb and Graham Reed for a deeper dive into product ops communication strategies in an exclusive webinar with ProductBoard on April 22nd. Link is here https://www.productboard.com/events/the-future-of-product-ops-with-ai-automation/ Episode Summary In this illuminating episode of Product Team Success, host Ross Webb explores how mastering communication and relationship building transforms product operations effectiveness. Featuring insights from five pioneering product ops leaders, this episode reveals battle-tested approaches to communication that can elevate your product operations to the next level. Key Insights Audience-Led Communication - Graham Reed Communication is fundamentally about imparting or receiving valuable informationProduct managers must focus on what their audience needs to hear, not what they want to sayTechnical accomplishments should be translated into value that sales and other teams can actually useTailoring messages to specific audiences creates enthusiasm that cascades throughout the organization Roadmaps as Communication Tools - Justin Woods Roadmaps should function as communication alignment tools, not static documentsCreate a single source of truth with multiple views tailored to different audiencesImplement regular roadmap briefings and reviews specific to each audience's needsMaintain roadmaps as living documents with proactive updates on progress and changesAlways seek feedback to ensure communication achieved the desired alignment Handling Pushback Effectively - Anna Peterson Resistance to change is inevitable - be prepared for itIdentify recurring themes in feedback to address systemic concernsProduct ops often fails when it focuses on solving the wrong problems or communicating ineffectivelyEven the best processes require clear communication about their purpose and value Building Trust Across Organizations - Ray Carvill Focus on relationships from "the front line engineer to the CIO"Established trust creates the foundation for meaningful improvementsStrong relationships enable the conversations that drive positive organizational changeVertical trust-building is as important as horizontal alignment Creating Authentic Connections - Denielle Booth Genuine interactions form the basis of productive partnershipsBegin new relationships by understanding pain points and daily challengesAsk key questions: "What does your day look like? What does your work look like? Where are the gaps?"Transform transactional interactions into synergistic partnerships that create lasting value Resources Mentioned ProductBoard - Product management platform for capturing customer feedback, prioritizing features, and aligning stakeholders Connect With Us For more insights on building effective product operations, watch our comprehensive Product Ops Playbook episode and subscribe for more product leadership wisdom.

Upcoming Webinar: Don't miss our live webinar "From Feedback to Features: Building Customer-Centric Product Teams at Scale" on February 25th, 2025. Learn actionable strategies for scaling customer-centric practices across your product organization. Time: 10:00 AM PST / 1:00 PM EST / 12:00 PM CST Register here: https://bit.ly/42SPHon In this episode of Product Team Success, Ross Webb explores how mastering Voice of Customer can transform your product career. Drawing from his experience as a Principal Product Manager at Amazon and Just Eat, Ross brings together five product leaders who share their proven approaches to turning customer understanding into career advancement. Key Highlights: Converting Customer Insights into Executive Influence Phil Hornby reveals how to manage the complexity of customer dataStrategies for combining data, anecdotes, and intuitionUsing Customer Advisory Boards effectivelyLeveraging AI tools to process customer feedback at scale Building Team-Wide Customer Understanding Philipp Katzenstein demonstrates engaging product owners and developersMaking customer interviews a natural team routineCreating shared customer personas across teams Data-Driven Stakeholder Management Justine Salter shares approaches to overcoming opinion-based decisionsUsing customer data to influence challenging stakeholdersBuilding credibility through customer insights Structured VoC Programmes Anna Peterson breaks down comprehensive feedback systemsBuilding customer panels and ride-along programmesCreating sustainable feedback loops Balancing Customer Types Giancarlo Herrera on managing internal and external customer needsBuilding integrated feedback systemsCreating collective understanding across stakeholder groups Key Takeaways: Customer understanding must be systematic and scalableTeam engagement in VoC creates better outcomesData-driven customer insights are crucial for influenceBalanced feedback systems drive career success Connect with our guests on LinkedIn to continue the conversation about turning customer understanding into product career success and sign up for the webinar above with Product Board, it's going to be great.

