Product Chats Podcast

How does understanding customer psychology lead to better digital sales? In this replay episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Jon MacDonald, founder of The Good, a digital experience optimization firm. Jon explores how aligning product strategies with customer psychology and user behavior can drive digital sales. He emphasizes the importance of empathy, user testing, and combining qualitative and quantitative data to create optimal user experiences. Learn how techniques like click pattern analysis, eye tracking, and customer journey mapping can build a strong case for usability improvements and drive business growth. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

How can product managers effectively navigate the complexities of B2B2C environments? In this replay episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris revisits her insightful discussion with Tiffany Wear Johnson, Chief Product Officer at NMI and one of American Banker’s Most Influential Women in Payments (2022). Tiffany shares her expertise on transitioning from a feature-centric to a problem-focused approach in product management, especially within complex B2B2C landscapes. Learn how this shift can help manage competing priorities among different buyer personas and improve overall product strategy. Discover practical strategies for using data and storytelling to understand product metrics, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and prioritize effectively. Tiffany also discusses organizing product teams around value streams to better understand the customer journey and drive impactful results. Tune in to this episode to learn valuable insights from a seasoned product leader and elevate your product management skills! For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

How can product operations drive efficiency and data-driven decision-making in your organization? In this replay episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris revisits her insightful conversation with Dan Corbin, a seasoned product management advocate and instructor at Pragmatic Institute. Dan discusses the critical role of product operations for today’s business environment and shares how it can streamline workflows, enhance data accessibility, and improve communication within product teams. Explore the three pillars of product operations—business and data insights, research methodologies, and operational efficiency—and discover practical tips for implementing these strategies in your organization. Whether you're a product manager, marketer, or data-driven professional, this episode offers valuable insights to help you optimize your product management practices. Tune in for this replay episode and learn how to elevate your product operations! For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

How can teams navigate the chaos of product development and effectively integrate customer feedback? In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Christoph Steinlehner, a product management consultant and expert with over 20 years of experience in design and product development. Christoph shares his strategies for turning chaotic meetings into productive discussions, emphasizing the importance of mapping thoughts and ideas to enhance team alignment and clarity. Discover how to integrate customer feedback into your product development process through Christoph's six-step approach, which includes impact mapping (learn more here), engaging cross-functional teams, and using visual artifacts like service blueprints. Christoph also discusses the pitfalls of traditional presentation styles and advocates for collaborative discussions that prioritize alignment over persuasion. Tune in for actionable advice on improving your product development process and fostering better team collaboration. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

How can senior leadership teams overcome hurdles and improve collaboration? In this enlightening episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with James Scouller, a distinguished leadership coach, author, and former CEO with over 47 years of experience. James shares his deep insights into building and leading winning teams, drawing from his extensive experience and recent literary success with his trilogy, "How to Build Winning Teams Again and Again." Explore the psychological dynamics of team commitment, the importance of clear roles and goals, and the need for effective decision-making processes. James discusses how senior leaders can address challenges such as trust, open communication, and conflict resolution to foster a cohesive and high-performing team. Tune in to gain practical advice on improving collaboration and driving success within your organization. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

How can experiential marketing drive purchases and foster personal connections in B2B marketing? Join us for an engaging episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, where host Rebecca Kalogeris interviews Sheila Rondeau, CEO of MogXP. With a rich background in marketing and experiential marketing, Sheila shares her insights on the importance of measurement, the impact of COVID-19 on in-person events, and innovative digital engagement strategies. Discover the necessity of driving purchases through experiential marketing, the value of a personal approach in B2B marketing, and how to integrate effective engagement strategies into your campaigns. Sheila's journey, from rebuilding Anheuser-Busch’s beer school program to leading MogXP, offers a wealth of practical advice and industry lessons. Tune in for actionable insights to enhance your marketing efforts with experiential strategies. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

How can AI be responsibly integrated into product development to meet ethical standards and human needs? Join us for an insightful episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, where host Rebecca Kalogeris interviews Cal Al-Dhubaib, a leading data scientist and entrepreneur specializing in responsible AI. Discover the challenges and solutions in leveraging AI to enhance product value while ensuring ethical practices. Cal shares his journey, the importance of identifying the right AI problems, the necessity of human oversight, and the potential of generative AI in creating user-centric products. Tune in for actionable insights to responsibly incorporate AI into your products and workflows. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

What makes a product manager truly successful? Join us as we explore the key traits of successful product managers with Paul Young, a seasoned expert and former Vice President of Product Management at Pragmatic Institute. Discover how understanding market problems, fostering emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking can drive transformation within your organization. Paul also highlights the importance of curiosity and thoughtful communication in leading successful product teams. Tune in for actionable insights and strategies to elevate your product management skills. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

How do you define product marketing? Francisco Bram, head of product and growth at Uber Eats, joins our host Rebecca Kalogeris, VP of marketing and product strategy for Pragmatic Institute, to chat about how he and Uber Eats defines this essential role, as well as the 10 commandments of product marketing. You don't want to miss this one!

“Finding your nxt is about you initiating a change, not a change that happens to you,” - Cindy Carrillo What if you left your business, your career as you knew it, and started a ranch? That’d probably be a pretty big change for most people. It certainly was for our guest this week, Cindy Carrillo. Our host Rebecca Kalorgeris, interviews Cindy, and she shares how she navigated changes in her life. More specifically, she discusses her most recent nxt, where she bought 35 acres, built a barn, and started raising cute, small farm animals. She also launched an Airbnb, and a new coaching business where individuals, couples and business partners participate in a two-and-a-half-day retreat at the ranch to find their nxt. Did she have experience taking care of baby goats? Absolutely not. But she was willing, able and ready to learn. She discovered that even when you’re leaping into the unknown all of the skills you’ve built and the experiences you’ve had come with you--you’re not starting from ground zero. You can apply everything you’ve learned to a new situation. You can read about her journey, insights and advice in her newest book, Finding Your Nxt: When You’re Ready for the Life You Really Want. During this episode, Rebecca and Cindy discuss: Three major areas in your life where you might want to initiate change The most common blockers to finding your next How to find balance after moving into your next Are You Looking for Your Next Job in Product? Pragmatic Institute’s certifications are sought-after worldwide and are the best way to tell everyone about your product expertise. You can pursue your Product manager, product marketer or product master certification. Take a quick survey to find your next (or first) Pragmatic course.

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/ Start your Product Manager or Product Marketer certification here "In Marketing, our job is to keep our ear very close to the ground, understand the process, listen to the buyers, listen to the customer, and always be thinking about what drives the customer." -Mark Donnigan, Startup Marketing Consultant In this episode of Product Chats, we are joined by marketing superhero Mark Donnigan. With a focus on growth-stage marketing, Mark has carved a niche in the tech industry as a consultant who helps B2B companies, particularly startups and those in the growth phase, to craft and execute successful go-to-market strategies. His approach is deeply rooted in the belief that marketing is an integral component of business strategy, inseparable from product development and sales. Key Takeaways: Consistently Listen and Engage with Customers: The significance of staying attuned to the customers' needs and the market dynamics cannot be overstated. Engaging with customers regularly and genuinely understanding their business can unveil invaluable insights for product development and marketing. Guide Your Buyers to Purchase: There is a five-step framework that guides B2B purchases. This process includes identifying problems, exploring solutions, building requirements, selecting vendors, and undergoing a validation process. Mark advocates for creating valuable, educational content tailored to each step of the customer's buying journey. This approach is vital for engaging potential buyers early and establishing your brand as a trusted advisor. Leverage an Iterative Marketing Approach: Embrace a highly iterative marketing framework that focuses on executing in small chunks, measuring results, and refining strategies based on market feedback. This process ensures that marketing efforts are aligned with customer needs and market trends. Understanding the Buying Process is Vital: Recognize the critical milestones in the customer's buying journey and ensure that your marketing materials and strategies support and facilitate this process, helping to guide the customer from problem identification to solution validation. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Mark Donnigan is a Virtual CMO and GTM consultant that designs and executes go-to-market and marketing programs that produce real business results for technology startup companies. Dive deeper into Mark's insights and strategies by checking out his Minibook, "First Principles in Marketing for Startup Founders and CEOs." This guide is a treasure trove of knowledge, offering a fresh perspective on marketing by breaking down problems to their core and building innovative solutions that meet and redefine customer expectations. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/product/. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule. Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here. #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProductManagementCertification #ProductManagementStrategy #PragmaticInstitute

