Product Led Growth Leaders

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO, Professional Speaker, Trainer, Global Accessibility Consultant, and Digital Marketing Consultant, Meryl Evans. Meryl is a deaf influencer and educator. She discusses the significance of accessibility and inclusive marketing. Meryl, who uses a cochlear implant and captions, shares her expertise on how businesses can enhance their products and marketing strategies to be more inclusive. She emphasizes the importance of understanding diverse abilities, the business benefits of accessibility, and the need for a cultural shift toward inclusivity. The discussion also covers success stories, the value of hiring people with disabilities, and the role of AI in accessibility.Learn more about Meryl's work HERE.Connect with Meryl on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO of inLinks, Dixon Jones. Dixon discusses his professional journey, the evolution of InLinks, and the strategic use of the freemium model in SaaS. Dixon explains InLinks' entity-based SEO approach, which focuses on understanding the context of terms rather than just keywords. He discusses how InLinks helps users improve internal linking and SEO through a knowledge graph. Dixon also highlights the importance of user feedback in refining products and adapting sales strategies to meet diverse customer needs.Learn more about Dixon's work HERE.Connect with Dixon on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO and Co-Founder of Sales Chatz, David Stein, and the CTO and Co-Founder of Sales Chatz, Kylon Gustin. David and Kylon discuss their innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) in digital marketing for franchise brands. They explore the unique challenges of franchise marketing, emphasizing the importance of franchise development and recruitment. Sales Chatz's AI-driven platform, iAds, enhances targeting efficiency and ROI for franchisors and franchisees. The episode concludes with plans for future collaboration, reflecting a shared commitment to leveraging technology for growth and innovation in the franchising industry.Learn more about David and Kylon's work HERE.Connect with David and Kylon on LinkedIn HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CTO at Displate, Product Coach, and Product Leader of Product Blocks, Piotr Kacala. Piotr Kacala is a seasoned web development and software engineering expert. Piotr, formerly the CTO of a European marketplace for metal posters, now advises tech companies and champion teams to apologize. Piotr centers on creating effective product engineering teams, viewing them as profit centers, and fostering cultural and strategic changes for innovation. Piotr shares insights on agile practices, strategic involvement, and the importance of internal capabilities. Learn more about Piotr's work HERE.Connect with Piotr on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Co-Founder and CEO of JUICER, Ashwin Kamlani. Ashwin discusses his background in e-commerce and the challenges the restaurant industry faces in adopting technology. He explains how JUICER helps restaurants with data-driven solutions to optimize pricing and profitability. Ashwin covers the impact of COVID-19 on this sector, the complexities of digital channels, and JUICER's competitive intelligence tools. Ashwin also shares JUICER's future plans, including offering free competitive intelligence solutions to support smaller restaurants in their digital transformation.Learn more about Ashwin's work HERE.Connect with Ashwin on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder and CEO of Tilled, Caleb Avery. Caleb shares his extensive background in financial services and the journey that led to founding Tilled, a company that helps SaaS businesses monetize credit card transactions. The discussion covers the challenges vertical software companies face in payment processing and how Tilled's innovative solutions streamline this process. Caleb highlights the importance of customer feedback, the potential of "tap to phone" technology, and Tilled's strategy of white-labeling their platform to expand reach.Learn more about Caleb's work HERE.Connect with Caleb on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder and CEO of Apollo 21, Danny Nathan. Danny shares insights on fostering innovation within organizations, emphasizing the need for dedicated resources and a collaborative culture. He discusses Apollo 21's approach, which combines product design, venture building, and management consulting to help companies overcome barriers to innovation. Key themes include the importance of C-suite buy-in, avoiding "innovation theater," and navigating economic challenges. Danny also highlights the role of emerging technologies like AI and the necessity of aligning incentives between service providers and clients.Learn more about Danny's work HERE.Connect with Danny on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Sr. Director of Products at DISA Global Solutions, Sharlene Cooper. Sharlene discusses her journey into product management, emphasizing the importance of agile methodologies and building strong teams. She shares insights on transitioning to agile practices, overcoming initial resistance, and fostering a collaborative culture. Sharlene also highlights the significance of continuous learning, certifications, and empowering women in technology. Learn more about Sharlene's work HERE.Connect with Sharlene on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO and Founder of Kalicube, Jason Barnard. Jason discusses the evolving