 In this episode, Ross Webb, former product leader at Amazon and Just Eat, explores how mentorship and coaching can dramatically accelerate product management careers. Four seasoned product leaders share their strategies for both giving and receiving impactful mentorship. Key Topics Discussed: The limitations of certifications and frameworks compared to mentorshipHow to balance pushing for results while maintaining team motivationCreating and leveraging a personal board of directorsIdentifying promising talent for mentorshipTransforming one-to-one meetings into powerful coaching conversations Featured Guests: Arttu Huhtiniemi shares insights on finding the perfect balance between being too harsh and too soft in coaching growth company teamsBart-Jan Pers introduces his concept of building a personal board of directors for career guidancePrachi Garg discusses how to identify potential in mentees through their curiosity and engagementChris Watson reveals strategies for making one-to-ones more effective through structured yet natural conversations Key Insights: The importance of regular, consistent coaching conversationsHow to adapt mentorship approaches for different personality typesBuilding trust through open, honest communicationThe value of celebrating successes alongside addressing challenges Actionable Takeaways: Create a structured approach to regular one-to-onesBuild a diverse network of 3-10 mentors with complementary strengthsFocus on high-importance but not urgent matters for career growthDevelop a standing agenda for coaching conversations while maintaining flexibility Connect with our guests on LinkedIn to learn more about their approaches to mentorship and coaching in product management. Join the Top Prods Community: Take your product leadership journey to the next level by joining our community at  https://www.top-prods.com. Connect with mentors, access structured guidance, and accelerate your career growth alongside fellow product leaders.

 In this episode, Ross Webb, former product leader at Amazon and Just Eat, reveals how successful product organizations mirror championship sports teams through intentional collaboration, defined roles, and productive tension. Five experienced product leaders share their strategies for building and leading high-performing teams. Key Topics Discussed: Creating natural cross-team collaborationBuilding genuine engineering partnershipsManaging productive tension between teamsRemote team relationship buildingDesigning complementary team structures Featured Guests: Phil Hornby introduces his innovative "3 hats" approach to breaking down silos and encouraging natural collaborationBecca Cooke shares insights on creating true engineering partnerships beyond simple delegationBrian Flanagan explains how to balance product and engineering relationships through healthy tensionKatherine Cunliffe reveals strategies for building strong relationships in remote teamsMel McVie demonstrates how to build diverse teams that complement each other's strengths Key Insights: The importance of dedicated collaboration time through "office hours"How to empower engineers through problem-solving vs prescriptionThe distinction between product owning "what" and engineering owning "how"Building personal connections in remote environmentsThe value of hiring for complementary strengths Actionable Takeaways: Implement the 3 hats approach to create natural collaborationCreate dedicated office hours for cross-team supportFocus on problems rather than prescriptive solutions with engineeringPrioritize informal connections in remote settingsHire for your blind spots to create stronger collective teams Join the Top Prods Community: Take your product leadership journey to the next level by joining our community at https://www.top-prods.com. Connect with mentors, access structured guidance, and accelerate your career growth alongside fellow product leaders. Resources Mentioned: Top Prods Community4 Pillars of Product Success Guide Connect with our guests on LinkedIn to learn more about their approaches to building high-performing product teams.

Episode Summary: Just like elite athletes never stop practicing their fundamentals, successful product leaders continuously develop core competencies that drive performance. In this power-packed episode, four exceptional product leaders share their strategies for mastering the four essential skills that separate good product managers from great ones. Key Highlights: [00:00:00] - Introduction: The Athletic Approach to Product Leadership [00:01:37] - Meet Our All-Star Product Leaders Data Analytics & Culture with Adrian Postelnicu (CPO, Metro) [00:02:54] Why real culture change comes from behaviors, not perks The three pillars of effective product culture: ownership, empowerment, and results How to demonstrate ownership through actions rather than words Creating safe spaces for teams to experiment and fail The importance of letting go of non-performing initiatives Strategic Prioritization with Arttu Huhtiniemi (CPO, Miradore) [00:09:04] Using the right framework for external factor analysis Aligning stakeholder visions across the organization The importance of market analysis in prioritization Creating implementation plans that stick Balancing short-term delivery with long-term vision Engineering Partnerships with Bradley King [00:11:08] Creating "healthy tension" between product and engineering Why the best teams thrive on productive challenge Setting joint goals for shared success The importance of clear roles while maintaining overlap How to encourage constructive disagreement Customer Value Creation with Ayla Erimer (Senior Director, Mews) [00:13:25] Moving beyond the feature factory mindset Building layers of value rather than isolated solutions How to connect solutions to unlock new opportunities The importance of trust in product teams Structuring organizations for innovation Key Takeaways: Product leadership requires continuous practice and development of core competencies Data-driven culture comes from behaviors and actions, not perks Effective prioritization requires alignment across stakeholder groups Strong product-engineering partnerships thrive on productive challenge Success comes from layering value, not just shipping features Resources Mentioned: PESTL Framework for external analysis Top Prods Community: www.top-prods.com Featured Guests: Adrian Postelnicu - CPO at Metro Arttu Huhtiniemi - CTO at Miradore Bradley King - Product Leader Ayla Erimer - Senior Director of Product at Mews Get More Value: Join the Top Prods community for structured accountability, peer support, and proven frameworks to help you level up your product leadership capabilities. Visit www.top-prods.com to learn more.