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/ Start your Product Manager or Product Marketer certification here “The first thing I would recommend everyone to do who has an interest in the AI space, and I think lots of people have an interest in this space, is you should be using generative AI tools in your life every day as much as you can, and really remind yourself how much of a difference it can make.” - Isaac Lien, Co-Founder and Chief Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Officer at Grandpad In this enlightening episode, we dive deep with Isaac Lien, Co-founder and Chief AI and Innovation Officer at GrandPad, exploring the company's strategic incorporation of generative AI to enhance their offerings for the senior market. Lien shares the journey of testing and integrating AI technologies within their product, GrandPad, highlighting how a user-directed approach has fundamentally shaped both the development and marketing strategies. Isaac Lien, Co-founder of Grandpad, initially developed a math flashcards app for iPhone inspired by Steve Jobs. Motivated by communication challenges with his grandparents, he created Grandpad, facilitating video calls for the elderly. Recognizing the power of technology to improve lives, Grandpad later introduced "Grandie," which use AI to help seniors engage in seamless conversations, find inspiration, and discover new interests in an intuitive and user-friendly manner. The team focuses on effective communication and user engagement, incorporating popular games and news topics into Grandpad's offerings. Looking ahead, Isaac anticipates evolving generative AI technologies, and emphasizes the importance of user feedback to guide feature enhancements. By staying informed and exploring new tools, it’s possible to capitalize on industry advancements. Key Takeaways: 1. User Feedback is King: User feedback plays a critical role in Grandpad's product development. They have a group of users who actively advise them on what to build, ensuring that the product continuously evolves to meet the needs of their customers. 2. Market Solutions, Not Features: Marketing for Grandpad's AI-powered features is centered around Simon Sinek's "Start with Why" approach. They focus on explaining why the product is important and beneficial for their users, before diving into the technical details of how it works. The solution is what users really care about. 3. Know Your Audience Intimately: Grandpad emphasized the importance of deeply understanding their target audience and creating a product that specifically caters to their needs. In their case, they focused on older adults and designed a user-friendly product that addresses their unique challenges with technology. ABOUT OUR GUEST: As the Co-Founder and Chief Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Officer at Grandpad, Isaac Lien brings a deep understanding of technology and a passion for making it accessible to older adults. With a background in computer science, he has been instrumental in the development of Grandpad's user-friendly tablet solutions designed specifically for the unique needs of this demographic. Isaac's expertise in artificial intelligence and his dedication to incorporating user feedback have been key drivers in Grandpad's success. He has consistently leveraged advanced technologies, such as generative AI, to enhance the user experience and provide personalized, human-like interactions. Through his leadership, Grandpad has become a pioneer in utilizing AI to create more intuitive and engaging experiences for its users. At the core of Isaac's work is a commitment to making technology accessible and inclusive for all users, particularly older adults. He has dedicated his career to developing solutions that empower and enrich the lives of users, ensuring they can seamlessly connect with their loved ones, access information, and enjoy a wide range of digital experiences. You can learn more about Grandie at Grandie.AI and more about Grandpad at Grandpad.net. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and proprietary Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Communi

How can product managers blend pricing strategy, market segmentation, and portfolio? Mark Stiving, Pragmatic Institute Instructor and pricing expert, offers practical advice to help product professionals elevate their pricing strategies and deliver value for customers. In this interview, Mark shares his extensive knowledge and unique perspective on how companies can leverage pricing as a powerful tool for business growth. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts #ProductManagement #ProductPricing Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com

“When you truly grasp the impact of your words, actions, and behavior, that awareness fundamentally transforms your approach to everything.”– Dr. Jonathan Baktari, Healthcare CEO, Entrepreneur, Speaker In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chats series, host Rebecca Kalogeris engages in an insightful discussion with Dr. Jonathan Baktari, a seasoned physician, entrepreneur, and leader with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Baktari owns and operates several businesses, including multiple health clinics and a software service used in over 20,000 locations. As a business leader, he relies on technology, data, and his trusted team to reach more people than ever before. He shares his extensive knowledge and unique perspective on the intersection of leadership, technology, and employee development. Join us for an engaging conversation that blends healthcare, technology, and leadership, offering practical advice for product managers, marketers, and leaders looking to elevate their teams and organizations. Key Takeaways: 1. The Leadership Dilemma: Dr. Baktari delves into the Peter Principle, which suggests that individuals are promoted based on their current role competence rather than their potential in higher roles. This often leads to leaders who excelled in previous positions but struggle with leadership duties. Great CEOs can make the critical distinction between someone who is proficient at a job and those that would make an effective leader. 2. Micro Mentoring: Dr. Baktari introduces the concept of "micro mentoring" as a superior alternative to micromanaging. By instilling the organization's philosophy and goals in employees, leaders can empower their teams to make independent decisions that align with the company's vision. This approach fosters a sense of autonomy and encourages proactive problem-solving. 3. Invest in Company Culture: The importance of investing in employee growth and fostering a supportive culture is often underestimated. Dr.Baktari emphasizes creating an environment that encourages continuous improvement and development. By prioritizing employee development, companies can build a robust and motivated workforce dedicated to achieving long-term success. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Jonathan Baktari is a distinguished physician with over two decades of experience in clinical practice, medical administration, and entrepreneurship. He has served as clinical faculty for several prestigious medical schools and has transitioned successfully into leading technology companies. Dr. Baktari is also the host of the Baktari MD podcast, where he shares his expertise on leadership, technology, and healthcare. Listeners can follow Dr. Jonathan Baktari's insights and content on his podcast, Baktari MD, available on YouTube, Spotify, and other major platforms. Additional resources, including links to his podcasts and national interviews, can be found on his website, https://jonathanbaktarimd.com ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and proprietary Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/product/. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule.Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here. #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProductManagementCertification #ProductManagementStrategy #PragmaticInstitute

“If you’re potential customers aren’t aware that they have a problem and you have a solution, your sales cycle is so much longer and so much more painful." Amanda Northcutt, CEO of Level Up Creators Join us for an insightful conversation with Amanda Northcutt, CEO of Level Up Creators, as she dives deep into the world of recurring revenue and subscription-based businesses. Amanda shares her expert knowledge on optimizing customer journeys, reducing churn rates, and leveraging revenue opportunities to ensure sustained business growth. Key Takeaways: Understand and Optimize the Customer Journey: Amanda emphasizes the importance of mapping out and understanding the entire customer journey to enhance retention and improve the overall experience. Data-Driven Decision Making: Tracking customer behavior and using qualitative and quantitative data to inform decisions is crucial for refining products and services. Consistent Value Addition: Continuously providing value through new features, unique content, and improved offerings keeps customers engaged and reduces churn. Proactive Churn Management: Identifying and addressing the reasons behind customer churn proactively helps maintain a stable and satisfied customer base. Effective Revenue Operations: Implementing robust revenue operations practices ensures optimal management and maximization of various revenue streams. Bonus Discussion: Amanda also delves into the benefits of competition in the market, monetizing personal brands, and why you should be including a category for premium customer experiences. About Our Guest Amanda Northcutt is a seasoned expert in the subscription business model and recurring revenue strategies. As the CEO of Level Up Creators, she leverages her deep understanding of customer journeys and retention behaviors to help digital thought leaders optimize their businesses. Amanda's insights on pricing strategies, packaging techniques, and marketing tactics are invaluable for anyone looking to succeed in the subscription economy. You can find more of her resources on LinkedIn or through her websites, https://welevelupcreators.com and levelupcreatorschool.com. About Pragmatic Institute Since 1993, Pragmatic Institute has provided training and professional development for product design and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and proprietary Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product design and data and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at Pragmatic Institute. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule. Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here. #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProductManagementCertification #ProductManagementStrategy #PragmaticInstitute