landscape of digital marketing, and provides a wealth of insights into the importance of productizing services, understanding Google's algorithms, and the strategic approaches necessary for effective digital marketing. Jason emphasized a significant shift in Google's algorithms from "strings to things." This change means that Google is moving away from merely matching keywords (strings) to understanding the actual entities (things) those keywords represent. This evolution has profound implications for search engine optimization Learn more about Jason's work HERE.Connect with Jason on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the VP of Product of Dealfront, Vincent Jong. Vincent emphasized the importance of a fundamental mindset shift when moving from a sales-led approach to a product-led approach. In a sales-led company, product usage data often exists but is not integrated into the go-to-market strategy. In contrast, a product-led approach places product usage data at the core of decision-making processes.To integrate product usage data, ensure that it's not siloed but actively used to inform marketing, sales, and product development strategies. Adopting a customer-centric approach involves shifting the focus from pushing sales to understanding and enhancing the customer experience through the product.Learn more about Vincent's work HERE.Connect with Vincent on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder and CEO of Simplero, Calvin Correli. Calvin shares insights on the intersection of spirituality and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of aligning business with one's life purpose. He discusses his journey from a software developer to creating an integrated platform for courses and coaching, driven by a spiritual realization. Calvin highlights the significance of intimacy and avoiding burnout in business. He also touches on the evolution of spiritual awareness in entrepreneurship and the need for community and connection.Learn more about Calvin's work HERE.Connect with Calvin on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Director of Growth Marketing at Prefect Technologies, Sarah Bedell. Perfect Technologies is a workflow orchestration tool designed to help technical teams manage their code more efficiently. Sarah highlights the importance of open-source products in the developer tooling space, noting that open-source can significantly enhance product adoption and community engagement.A growth team's primary goal is to drive product signups and generate leads for sales. Sarah emphasizes the importance of data in achieving these goals efficiently. Growth teams must leverage data to inform their strategies and decisions, involving close collaboration with data teams to understand user behavior and identify growth opportunities. They should focus on key metrics related to acquisition, activation, and monetization, as these metrics provide a clear picture of the product's performance and areas for improvement.Learn more about Sarah's work HERE.Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Executive Chairman of TrialKey, Saurabh Jain. Saurabh Jain's career trajectory is a testament to the power of diverse experiences. Starting as a software engineer, he founded a tech startup that he later sold to Telstra, Australia's equivalent of AT&T. His journey took an unexpected turn into sales, where he spent a decade before returning to the technical side of his career. This blend of technical and market-facing roles uniquely positioned him to bridge the gap between product development and sales.Learn more about Saurabh's work HERE.Connect with Saurabh on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder and CEO of Outforce, Sean Languedoc. Sean, an experienced entrepreneur and sales CEO, shared his deep understanding of outsourcing, the critical nature of product-market fit, and the nuances of different service providers. Outsourcing can be both beneficial and challenging for many companies. While it offers cost savings and access to specialized skills, it also presents its own set of difficulties.One major issue is the lack of time. Companies often rush into outsourcing without thoroughly vetting potential service providers, leading to suboptimal partnerships and project delays. Another problem is insufficient data. Without adequate information on service providers, companies may make uninformed decisions, resulting in mismatched expectations and poor outcomes. Additionally, improper processes can lead to communication breakdowns and project mismanagement.To overcome these challenges, Sean emphasized the importance of a thorough vetting process. Outsourced AI employs a multi-step approach to ensure the right fit between companies and service providers. This includes data scraping to collect extensive information on potential service providers, validation through interviews to verify the accuracy of the data and assess the providers' capabilities, and cultural fit assessment to ensure alignment with the client's values and working style.Learn more about Sean's work HERE.Connect with Sean on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Executive Chairperson of Winning by Design, Dave Boyce. Dave highlights the rapid evolution of the PLG landscape. Despite its significant impact on the industry, there is still a considerable gap in understanding and documentation of PLG strategies. This gap presents an opportunity for companies to gain a competitive edge by adopting and mastering PLG principles.PLG helps reduce the escalating costs of acquiring and