In this episode of Product Team Success, we're joined by Katya Denike, Chief Product Officer at Holland and Barrett, to explore the power of authenticity in the workplace and the keys to successful digital transformation. Key Insights: Bringing Your Full Self to Work Katya advocates for authenticity and informality in professional settingsBreaking the mold of overcomplicated strategies and formal behaviorShort-term challenges can lead to long-term career benefits Authenticity and Workplace Dynamics The importance of connecting personal experiences with workEncouraging product teams to work in stores for customer insightsBalancing company needs with individual fulfillment Personal Fulfillment and Workplace Culture Creating environments that allow for authenticity and humanityThe positive impact of being true to oneself on personal happiness and work environmentEncouraging vulnerability and challenging existing patterns Lessons from Digital Transformations Three key elements of product transformation: a) Moving to a product operating model b) Implementing proper product discovery c) Aligning product capability with business goalsThe importance of execution skills in addition to strategic knowledgeBalancing empathy with the need for change and progress Communication in Transformation The challenge of constant communication without being preachySelecting pioneers to showcase success and inspire othersFinding the right balance in expressing excitement about achievements Actionable Takeaways for Product Leaders: Encourage authenticity within your team by leading by exampleConnect product development with real customer experiences through store visits or customer service interactionsFoster an environment where team members feel comfortable bringing their full selves to workIn digital transformations, focus on both strategic knowledge and execution skillsDevelop empathy and communication skills to align diverse perspectives during transformationRegularly remind team members of new processes without becoming overbearingBalance your enthusiasm when communicating successes to ensure your message resonates with all stakeholders By embracing authenticity and applying these insights, product leaders can create more fulfilling work environments and drive successful digital transformations.

In this packed episode of Product Ops Success, host Ross Webb brings together four seasoned Product Operations experts to share their invaluable insights on scaling product teams and driving business growth. Whether you're a product leader looking to optimize your team's performance or a product manager aiming to advance your career, this episode offers actionable strategies you can implement immediately. Key topics covered: 1. Creating Repeatable Systems for High-Impact Product Work Antonia Landi demystifies product ops and reveals how to:   • Develop frameworks that streamline your product development process   • Implement tools that boost your team's efficiency   • Use data effectively to drive better decision-making 2. Improving Time to Market and Decision-Making Processes Emma Orsi shares strategies to:   • Reduce your product development cycle time   • Enhance your decision-making process with data-driven insights   • Navigate challenges in scaling and mergers 3. Balancing Data-Driven Decisions with Intuition Holly Holbrook explores:   • How to leverage data without losing the human touch in product management   • Techniques for integrating customer feedback into your product strategy   • Ways to foster stronger collaboration between product and engineering teams 4. Navigating Complexities and Unknowns in Product Ops Jerry Limber discusses:   • How to thrive in ambiguous situations as a product ops professional   • Strategies for balancing standardization and innovation in your processes   • Tactics for overcoming common pitfalls in product operations Actionable takeaways: 1. Learn how to create a Product Development Life Cycle (PDLC) that works for your organization 2. Discover key metrics to measure and improve your product ops performance 3. Gain insights on how to build trust and alignment across different teams 4. Understand how to adapt your product ops strategies as your company grows or undergoes mergers Whether you're just starting in product ops or looking to take your skills to the next level, this episode provides a wealth of knowledge from experts who have navigated the challenges you're facing. By implementing these strategies, you'll be better equipped to drive efficiency, foster innovation, and ultimately deliver more value to your customers and organization. Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your approach to product operations. Tune in now and start optimizing your product team's performance today! Remember to follow our guests on LinkedIn for more insights: • Antonia Landi • Emma Orsi • Holly Holbrook • Jerry Limber And check out our sponsor, Air Focus, for flexible product management tools that can help streamline your product ops processes.