“There are certain things that product managers sometimes unintentionally do, or things they don't realize they do, that have really negative cascading impacts for engineers." Dan Corbin, Product Management Leader and Instructor at Pragmatic Institute In this episode, we dive deep into the dynamics between product managers and engineering teams with Dan Corbin, an experienced product management professional and instructor at Pragmatic Institute. Dan shares his recent findings on the behaviors and practices that can either foster collaboration or create friction between these crucial roles. With extensive experience leading product teams across various industries, Dan provides invaluable insights into building a harmonious and productive team environment. Key Takeaways: Misconceptions About Engineer Satisfaction: Simple gestures like bringing donuts aren’t enough; effective collaboration requires more nuanced approaches. Common PM Pitfalls: PMs often make unintentional mistakes, such as failing to validate customer needs, allowing scope creep, and not prioritizing effectively. Implementing Effective Changes: Dan emphasizes the importance of servant leadership, continuous learning, and aligning closely with engineering teams. Maintaining Clear Boundaries: PMs should focus on the "what" and "why," while engineers handle the "how" and "when," ensuring each team can work optimally within their expertise. About Our Guest Dan Corbin is a seasoned product management leader dedicated to improving product strategy and operations for companies across diverse sectors. With a rich background in software development, Dan has a comprehensive understanding of both the technical and product side of the business. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong passion for his work and a dedication to helping others in the product management field. He is particularly interested in the dynamics between product and engineering teams and is committed to fostering effective communication and alignment within these roles. Dan's approach to product management emphasizes the importance of servant leadership, gratitude, and continual learning. Dan is also the founder of The Product League and a regular speaker for Agile Austin, initiatives that further his mission of fostering effective product management practices. Always ready for a conversation, Dan Corbin is a regular guest on podcasts and a valuable contributor to discussions on product management best practices. About Pragmatic Institute Since 1993, Pragmatic Institute has provided training and professional development for product design and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and proprietary Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product design and data and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at Pragmatic Institute. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule. Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here. #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProductManagementCertification #ProductManagementStrategy #PragmaticInstitute

“Consumers are our most valuable treasure trove of information, along with online reviews and some other data sets.” -Tim Trapp, Director of Quality Engineering at Mattel, Inc. In this episode, Tim shares all about product quality, specifically what can be learned from Mattel regarding the implementation of key product quality measures. Discussion topics include understanding customer feedback, the balance between cost, schedule, and quality, and the importance of monitoring both customer feedback and competitor performance. Don't miss your chance to gain insights from one of the most recognized names in the industry. Key Takeaways: 1. User Testing for Competitive Advantage: Testing products with real users to identify potential issues and improve design is a significant strategy at Mattel. This includes formative testing, which is done early and often to shape the design of products. 2. Active Post Market Surveillance: Once the products are in the market, the quality team looks at post-market surveillance to understand how the products are performing in real life, which can inform future design and manufacturing decisions. 3. Corrective Actions and Continuous Improvement: A well-defined process for corrective actions ensures that any issues are addressed promptly and do not become repeat mistakes. This involves constant checking of products in the market and making necessary improvements. 4. Quality as Everyone's Responsibility: Tim emphasizes that quality is not just the quality department's problem but everyone's responsibility in the company. Striving for the best consumer experience should be a part of everything a company does. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Tim Trapp is a seasoned product executive with extensive experience in managing product quality across a diverse range of products. He has worked with and led multidisciplinary and multinational cross-functional teams, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex global landscapes. His expertise lies in being able to ensure the highest standards of product quality, compliance, and safety. At Mattel, Tim has been instrumental in driving quality initiatives that have significantly enhanced product performance and customer satisfaction. His approach to quality is holistic, encompassing everything from initial design and user testing to post-market surveillance and continuous improvement. His insights have helped shape Mattel's product portfolio and maintain its reputation for excellence. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue.Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at pragmaticinstitute.com/product. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule. Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here. #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProductManagementCertification #ProductManagementStrategy #PragmaticInstitute

✅ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA 📚 Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/ 🚀 Start your Product Manager or Product Marketer certification here “What you notice is that the real nuggets that you get, the parts of the story that really shed light on a candidate's exceptional fit or lack of fit for a role, it's usually the third, fourth, fifth, maybe even more follow up questions deep.”- Jordan Burton, Cofounder of Talgo Join us for a conversation with Jordan Burton, a professional interviewer and co-founder of the training firm Talgo, a company specializing in helping individuals and businesses attract, evaluate, and hire top talent. In this episode, Jordan shares invaluable insights on how to hire the best talent in today's competitive market. We dive deep into the world of data-driven hiring, where decisions are made based not on emotional responses, but on concrete information about a candidate's past performance and accomplishments. Jordan elaborates on the importance of clarity in understanding a company's needs and the business results they desire from a new hire. With a wealth of tips for both interviewers and interviewees, this episode is filled with practical advice that can help companies attract and retain changemakers, and help candidates put their best foot forward in interviews. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best minds in the industry. Key Takeaways: 1. Data-Driven Hiring: Jordan Burton emphasizes the importance of data-driven hiring. This approach prioritizes factual information about a candidate's past performance and achievements over emotional responses, providing a more objective evaluation of potential hires. 2. Clarity in Hiring Needs: Burton highlights the need for clarity in understanding the company's needs and desired business results from a new hire. Rather than focusing on what tasks the candidate will perform, the emphasis should be on what they will achieve or the impact they will make. 3. Value of Follow-Up Questions: One of the key insights from the discussion is the importance of follow-up questions during an interview. These questions allow the interviewer to delve deeper into a candidate's experiences, offering valuable insights that might not surface with surface-level inquiries. 4. Notetaking for Bias Mitigation: Burton strongly recommends notetaking during interviews. Using these notes, rather than relying on memory or emotional responses, can help mitigate bias in the hiring process, leading to more objective and fair hiring decisions. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Jordan Burton is a highly experienced executive assessor and interviewing trainer, and co-founder of the training firm Talgo. With over 17 years in the industry, he has honed his skills in training venture capitalists, private equity investors, and high-growth companies on the art of hiring the best talent. He has trained over 3,000 executives and investors on hiring and interviewing skills. Before venturing into his entrepreneurial journey with Talgo, Jordan was a Partner at the esteemed leadership advisory firm ghSMART, and a consultant at Bain & Company.Jordan's methods are applied not only in the interviewing processes he conducts but also in his training programs, helping companies to improve their hiring processes. His current portfolio at Talgo includes managing relationships with industry giants like Sequoia Capital, TH Lee, and Palantir Technologies. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/product/. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule. Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here. #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProductManagementCertification #ProductManagementStrategy #PragmaticInstitute

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/ Start your Product Manager or Product Marketer certification here “It's all about setting up the right expectations with the company or the early user. So, it's not just giving it to them. It’s about being clear about what you expect in return early in the process.” - Neil Baron, B2B Product Management Consultant, Founder of Baron Strategic Partners Join us for a critical discussion with Neil Baron and Rod Griffith, following their recent article in the Harvard Business Review (read it here) on extracting the full value of early user programs. This episode unpacks the nuances of designing early user programs that go beyond mere functionality checks to validate problem-solving, target accuracy, and accelerate market readiness. The conversation delves into the importance of having a dedicated program owner (not a dictator) and the necessity of involving cross-functional teams to capture diverse perspectives. Neil and Rod outline a five-step process for a successful program, from hypothesis definition and participant selection to setting clear expectations and leveraging feedback for product and go-to-market enhancements. Highlighting the tangible outcomes of well-executed early user programs, Neil and Rod share how these strategies have led to fast revenue times, increased sales confidence, and enhanced media coverage. Key Takeaways: 1. Importance of Early User Programs: The discussion highlights the significance of early user programs in understanding market problems that a product can solve. It emphasizes that these programs should not be viewed in isolation but as part of a holistic approach to product development and market understanding. 2. Cross-Functional Collaboration: For an effective early user program, there needs to be cross-functional input and it should be considered as a critical step in the process. This requires buy-in from senior management and proper incentivization across the organization. 3. Value Proposition and Feedback: Early user programs are not only about the product, but also about understanding the customer experience, the messaging, and the value proposition. It's vital to set up a give-and-get relationship with early users, ensuring they understand the benefits they will get, and the company gets valuable feedback and data. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Neil Baron is the founder of Baron Strategic Partners, a consulting firm that helps B2B companies accelerate growth. He is also involved in running two forums for product executives, the Product Leadership Council in conjunction with Pragmatic, and the Boston Product Executive Forum, which is run in conjunction with the Boston Product Management Association. With a wealth of experience in product leadership and management, Neil is passionate about helping companies create effective strategies for success. Rod Griffith is the Chief Client Officer and Co-Founder of MarketReach, inc., a B2B marketing services company that designs and manages marketing programs, campaigns, and sales tools for a variety of technology companies. With a background in computer industry segment management and product management, Rod uses his experience to help companies translate their strategies into practical and successful market-facing activities. He is deeply involved in sharing his insights and learnings through various forums, including the Product Leadership Council and collaborations with Pragmatic. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and proprietary Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide.If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/product/. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule. Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here. #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProductManagementCertification #ProductManagementStrategy #Pragmati