retaining revenue by automating and streamlining processes traditionally handled by humans. By focusing on the user experience, PLG fosters a deeper connection with customers, leading to higher satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, PLG enables companies to scale their growth efforts more efficiently by leveraging the product to drive user acquisition and engagement.Dave predicts that the adoption of PLG will grow exponentially as companies recognize its efficiency and effectiveness in revenue generation and customer engagement. The shift towards self-service experiences in both personal and business contexts will drive this growth, as products become seamlessly integrated into users' workflows.Learn more about Dave's work HERE.Connect with Dave on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Distinguished VP of Gartner, David Yockelson. David defines PLG as a strategy that emphasizes the product as the primary driver of customer acquisition, expansion, and retention. However, he clarifies that PLG is not solely about self-serve models. Instead, it often involves a hybrid approach that integrates product-led tactics with traditional sales and marketing efforts, especially in B2B contexts where deals are larger and audiences more complex.Learn more about David's work HERE.Connect with David on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Co-Founder and CEO of CPV One, Julia Draghici. Julia's companies, CPV One and CPV Labs are ad-tracking platforms designed for performance marketers. These platforms help users track, optimize, and test their marketing campaigns, providing a comprehensive view of their marketing efforts. CPV Labs is a self-hosted solution where users need a server hosting provider to install the software, while CPV One is a cloud-hosted solution where the hosting is managed by the company, offering the same tracking capabilities but with added convenience.Julia's insights into product-led growth and the development of CPV One and CPV Labs offer valuable lessons for any business looking to implement PLG strategies. By focusing on user-centric design, comprehensive onboarding, and maintaining a balance between features and usability, businesses can create products that drive growth and customer satisfaction.Learn more about Julia's work HERE.Connect with Julia on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Head of Growth of Zuora, Dana Yobst. Dana emphasizes that the growth department is a unique entity that sits at the intersection of product, marketing, and sales. This department is crucial for driving a go-to-market motion that effectively combines these three groups. Product Management focuses on understanding the market and customers to build successful trials and products. Marketing generates leads and creates awareness about the product. Sales converts leads into paying customers.Dana elaborates on the various growth motions in the B2B space, ranging from self-service product-led growth to pure sales-led approaches. She highlights the importance of incorporating product management and marketing to cater to different personas within the B2B sales cycle. The key growth motions include Self-Service Product-Led Growth, where users can sign up and start using the product without any sales intervention; Sales-Led Growth, a traditional approach where the sales team drives the customer acquisition process; and a Hybrid Approach, which combines elements of both self-service and sales-led growth to cater to different user personas.Dana points out the potential friction between sales and marketing, which often stems from misaligned goals and communication gaps. To bridge this gap, she suggests aligning goals to ensure that both sales and marketing teams have shared objectives and KPIs. Regular communication should be fostered to discuss lead quality and conversion strategies. Collaborative tools that provide visibility into the entire customer journey, from lead generation to conversion, should be utilized.Learn more about Dana's work HERE.Connect with Dana on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Fractional CPO, Automation Champion in AI enablement, and Product-led Growth, Jason Dadah. Jason brings a unique perspective to the table, having served as a chief product officer at Gate List, a mortgage AI company, and as a product owner at various companies. His journey through the startup landscape and his focus on SMB growth strategy has equipped him with invaluable knowledge.Jason emphasized that taking the time to thoroughly contemplate the company, product, and industry is essential for building credibility and trust with your team, stakeholders, and customers. He shared practical methods for engaging in this intellectual exercise, such as creating mind maps and actively seeking feedback from colleagues and executives.Connect with Jason on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Product Operation Manager of HCSS, Tiffany Murphree. Product Ops, or Product Operations, is a term that's gaining traction, yet it's defined differently across various organizations. At its core, Product Ops serves the product management department, aiming to streamline efficiency and enhance communication among teams. Tiffany emphasized the importance of focusing on people, processes, and tools—the three key pillars of Product Ops—with a particular emphasis on the human element.Learn more about Tiffany's work HERE.Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Product Design, Usability, and DesignOps Consultant and Co-chair of Women In Product, Houston, Alison Ostendorf. Alison peeled back the layers of Product-Led Growth (PLG) and its transformative impact on the tech industry. Alison brings a fresh perspective from the design world, challenging the status quo of sales-led strategies.Alison candidly shares her initial skepticism about PLG, stemming from her commitment to crafting products that captivate users on their own merit. She draws a compelling parallel between PLG and human-centered design, underscoring the necessity of creating products that users find inherently valuable.Learn more about Alison's work HERE.Connect with Alison on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO of Foundersuite, Nathan Beckord. Venture capital is not a game of chance; it's a strategic decision-making process guided by a VC's thesis. This thesis is the bedrock of their investment choices, influenced by industry trends, personal expertise, and market predictions. Nathan shed light on the importance of aligning your startup with a VC's thesis to increase your chances of securing funding. He emphasized that demonstrating traction, customer acquisition, and solid unit economics are key to proving your startup's worth to potential investors.Learn more about Nathan's work HERE.Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the CEO and Founder of TRG International, Rick Yvanovich. Rick's journey is nothing short of remarkable. He discussed his experiences from the early days of computing, a time when technology was in its nascent stages, to the current era dominated by cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS). His story is a testament to the transformative power of technology and the foresight needed to stay ahead of the curve.Learn more about Rick's work HERE and HERE.Connect with Rick on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Compliance Ambassador and Senior Business Advisor of SAP, S V Prasad Gandhikota. Prasad's professional odyssey began in 1995 after graduating with a technology degree from Bombay University, India. His early career was rooted in supply chain management and manufacturing, which laid a solid foundation for his subsequent MBA in marketing and information technology. With an industry-leading SAP certification, Prasad transitioned into SAP consulting, where he has been instrumental in advising companies on their digital and business transformation journeys.Learn more about Prasad's work HERE.Connect with Prasad on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the President of The Authenticity Alliance, Wes Kussmaul. In 1981, long before the term "social media" entered our lexicon, Delphi Corporation began an ambitious project to create a digital encyclopedia. Wes Kussmaul recounted the company's fascinating evolution from a knowledge repository to a social media platform, complete with bulletin boards, email, and chatrooms. Delphi's strategic partnerships with computer hobbyist magazines and its competition with industry giants like CompuServe and Reader's Digest were instrumental in its success.Wes took us on a journey back to a time when graphics were limited by modem speeds, and the internet was still a project under the National Science Foundation. He shared anecdotes about the pre-internet X25 protocol and networked BBS systems, painting a vivid picture of the social networks of the 1980s. It was a time of rapid evolution, leading to the commercialization of the Internet in the early '90s.Wes introduced us to "Moai," an innovative concept representing "My Own Information." This personal information vault empowers individuals to control their data, allowing them to license specific information to entities like tire vendors or insurance companies while maintaining their privacy. He explained the role of Osman's attestation officers in verifying identities under legitimate circumstances, ensuring protection and control for users.Learn more about Wes's work HERE.Connect with Wes on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Board Director of RemotelyMe, Bill Reed. Bill broke down marketing into three distinct areas: demand generation, product marketing, and strategic marketing. Demand generation encompasses social media, advertising, email marketing, and SEO, all aimed at creating awareness and attention. Product marketing, on the other hand, focuses on understanding market needs, and competition, and ensuring the right messaging. Strategic marketing, often at the executive level, involves long-term planning and direction for the company.For a product to achieve success, it's crucial for marketing to play an integral role in its development. Bill emphasized the importance of product marketers being in sync with the product management team. This collaboration ensures that the company's offerings are aligned with customer feedback and market trends. Creating a messaging guide is a pivotal step in this process, as it ensures consistent and effective communication of the product's value proposition.Learn more about Bill's work HERE.Connect with Bill on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder of Product Houston, Wade Pinder. Wade's path into product management is a testament to his dedication to the Houston community. He shared the unique challenges and solutions that the city presents, highlighting the differences in product management methodologies. But what stood out was the emphasis on storytelling in product management—a skill that can make or break a product's success.Wade shared his belief in experience-led growth, noting that even century-old companies in Houston