In this illuminating episode of Product Team Success, host Ross Webb brings together four accomplished product management experts to share career-defining insights and strategies. Our guests offer valuable pieces to help you complete your product management career puzzle: Mihai: Building a Well-Rounded Product Experience The importance of consumer product experience Navigating B2B product challenges Mastering white-labeling and multi-tenant services Expanding beyond engineering into marketing and public speaking Ayla Erimer: Leveraging Diverse Experiences The value of working across different industries and product types Adapting your product management toolkit to different contexts Balancing flexibility with core principles Chadi Azar: The Art of Benchmarking Looking beyond direct competitors for inspiration Overcoming the "not invented here" bias Using benchmarking to accelerate product development Justine Salter: Mastering Stakeholder Management Tailoring communication to different stakeholder types Preparing thoroughly for stakeholder interactions Navigating language differences between departments Key Takeaways: Diversify your product management experience across consumer and B2B products Don't pigeonhole yourself into a specific product type or industry Use smart benchmarking to accelerate your product development Tailor your communication style to different stakeholders Be aware of language differences between departments to avoid misunderstandings The episode emphasizes that success in product management is an ongoing journey of expanding your toolkit and perspective. By applying these insights, listeners can enhance their careers and become more effective product leaders.

Join us as we dive deep into the world of product management with Ibrahim Bashir, VP of Product Management at Amplitude, a leading digital analytics software company. With over three years of experience leading Amplitude's flagship analytics product and now focusing on product strategy, Ibrahim brings a wealth of knowledge on driving product success and innovation. Key Insights: The Evolving Role of Product Management Ibrahim discusses the tension between specialized career paths and the need for horizontal accountability in product management.He emphasizes the importance of owning customer outcomes rather than fixating on specific metrics or feature shipments.As product leaders progress, the role expands to encompass technology, customer support, go-to-market strategies, and more. Challenges in Driving Business Impact Ibrahim highlights the misconception of linear output in product management compared to other roles.He addresses the issue of short-term thinking and the need for longer cycle times to execute product strategies effectively.The importance of establishing clear connections between product work and business outcomes is emphasized. Fostering Innovation and Reinvention Ibrahim shares a framework for product work: establishing, scaling, and sustaining.He stresses the need for companies to maintain a portfolio approach, investing in products at different stages of growth.The importance of revisiting problem-solving approaches and adapting to evolving technologies like AI is discussed. B2B Product Management Insights Ibrahim explains the "multiplayer mode" nature of B2B products, emphasizing the need to consider multiple stakeholders.He highlights the importance of viewing the entire customer experience as part of the product, from discovery to renewal.The value of improving documentation, demos, and support materials is emphasized as a crucial aspect of B2B product management. Actionable Takeaways: Embrace a holistic view of product management that goes beyond feature shipments and metrics.Develop strategies that allow for longer cycle times to prove out product concepts.Maintain a portfolio of products at different growth stages to foster innovation.In B2B products, consider the entire customer journey and all stakeholders involved.Don't underestimate the impact of improving documentation and support materials on product success. Ibrahim Bashir's insights provide a fresh perspective on product management, emphasizing the need for a broader, more strategic approach. By focusing on customer outcomes, fostering innovation, and considering the entire product ecosystem, data management leaders can drive significant growth and success in their organizations. Engage with Ibrahim Bashir on LinkedIn or Twitter for more product management wisdom, check out his upcoming Maven course on Scaling B2B Products, and sign up for his Substack newsletter at https://runthebusiness.substack.com/