“Community-driven product development is not just about getting feedback, but about integrating community members and customers into the product development cycle itself.” Jake McKee, Community Driven Product Management Leader In this episode of Product Chats, we welcome Jake McKee, pioneer in community-driven product innovation. Jake delves into the transformative approach of weaving community insights into the product development fabric, aiming for products that resonate deeply with users.He outlines a strategy for seamlessly integrating community members into the development journey. At the heart of this integration is transparency around objectives, coupled with the strategic selection of community contributors based on their expertise and engagement levels. Timing, Jake emphasizes, is crucial in bringing these voices into the fold. Jake's guidance for companies includes a careful examination of their product development cycles to identify opportunities for community inclusion. He champions the shift towards relationship-building activities, advocating for a move away from transactional interactions to foster deeper connections with the community. This, he argues, necessitates a reevaluation of risk-averse mindsets, encouraging organizations to balance the potential risks with the significant rewards of community involvement. Jake advocates for a deliberate approach to community engagement in product development, pinpointing ideation and testing as key phases for involvement. Highlighting the importance of seeing these engagements as opportunities to build relationships, he suggests that companies stand to gain immensely by integrating community perspectives, thereby enriching the product development process. KEY INSIGHTS 1. Community Integration in Product Development: Jake shares his blueprint for weaving community and customer insights into the product development cycle. Whether on-site visits or individual interviews, the goal is to embrace the community's viewpoint and ensure their feedback significantly influences the project. Jake underscores the necessity of structured engagement throughout the project's lifespan. 2. Clear Outcomes and Communication: Jake advises on the importance of clear communication with community members regarding the impact of their involvement. Viewing interactions as relational rather than transactional enriches the development process, fostering a collaborative atmosphere akin to internal brainstorming sessions. 3. Feedback Management and Engagement Activities: Jake points out the crucial role of efficient feedback management and engagement strategies. Activities should balance functional and emotional aspects to maintain community engagement and a positive rapport. From formal presentations to casual team-building events, the aim is to manage feedback without overwhelming the product team, providing structured feedback channels. 4. Initiating Integration and Overcoming Risk-averse Thinking: Jake motivates listeners to evaluate their product development processes for community integration opportunities. Starting with a small, familiar group or community leaders can pave the way for meaningful engagement. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Jake McKee's background in web development and product design influenced his approach to community-driven product development. It gave him a thorough understanding of the product development process and the factors that can sway the course of a project, including team bias, personal interest, and internal requirements.It also opened his eyes to the power of communities and the potential they hold for product development. With an impressive career in the community space, he has built communities for renowned brands such as Apple, Lego, and South by Southwest. McKee has spent a significant portion of his career building out community-driven product development and currently runs a consulting practice that works with these methodologies. His deep understanding of community engagement and product development has led to the creation of his unique approach to integrating community members into the product development process.For more information on Jake McKee and his work, listeners can visit https://jakemckee.com. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Ce

“If product managers are supposed to put a product on the shelf, product marketing is supposed to take it off the shelf.” Anubhav Rao, Product Marketing at AWS In this episode of Product Chats, we are joined by Anubhav Rao, Product Marketer at Amazon Web Services (AWS) for a discussion on the implications of AI in product marketing. Anubhav highlights how AI can lower the technical barrier for building products, leading to a cluttered market with numerous solutions. Differentiation and reaching the right audience become crucial for success. Anubhav believes product marketing will play a key role in helping companies differentiate themselves in a crowded market. Product marketers can use AI to automate operational tasks related to customer insights, feedback collection, go-to-market strategies, and personalization at scale in closed communities. The conversation explores transparency and authenticity when using AI tools, stressing the importance of maintaining a human touch despite leveraging automation. Rao explores using competitor analysis using AI to understand successful strategies and audience needs for product development. Utilizing advanced analytics powered by AI streamlines reporting and data analysis, allowing product marketers to focus on creativity and differentiation. Tune in to uncover innovative strategies that blend AI's efficiency with the human insight essential for standout product marketing. Key Takeaways: 1. Leveraging Product Marketing to Stand Out: Rao discusses the potential of AI to simplify product creation and scaling, emphasizing the need for product marketing to differentiate products in an increasingly crowded market. Product marketers can succeed by focusing on niche verticals, unique value propositions, and building strong emotional connections with customers. 2. Chatbots Gone Wrong: Rao explores how AI can enhance personalization in marketing, highlighting the potential of AI in expanding distribution channels and delivering targeted content. He illustrates the power of AI in revolutionizing customer interactions, but how it can also go wrong (see Air Canada’s chatbot fiasco). 3. The Trust Matrix: The conversation steers towards the ethical considerations of using AI, stressing the importance of maintaining authenticity and trust in a world of automated interactions. Despite technological advancements, the basics of understanding your product and audience remain crucial in effective product marketing. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Anubhav Rao is a product marketing expert at Amazon, with a background in computer science and a passion for storytelling. Rao's unique career trajectory took him from filmmaking to marketing in India's burgeoning content media space, before moving to Los Angeles for his MBA. His diverse experiences have shaped his approach to product marketing, with a strong focus on differentiation, distribution, and leveraging technology for growth. Anubhav’s blend of technical knowledge, creative thinking, and business acumen allows him to understand and communicate the value proposition of complex products effectively. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue.Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/product/. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule. Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here.

"Just start! People are going to hate your product at the start, but you will learn, and you will get better. Failure is a way of learning." - Sean Gigremosa, Product Leader and CEO of Claritiv In this episode of Product Chats, we are joined by Sean Gigremosa, a product leader, agile expert, innovation enthusiast, self-described product management ninja and CEO and founder of Claritiv. The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities in product management, the importance of understanding customer needs, and the role of AI in extracting valuable insights from conversations. Key Takeaways: Talking Points: The conversation emphasizes the crucial role that dialogue plays in acquiring knowledge and generating insights. Sean underscores that 70% of knowledge is learned through conversation. However, notes from a conversation are like a game of telephone where each summary incorporates layers of potential bias. This is an issue because the actual problem could get lost. That’s why he started Claritiv – an AI powered tool that listens and analyzes conversations across clients, prospects, and departments, allowing you to both pull analysis on specific topics, and find out what emerging topics are important. Bias in Disguise: Sean shares the importance of removing personal bias in interpreting customer conversations, arguing that AI can provide a more objective analysis of these interactions. AI is only as good as the data being used to train, so believability and accuracy need to be regularly and continually reviewed. Just like children, AI can take on our biases. Digital Twins, Not Identical: Digital twins are extremely valuable for product managers due to their capacity for detailed simulation and scenario testing. A digital twin is a virtual model that replicates a physical product or system. It can be used to run simulations to predict how a product or system might behave under different conditions. Digital twins can also be used to model and understand user behavior, helping product managers to better design products that meet user needs. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Sean Gigremosa is a product leader with expertise in agile methodologies and a passion for innovation. His journey from product manager to CEO provides him with unique insights into the challenges and opportunities in the field. Known for his ninja-like approach to product management, Sean is the CEO and founder of Claritiv, a company that strives to extract valuable insights from conversations using AI. Discover more about Sean's work and Claritiv at Claritiv.ai for a free trial and experience how AI-powered tools can prioritize product insights from customer conversations. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/product/. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule. Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here.

“Are we better than the competition, equal to the competition, or not as good as the competition? Do we know? Sales teams can help us answer these questions.” Steve Gielda, President and co-founder of Ignite Selling In this episode of Product Chats, we are joined by Steve Gielda, President and co-founder of Ignite Selling, a global sales training, simulation and consulting organization dedicated to helping customers build world class sales teams. Steve opens the discussion by addressing the inherent tension between product marketing and sales groups, emphasizing their critical interdependence despite contrasting personalities. He highlights a staggering insight: the vast majority of new products fail to meet their first-year revenue targets, often due to misguided assumptions (detailed in the Whitepaper “5 Assumptions that Cause New Products to Fail”). Steve identifies three common assumptions that lead to these failures: sales teams knowing which accounts to target, identifying the correct contacts within these organizations, and understanding the unique value of the product to these buyers. He argues that it's the responsibility of product teams to equip sales with the knowledge and tools to overcome these challenges, thereby not just shortening time to market but ensuring a quicker path to significant market share. For targeting the right accounts, Steve suggests providing sales teams with both quantitative and qualitative criteria to identify the most promising leads. He stresses understanding the value of unique product capabilities and how that varies depending on the audience. To address this, he recommends interactive learning map sessions that involve both sales and marketing teams. These sessions explore the implications of not having the product, the consequences thereof, and how the product's unique capabilities offer solutions. Key Takeaways: 1. Understand Your Sales Team's Needs: Both product managers and marketers need to comprehend that their sales team requires more than just product information. They need to know how to target the right accounts, engage the right individuals within those accounts, and articulate the unique value the product offers to each stakeholder. 2. Value Communication Is Crucial: Value is positional based on the individual to whom it's being communicated. Product teams need to train sales teams on how to translate product features into unique, stakeholder-specific value propositions. This will ignite their selling abilities. 3. Perform a Product Launch Review: It's important to review the first 90 days post-product launch. This review should assess whether sales representatives have been able to engage targeted accounts, and if they can articulate the unique selling propositions of the product. This will help the product team to understand if they're arming the sales team effectively. 4. Organize Collateral Intelligently: Product marketers often provide sales teams with a lot of collateral. However, they need to guide sales teams on when and how to use each piece of collateral at different stages of the sales process. This guidance can increase the effectiveness of the sales team and ensure that the collateral is utilized optimally. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Steve Gielda is the president and co-founder of Ignite Selling, a global sales training, simulation, and consulting organization dedicated to helping customers build world-class sales teams. With his extensive background in value-based selling, Steve brings a wealth of expertise to the field of sales and customer support, with a focus on accelerating revenue growth. He is passionate about helping organizations find new ways to boost sales. Steve, along with his business partner Kevin Jones, recently released his latest book, "Ignite Your Sales Strategy," a comprehensive guide aimed at helping sales teams think and act more strategically, quantify, and unlock the true value of the solutions they deliver. His insights and innovative approaches make him a valuable contributor to sales strategy conversations. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 3

“If you’re a product manager or product marketer, and you hear your leaders say ‘I want some real innovation this year. I want to see some new thinking.’ We hear that a lot, and they mean it. We all mean it. But what do you do about it? And that's where having an innovation framework comes in." Diane Pierson, author of How to Innovate on Purpose In this episode of Product Chats, we are joined by marketing strategist Diane Pierson. Diane views innovation as a complex but critical aspect of an organization's strategy. She believes that understanding and defining innovation is crucial, as it often means different things to different people. According to Diane, innovation begins with the market and market needs. She emphasizes that innovation must be something that the market is willing to pay for and something they can understand and adopt. However, the definition of innovation will depend on your organization's leadership and their specific vision or goals. In this discussion, Diane outlines four phases of innovation: reactive, responsive, inventive, and disruptive. Each phase represents different approaches and levels of innovation, and she notes that organizations can exist anywhere on this spectrum. As you progress down the levels, risk, reward, investments and timelines increase. Key Takeaways: Understand and Define Innovation: It is vital to have a clear definition and understanding of what innovation means within the context of your organization. This understanding can range from improvements to existing products to creating entirely new solutions for problems that haven't been addressed yet. The Innovation Spectrum: The innovation spectrum spans from reactive to responsive, inventive, and disruptive innovation. Understanding where your organization stands on this spectrum can guide strategic decisions and help align your team with the organization's vision. The Role of a Market Strategist: The Market Strategist is a strategic generalist that is positioned above the roles of a product manager and product marketing manager within an organization. They gather all the information, works with product management and marketing to mine the necessary data, and ensures that all necessary pieces are in place. Prioritize Market Research: Diane urges organizations to match their market research efforts with their position on the innovation spectrum. If the focus is on nurturing existing customers, for instance, the research should be focused on users. If the goal is finding disruptive innovation or growing into new markets, the research should be geared more toward the vision. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Diane Pierson is a Marketing Strategist, Founder of Innovate on Purpose, and an instructor at Pragmatic Institute. With a rich background as a product executive, Diane's work revolves around product management and product marketing. She recently authored the book "How to Innovate on Purpose," aiming to provide a structured framework for organizations to understand and align around innovation. Listeners can send an email to [email protected] that says, “I want tools” and Diane will send them the top five most popular tools from the book. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/product/. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule.Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here. #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProductManagementCertification #ProductManagementStrategy #PragmaticInstitute

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/ Start your Product Manager certification here "The best CX is often when you can meet your customers exactly where they are. For example, if your customer persona is busy and unable to engage with email easily, offering phone support likely brings happier customers and retention." – Erin Knobler, Customer Experience (CX) Guru In this episode of Product Chats, Erin Knobler, CX researcher and designer, joins us to discuss the importance of customer experience (CX), the methods for gathering data and insights about CX, and the role CX plays in achieving business goals. Key Takeaways: Takeaway 1: Understanding the customer journey, which involves mapping out each touchpoint a customer has with a business, is crucial to identifying areas where customers may be experiencing difficulties. Takeaway 2: Research and data, from customer-facing employees, reviews, customer support interactions, and other sources, provide valuable insights into customer behavior and potential issues. Takeaway 3: Conducting customer interviews provides direct insights into the customer's experience and can reveal problems that may not be apparent from data alone. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Erin Knobler is a seasoned CX researcher and designer. She has extensive experience in leveraging data to transform product strategies and optimize workflows. Her expertise lies in turning qualitative data into quantifiable insights that drive customer-led growth. Erin's passion for customer experience and her ability to bring together business goals and customer needs makes her a valuable voice in the industry. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/product/. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule. Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here. #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProductManagementCertification #ProductManagementStrategy #PragmaticInstitute

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/ Start your Product Manager certification here "Disruptive innovation is when a company gets into a new category for them and attempts to engage customers on a different level or via a different set of products." – Will Scott, Product Expert In this episode of Product Chats, Rebecca Kalogeris and Will Scott discuss how businesses can approach and structure their thinking around innovation. They focus on the importance of understanding what problems a business is trying to solve, the outcomes they wish to achieve, and how they plan to grow. Key Takeaways: Takeaway 1: Innovation isn't just about creating something new; it's about understanding the problems your business is trying to solve and the outcomes you want to achieve. Takeaway 2: You can view innovation through different lenses - such as customer needs, market maturity, and your business's growth strategies - to determine the right innovation vector for your business. Takeaway 3: When thinking about innovation, consider the whole ecosystem, not just the product itself. How you package and present your product, as well as how easily customers can interact with your business, can all be avenues for innovation. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Will is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of international experience leading product marketing and management teams across hardware, software, services, and SaaS B2B companies. Originally an engineer by training, Will held senior positions with Cisco, Navisite and Capgemini, along with a range of full-time and fractional CMO positions through his own B2B product management and marketing consulting business. In addition, Will was also previously a partner at the premier product marketing agency, Aventi Group, and an instructor at the Kellogg School of Management in their executive digital marketing and product strategy programs. Learn more about Will and other Pragmatic instructors here. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue.Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/product/. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule.Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here. #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProductManagementCertification #ProductManagementStrategy #PragmaticInstitute

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/ Start your Product Manager certification here “We can try to take a hypothesis-based mindset to the product that we're trying to build or the ideas that we have or the strategy that we have, and use things like user research or design prototyping to put it into play.” – David Lifson In this episode of Product Chats, product management veteran David Lifson joins us to discuss the nuances of product strategy, the challenges of merging with a competitor, and the importance of a hypothesis-based mindset in product development. Key Takeaways: Takeaway 1: David highlights the importance of focusing on outcomes over outputs in product management, emphasizing the need to align strategy and execution. Takeaway 2: David shares insights from his experiences at companies of varying sizes and stages, from startups to large firms, including the unique challenges faced by a company that loses product-market fit. Takeaway 3: David discusses the process of merging with a competitor from a product perspective, providing a peek into the complex decisions involved in integrating products, teams, and tech stacks. ABOUT OUR GUEST: David Lifson is a seasoned product management expert with experience at Amazon, Etsy, and many others. He's worked at stealth startups, large companies, and companies at all stages and sizes. He's currently consulting for startups and focused on building great teams that deliver meaningful outcomes. Learn more about David's work here. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/product/. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule. Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Manager? Learn more here. #ProductManagement #ProductManager #ProductManagementCertification #ProductManagementStrategy #PragmaticInstitute

“My hope is that for product leaders and product managers is that in five years time you look back and you say, ‘tools like this have allowed me to free up my time so that I can do more high value work.’” - Paul Young How will ChatGPT impact product professionals? Since the growing popularity of powerful AI tools is dominating the tech news, we’re sitting down for a round table with Pragmatic instructors to discuss this question. Paul Young, Cindy Cruzado, Amy Graham, Terry Sadowski, and Will Scott explain the basics of ChatGPT and what this tool (and tools like it) could mean for product teams. During this episode, they discuss The limitations of ChatGPT in its current version How ChatGPT can help product managers in their role Whether or not they are hopeful for new AI tools like ChatGPT Want to learn more from these Pragmatic Instructors? Enroll in Foundations where you’ll learn how to master the Pragmatic Framework and build products the market wants to buy. Enroll in Foundations If you’ve already completed Foundations, our course selector tool will help you decide on which course to take next.

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/ Start your Product Marketer certification here "Journalists are story builders, and you have to always be aware that what you're releasing has to fit the narrative of the story." – Mickie Kennedy In this episode of Product Chats, Mickie Kennedy joins us to discuss how to craft compelling press releases by understanding the needs of journalists, focusing on storytelling, and considering newsworthy elements. He emphasizes the importance of including standout quotes, presenting data and numbers effectively, and using the human-interest angle. Key Takeaways: · Product marketers and managers should focus on the narrative they're presenting with their press release, ensuring it aligns with the journalist's audience's interests. · Including elements such as case studies, testimonials, and relevant data in press releases can make them more appealing and informative. · Sharing media coverage with leads and customers can boost conversions and retention by leveraging the credibility that comes with earned media. About Mickie Kennedy: Mickie is the Founder and President of eReleases, the small business leader for press release distribution, now celebrating 25 years in business. He is an expert at helping businesses increase their visibility and credibility and he’s here to share some valuable insights about how to hone your product release stories to make you irresistible to the media. ABOUT PRAGMATIC INSTITUTE: Since 1993, we’ve provided training and professional development for product, design, and data professionals to accelerate innovation, increase customer satisfaction, and bolster revenue. Through our comprehensive methods and propriety Pragmatic Framework, we train professionals with the skills needed to accelerate their product management and product marketing careers, increase team efficiency, and boost revenue. Our online, in-person, and on-demand courses are taught by industry experts with decades of experience at top companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Hallmark, Quaker Oats, and Dun & Bradstreet. We offer individual course training in product, design and data, and certification tracks for Product Management Certifications, Product Marketing Certifications, and the Pragmatic Product Master Certification. All attendees gain access to the Pragmatic Alumni Community, a network of over 30,000 alumni worldwide. If you’re looking for product management or product marketing training or are pursuing a product marketing certification or product management certification, browse our certification paths at https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/product/. Courses are available online, in-person, or on-demand to fit your schedule. Want to learn more about becoming a Pragmatic Certified Product Marketer? Learn more here.

"Marketing is starting a conversation with someone that could be a great client." - Tom Schwab, Chief Evangelist Officer at Interview Valet Tom Schwab is a trailblazer in the world of online marketing. With his extensive experience working with over 700 leading brands, Tom brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insight to the table. His role as a Chief Evangelist Officer at Interview Valet allows him to share his expertise and help businesses transform their product strategies. In this episode, Tom Schwab and Rebecca Kalogeris delve into the power of podcast interviews as a platform for marketing. Tom shares invaluable insights on how to identify the right conversations to engage with one's audience, the importance of bringing value during podcast interviews, and the strategies for maximizing the impact of the interview afterwards. Key Points: 1. The Power of Conversation: Tom emphasizes that marketing is about starting a conversation with potential clients and this can be achieved effectively through podcast interviews. 2. Lookalike Audiences: Tom talks about the concept of "lookalike audiences," where you can find groups of people who share traits or behaviors with your ideal customers. Knowing where to find these lookalike audiences can help you reach potential customers more effectively. 3. Importance of Understanding the Buying Process: Tom points out that more and more, things are being bought, not sold. He emphasizes the need to understand this shift and adapt marketing strategies accordingly. This means focusing on helping potential customers make their buying decision rather than trying to sell to them. Eager to learn more about marketing tactics and how they can elevate your product strategies? Enroll in our Market class today and learn from industry experts to become a Certified Product Marketer.

"Data is the key to your success in this. Getting data about how your product is being used, getting data about the market and or customers or potential customers validation points on that data is absolutely crucial." - Mike Smart Mike Smart is a seasoned product consultant specializing in accelerating product sales growth and developing market-driven practices for better business outcomes. He is the founder and managing principal at Egress Solutions and has served as an advisor for multiple startups. Key Takeaways: Strategic Planning Insights: Mike delves into the critical aspects of strategic planning for the year 2024, focusing on market dynamics, customer validation, and the crucial role of data analysis. Four Pillars of Success: He elaborates on the four pillars of strategic planning: aligning with business strategy, in-depth market research, rigorous data analysis, and the efficient use of technology and resources. Expectation Management: Emphasizing communication, Mike discusses the importance of managing expectations throughout the planning process. Mike’s expertise provides a clear guide for professionals aiming to lead in a rapidly evolving market landscape, making it a must-listen for those seeking to enhance their strategic planning skills. Want to learn more about using data in product practices and decisions? Take our Insight course to turn your data into product strategies.

"As a product leader, you want to be able to come to the table with information that will get you heard. Sometimes it's less storytelling, more data, and really knowing your audience and knowing who you are working with and the way in which they will receive information best." - Josey Borman In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, we are joined by Josey Borman, an EdTech expert and a firm believer in the power of education in product. Having transitioned from being a high school social studies teacher to a product and content development executive in EdTech, Josey brings a unique perspective on leadership, product management, and partnerships. Key Takeaways: - The Role of Data: Josey emphasizes the importance of data in making informed decisions, particularly in the area of product management and in deciding potential partnerships. - Team Management: Josey shares insights on leadership, focusing on understanding audience diversity, nurturing team dynamics, and building relationships for success. - Exploring Partnerships: Josey provides a detailed approach on exploring partnerships, considering strategic goals, core competencies, and the readiness of the organization to take on new initiatives. Tune in to this episode to gain insight into Josey's unique approach to product management, leadership, and partnerships. Want to learn more about using data in product practices and decisions? Take our Insight course to turn your data into product strategies.

“When they say you lost on price, that’s not a good enough answer. You have to peel the onion. You have to do the work to uncover the real answer” – Spencer Dent In this replay episode of Pragmatic Live, we are joined by co-Founder of Clozd—a leading provider of technology and services for win-loss analysis. Key topics discussed include: The Impact of Pricing Models: A big one-time payment can be intimidating. Breaking it down into smaller, monthly bites often feels more manageable and less risky to customers Clear Pricing Wins Trust: No one likes hidden costs. Being upfront about your pricing not only builds trust but can also attract more buyers. Remember, People Make Purchases: It's people, not companies, who make the final call to buy. Personalizing your sales approach to meet their specific needs can make a huge difference. Additional Resources Price This course equips you with the essential tools to eliminate the uncertainties of pricing and boost your profits. Discover a tested pricing strategy that aligns with market willingness to pay and bolsters your organization's strategic goals. >>Enroll Today Accelerate Your Subscription Business Pricing specialist Mark Stiving brings his deep knowledge of subscription models to the Pragmatic Learning Network, offering product teams vital insights to enhance their subscription ventures and spur growth. >> Learn More

"I often say to executive leaders that a launch may very well be the biggest cross-functional initiative your company participates in, with the exception of an acquisition." - Dave Daniels, founder of BrainKraft In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, we are joined by Dave Daniels, a mastermind in product launches and the founder of BrainKraft. Dave shares his invaluable insights on crafting effective launch strategies and building organizational alignment for consistent market success. Key Insights: Focus on Outcomes, Not Outputs: Learn why focusing on outcomes, rather than mere outputs, is crucial for a successful product launch. The Blueprint for Success: Discover Dave’s expertise in establishing clear objectives and fostering collaboration for effective product launches. Building Launch Expertise: Understand how BrainKraft equips organizations with structured approaches and governance for repeated launch success. Role of PMO: Dive into the critical role of the Program Management Office in ensuring consistent implementation of launch processes across various business units. Use Your Resources: Dave shares actionable tips for defining clear launch objectives and highlights BrainKraft's resources for further guidance. Tune in to this episode for a helpful discussion on mastering the art of product launches and developing the necessary "muscles" for consistent success. As a gift to our listeners, you can receive a free Launch Worksheet when you contact Dave. Want to learn how to execute successful launches that align your entire organization around the same strategies and goals? Our Launch course will teach you how to define measurable goals, measure and report on launch effectiveness, and how to craft a launch strategy that aligns your teams.

"Everything boils down to a pain point and how you’re solving it. It’s our job to intimately understand our customer’s pain points." – Lindsay Sutula, Founder & CEO of Top Fox Marketing In this episode, Lindsay Sutula of Top Fox Marketing shares essential tactics for understanding and outsmarting your competition through stealthy marketing strategies. Key Takeaways: Keyword Planning: Find out how to use Google's keyword tools to figure out what your competitors are up to and spot trends before they take off. Ad Insights: Discover how to see every ad your competitor has run using tools like Google's Ads Transparency Center and similar features on Meta and LinkedIn. Staying Alert: Learn to set up Google Alerts in a way that most businesses miss, keeping you informed about your competitors and industry shifts. Tech Scouting: Use builtwith.com to learn what tech your competitors are using and how it can give you an edge, whether you're competing or looking for potential clients. Tune in and learn how to gain the competitive intelligence you need to make smarter marketing decisions and keep your business ahead of the curve. Want to learn how to get to know your market and build the product marketing strategies that deliver results? Our Market course will teach you how to build buyer expertise and how to measure impact on the bottom line.

This episode is from our latest Product Chat webinar >> watch the webinar In a world where customer expectations are ever-evolving, delivering personalized experiences isn't just nice to have, it's imperative.” – David Tang, Product Leader (fmr. Dropbox)In this episode, Product Leader David Tang talks about the transformative power of personalization in today's competitive market landscape, and how your company can learn from the players that do it best.Key Takeaways: Personalization and Customer Data: Learn how personalization shapes buying decisions and why customer data is key to understanding different customer groups. Customer Segmentation: Discover various methods of categorizing customers based on their behaviors and attitudes, and the importance of regular evaluation. AI-Driven Personalization: Explore practical examples of how AI and machine learning contribute to personalization, like reducing customer churn and recommending products. Evaluating Model Success: Understand the need for measuring the performance of personalization models using different metrics and KPIs to align with business goals. Building a Strong Personalization Engine: Get actionable advice for creating a data-driven personalization engine that improves customer satisfaction and business growth. Dive into this insightful discussion to enhance your personalization strategies, better engage with your customers, and stay ahead in the competitive market. Want to learn more about using data in product practices and decisions? Take our Insight course to turn your data into product strategies.

“I don't care if you have the best creative in the world. I don't care if you have the best concepts in the world, but if you're reaching out screaming at the top of your lungs to the wrong audience, you’re not going to get any results” - Sarah Saffari In this episode of Pragmatic Product Chat, host Rebecca Kalogeris interviews Sarah Saffari, Founder of InfluencerNexus, about best practices for influencer marketing. Sarah provides valuable insights from both sides of influencer partnerships. They discuss: How influencer marketing is “word-of-mouth at scale” due to loyal niche audiences Vetting influencers carefully to avoid fraud and ensure an authentic audience Developing genuine relationships and allowing creative freedom for best results Measuring influencer impact through trackable links and other metrics Case studies of successful influencer campaigns and partnerships Why micro-influencers can sometimes outperform celebrity influencers Keep Learning How to Market Your Product Effectively Want to learn how to build effective product marketing strategies that resonate with buyers? Register for our Market course. Course Overview: Gain a thorough understanding of your buyers and how they like to buy so you can build product marketing strategies that deliver results. Align across go-to-market teams by effectively sharing and leveraging your buyer knowledge to prioritize the right product marketing strategies. Measure your strategies against the metrics that matter most to your organizations, focusing on outcomes and impact, not vanity. Market is taught by leading experts with decades of real-world product marketing experience. And you can take it live online, in-person, or through private corporate training. Learn More & Register

“Being nice is about making the other person feel better, which may involve avoiding the truth or actions that could benefit them in the long run. Being kind can sometimes be hard,” - Jenny Martin In this episode of Product Chats, host Rebecca Kalogeris and Agile Coach Jenny Martin delve into the heart of creating a nurturing and collaborative team environment. Jenny, with her rich background in psychology and extensive experience in the tech sector, brings a fresh perspective on blending kindness, compassion, and collaboration to foster high-performing and psychologically safe teams. They discuss The role of collaboration in maximizing the benefits of collective effort, and how inviting diverse strengths in a team can lead to better problem-solving and innovation. The difference between “nice” and “kind” Why genuine listening and giving others the benefit of the doubt are steps towards understanding and practicing kindness. Exploring new tools to measure kindness to offer a glimpse into assessing and enhancing the compassionate culture within teams. Follow and connect with Jenny: Website: thecollaborationcoach.net YouTube: The Collaboration Coach LinkedIn: Jenny Martin (Look for the profile picture with Jenny hiding behind Lego bricks)

We are excited to have Alex Rainford, an experienced Senior Product Marketing Manager from Hubspot, on this episode. Alex will share insightful strategies to boost growth by aligning marketing efforts with your target market's needs to drive real results. This episode is from a recent webinar, and you can watch the replay. In this episode, Alex explains: How to gain alignment in an organization for marketing efforts Leveraging the 30, 60, 90 feedback rule What it means to use agile marketing plans Key components of positioning to communicate value Finding growth areas During this conversation, Alex recommends two resources: Tools for Seeing Competitor Ads Alex’s Favorite Book for Marketing Wisdom Learn More with Market If you're passionate about aligning marketing strategies with business goals like Alex, then our Market course is your next step! In this course, you’ll learn how to align across go-to-market teams by effectively sharing and leveraging your buyer knowledge to prioritize the right product marketing strategies. Check out the course

“Establishing psychological safety needs to be an explicit goal. It is something that you need to do continuously. ” – Dan Corbin In this episode, our host, Rebecca Kalogeris, is joined by Pragmatic Instructor, Dan Corbin, to dissect the concepts of psychological safety and inclusivity within a team setting. Psychological safety is more than just a buzzword; it's the foundation for open dialogue, creativity, and mutual respect within teams. Dan explains, "If you can show where you are vulnerable, where you admit you don't know everything, and where you even admit a mistake, that sort of lowers the barriers for other people to be able to open up themselves." They discuss: Strategies for creating inclusive and secure environments The importance of modeling vulnerability and admitting mistakes Practical ways to assess and measure psychological safety The role of working agreements in establishing behavioral norms The impact of psychological safety on team productivity and individual well-being Check out Dan's recent presentation on psychological safety here. Foundations: Building a Market-Driven Product Team In the realm of product management, understanding the market is the key to success. The Foundations course by Pragmatic Institute is designed to instill the essence of being market-driven, enabling you to comprehend the market and its complexities and utilize this knowledge to create products people desire. What You Will Learn Mastering the Pragmatic Framework Building and sharing market expertise Uncovering strategic opportunities Implementation of market-driven strategies Learn More

“If you look at the pragmatic framework, most of this applies to an internal product manager, just a different mindset, who you're targeting, and perhaps your approach to getting the information you need.” - Cindy Cruzado In this episode, our hosts Rebecca Kalogeris and Pragmatic Instructor Cindy Cruzado delve deep into the nuances of applying the Pragmatic Framework to internal product management. Titles are a mess when it comes to internal product management, but Cindy explains, “A product is a solution that you’re offering to many customers.” For many internal product teams, they might be product managers, project managers, operations, etc., but the work is the same. They discuss: The myths of internal product management The difference between internal and external product management How leaders can empower internal product managers Are You An Internal Product Manager? Foundations Can Help You Elevate Your Strategy. You’ll learn how to master the Pragmatic Framework, identify new opportunities, and develop criteria to determine if a problem is worth solving. Learn More & Enroll

“We have to introduce a product with the idea that it's not going to live forever” - Paul Young In today's episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris and Pragmatic instructor, Paul Young, dive deep into a topic that often gets overshadowed by the glitz of product launches: the "sunset" or "end-of-life" phase of a product. They explore how understanding when to retire a product is as vital as knowing when to introduce one. Paul explains that every product has a lifecycle and will eventually need to be phased out. The speed of innovation in the technology industry is compressing these lifecycles, making it more critical than ever to have a plan for sunsetting products. There is no one-size-fits-all indicator for when to sunset a product, but Paul suggests several metrics to monitor. These can range from revenue and cash flow to the efficiencies a product creates or its alignment with a company's mission. Key Conversations: Sunsetting a product is not passive; it requires investment and must be prioritized against other business activities. Just like a product launch process, there must be a process for its end-of-life. Metrics to monitor to know when sunsetting is the best next step. End-of-life phases: "end of sale," "end of support," and "end of life.” Start Your Pragmatic Training with Foundations If today's podcast on understanding when to 'sunset' or 'end-of-life' a product resonated with you, then it's time to go deeper. Pragmatic Institute's Foundations course is designed to make you a market-driven expert. What You'll Learn: How to uncover strategic opportunities in your market. Ways to define your product team roles and responsibilities effectively. How to prioritize actual vs. desired business goals. Techniques to engage with the market for win/loss analysis. Understanding buyer and user personas for a human-centered approach. Enroll Today

“At best, you can be slightly better than your competitor if you're using the same exact tools and data to segmentize your audience,” Rod Griffith You likely know the power of segmentation, but many organizations really get stuck in the “how” of segmentation. Join host Rebecca Kalogeris and industry veterans Neil Baron and Rod Griffith as they discuss rethinking market segmentation strategies. During this episode, they discuss: Why identifying a prospect urgency is a powerful approach to segmentation The four levels of urgency: urgent, non-urgent, currently met, and none The role of core competencies when prioritizing segments What whales & fire extinguishers can teach us about segmentation Read Rod & Niel’s Latest Articles: Let the Urgency of Your Customers’ Needs Guide Your Sales Strategy Is Your Product Channel Ready? Enroll in Our Product Marketing Course to Learn More About Segmentation In Pragmatic’s Market course, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of your buyers and how they like to buy so you can build the product marketing strategies that deliver results. And Align across go-to-market teams by effectively sharing and leveraging your buyer knowledge to prioritize the right product marketing strategies. Learn More

Steve Goodyear, the founder of Realizer Services, is the first person to earn a PMC VIII certification. Rebecca Kalogeris, VP of marketing for Pragmatic Institute, and Steve discuss the variety of courses offered through Pragmatic Institute, and how each plays a role in elevating the work he does at his company. They discuss How the courses help Steve answer the question: "How do I turn professional services into more of a product." His lessons from the Design course How he uses the Pragmatic Alumni Community to build his network and talk through ideas. Additional Resources Foundations on Demand Begin your product training experience with the course Foundations. Even better, this course is both live and on-demand. You’ll also gain your membership to the growing and active Pragmatic Alumni Community. Course Overview: Understand the market and the problems it faces Use market knowledge to build and sell products people want to buy Master the Pragmatic Framework and the activities needed to bring a successful product to market Learn to listen to the market, prioritize projects and drive result Learn More

“I know it's going to change our jobs — the speed of innovation, both for product management and product marketing, is going to be accelerated. In a world where technology constantly evolves, integrating AI into product management and marketing is no longer a futuristic idea but a present reality." Join host Rebecca Kalogeris and Pragmatic Instructor Will Scott in this episode as they discuss the transformative impact of generative AI tools like ChatGPT on product management and marketing. During this episode, they explore: Generative AI as a Collaborative Partner: The role of AI as a remarkable technology that assists in positioning, persona development, problem identification, and marketing language. AI and Human Balance: A discussion on the differentiation and value addition through human expertise in the AI-driven content era. Future Potential: The acceleration of innovation in product management and marketing and the potential risks and cautions. Prompt Engineering: How generative AI aids in structuring questions, experimenting, and increasing efficacy in discovery processes. Prompt Engineering and Discovery Process: Exploring how generative AI aids in structuring questions, experimenting, and increasing efficacy in discovery processes. Workshop Highlights: An overview of AI for Product Professionals, a hands-on training workshop focusing on mastering ChatGPT and prompt engineering. Unlock the Power of Generative AI in Your Product Lifecycle – Join the Workshop Today! Are you ready to dive into the world of generative AI and master the art of prompt engineering? Pragmatic Institute’s newest hands-on training, AI for Product Professionals: A Comprehensive Workshop on ChatGPT and Prompt Engineering, will transform your approach to product management. What you’ll gain in this course: An understanding of AI and its capabilities and limitations. Strategies to streamline workflows Advance prompt engineering tactics to apply in practical scenarios Learn More & Enroll

"What continues to be the biggest struggle for product people is the amount of time spent on the day-to-day that does not enable them to spend the time on the strategy… Unfortunately, we are just often bogged down by the tyranny of the urgent," - Rebecca Kalogeris Join host Charles Topping in this reflective episode as he talks to Rebecca Kalogeris, the former Vice President of Product at Pragmatic Institute (and the current Product Chat Podcast host). Rebecca shares her unique insights into the world of product management and Pragmatic Institute's evolution. During this episode, they explore: Pragmatic's Legacy: The transformation from a small visionary idea into a global institution, driven by consistency, passion, and deep knowledge of a market problem. Challenges in Product Management: The ongoing struggle to balance daily operations with strategic thinking and the consistent issue known as the "tyranny of the urgent." Reflections on Career and Industry: From the rise of agile and SaaS to personal career decisions, reflections on changes, growth, and the intersection of product and brand. Pragmatic's Alumni Connection: The powerful alumni base makes Pragmatic's community unique and engaging. The Art of Writing: Rebecca's journey as a head copywriter, the secret to good copy, and the joy of crafting precise positioning statements. Unlock Your Product Potential with Pragmatic Institute's Courses With a history of shaping product professionals and fostering team alignment through consistent training, Pragmatic Institute offers a suite of courses and an ecosystem of resources to elevate your product management skills. Dive into market-driven decision-making, value-based pricing, and more. Learn from an institution is passionately committed to product excellence. Learn More

“Pricing fences are the implementation methodology around how we do price segmentation,” Mark Stiving In this episode of Pragmatic Product Chat, host Rebecca Kalogeris and pricing expert Mark Stiving, founder of Impact Pricing, explore the multifaceted concept of pricing fences. Together, they delve into the importance, practical application, and nuances of pricing fences. Key Takeaways: Understand the role of pricing fences in implementing price segmentation Learn how pricing fences can be applied in different scenarios Discover the underlying principles, various methodologies, and real-world applications Take Your Pricing Skills to the Next Level with Pragmatic's Pricing Course Ready to dive deeper into pricing strategies? Pragmatic's Pricing Course (PRICE) offers hands-on lessons in value-based pricing, subscription models, market differentiation, and more. In just 7.5 hours, you'll gain the skills to align pricing with your corporate strategy, optimize revenue, and outpace the competition. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the experts. Learn more and enroll today!

"You do not just want to copy and paste what you're taking out of AI and use it as the final product” - Dan Corbin In this Product Chat, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Pragmatic Institute Instructor Dan Corbin for an in-depth look at how AI can transform product management and design. Dan explains how AI tools like QoQo, Kraftful and ChatGPT can help accelerate early-stage product processes like building provisional personas and ideating features. However, he cautions that human oversight is critical to validate AI outputs for inaccuracies. Key insights: AI can synthesize data and automate repetitive tasks, but isn't a replacement for user research or specialists. Use AI to collaborate with cross-functional partners, not circumvent them. Balance the opportunities of AI with thoughtful human validation to boost innovation while ensuring quality. Learn How to Apply AI in Your Product Strategies In Pragmatic’s intensive 1-day workshop, AI for Product Professionals, you’ll develop a comprehensive understanding of generative AI and how to apply it for product advantage. Learn more and enroll

“When you're using AI, it's not magic. It's a tool. Ultimately you are still in charge, and you are still responsible and accountable for what's being produced,” - Jasmine de Gaia In this Product Chat, we sit down with Jasmine de Gaia, Head of Customer Data Strategy at Wells Fargo, for an in-depth look at how AI revolutionizes product strategy and development. Jasmine shares tangible examples of how organizations can utilize AI to increase margins, reach new markets, enhance existing products, and develop new transformative offerings. In this fireside chat, she discusses: How AI influences the way product executives and C-suite leaders think about product strategy and new product development The pros and cons of using a trained model versus public models How to stay a step ahead in AI Learn How to Use AI in Your Product Strategies In this intensive 1-day session taught by industry experts Nils Janse and Will Scott, you'll develop a comprehensive understanding of generative AI and how to apply it for product innovation and strategic advantage. Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, you'll learn proven techniques for prompt engineering to drive meaningful outcomes. Learn More & Enroll (But hurry, seats are limited)

I think elevator music exists for a reason, but isn't really what you should strive for” - Kirsten Butzow What do the phrases “thinking outside the box,” “give 110%,” and “new normal” have in common? Answer: They. Mean. Nothing.We’ve overused these phrases so much that they, at best, mean nothing and, at worst, harm your messaging. In this episode, our host, Rebecca Kalogeris, interviews Kirsten Butzow, Senior Vice President at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, about the problems these phrases cause and why we should stop using them. They discuss: What to say instead of common corporate jargon Why corporate speak drifts out to the marketplace Why you shouldn’t work 110% Want to Improve Your Efficiency as a Product Manager? Enroll in Foundations Our battle-tested framework helps product professionals learn how to listen to the market, prioritize projects and drive results. Take your first step to becoming truly market-driven by enrolling today.