share a common thread—the user or customer experience. He gave a relatable example of trash collection, an often-overlooked service, yet one that provides a customer experience at every interaction. Wade's insights underscored the potential for improvement in every product experience, no matter how mundane it may seem.Wade's passion for community building shone through as he described his efforts in fostering the Houston product community. He applied product thinking to create a space for product managers to connect and share knowledge. His key performance indicator for the community's success? Whether meaningful connections and interactions occur.Connect with Wade on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the VP of Product and Design of Hubilo, Shailesh Hegde. Shailesh's story is particularly inspiring. Starting with an engineering degree, Shailesh cut his teeth in the software testing realm, working for giants like Siemens and Nokia. Shailesh's pursuit of growth led him to a master's degree in the US and a stint at a startup that was later acquired by Cisco. It was during this time that Shailesh discovered his passion for product management.The transition from a testing role to product management wasn't a walk in the park. Shailesh embarked on an 18-month course while working at Blue Jeans, a startup that eventually offered him a role as a product manager. This was the beginning of his love affair with the challenges and excitement of product management. From owning small parts of a product to handling larger segments, speaking on stages, and collaborating with marketing teams, Shailesh's experiences have been diverse and enriching.Now, as the VP of Product and Design at Hubilo, Shailesh is at the forefront of innovation in the virtual events space. Hubilo isn't just another webinar tool; it's a platform designed to make webinars more effective for marketing teams. While there are numerous webinar tools focused on execution, Hubilo aims to enhance the outcomes—be it lead generation or content repurposing.Learn more about Shailesh's work HERE.Connect with Shailesh on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Senior Director of Digital Product and User Experience of Kendra Scott, Brad Power. Brad's journey into the realm of product management is a testament to the power of customer-centric thinking. His career began in a call center, where he honed his skills in customer retention. This experience laid the foundation for his marketing roles and eventually led him to the intersection of technology, customer needs, and business goals. As a director of digital product at Kendra Scott, Brad now leverages his background in technology, UX, and product management to drive the company's success.Learn more about Brad's work HERE.Connect with Brad on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Founder of Funnelytics, Mikael Dia. Mikael's journey with Funnelytics started when he was running a marketing agency. He identified a clear market need for a tool that visualizes marketing strategies and data while tracking the intricate paths customers navigate across various online platforms. This led to the inception of Funnelytics, a software designed to map out traffic sources, pages, and conversions, providing a detailed view of the customer journey.Mikael emphasized the importance of visualization in understanding customer behavior. Funnelytics sets itself apart as an analytics tool that seamlessly integrates with other platforms, enabling users to link their CRM and page builders to track customer activities. This integration means businesses can incorporate Funnelytics without the need to abandon their existing tools, such as HubSpot or ClickFunnels.Learn more about Mikael's work HERE.Connect with Mikael on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Product Operations Lead of iGaming of Caesars Sportsbook & Casino, Thomas Palaio. Thomas's career trajectory is a testament to the evolution of a tech professional. Starting with hands-on roles such as help desk support, he quickly moved into the realm of DevOps and cloud technologies at a time when continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) were just gaining momentum. His passion for solving complex problems and creating value for both customers and businesses led him to the product space. The satisfaction derived from the feedback loop of identifying and resolving issues is what keeps him motivated in his current role.As the COO overseeing product strategy and operations for the online casino division at Caesars Entertainment, Thomas is responsible for delivering iOS, web, and Android casino experiences across five states in North America. He highlighted the unique challenges of working within a heavily regulated industry, where every product move must be approved by state boards and comply with longstanding laws.One might assume that innovation is stifled in such a regulated environment, but Thomas provided a different perspective. The online gaming industry is relatively young, and there's a wealth of product development opportunities before hitting regulatory constraints. His focus is on delivering significant value to customers through innovation within the existing framework.Learn more about Thomas's work HERE. Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Director of Product Management of Applied Systems, Vijay Rengarajan. Vijay's journey began in programming and evolved through a business analyst role at Tata Consultancy Services. His experience in the insurance domain laid the foundation for his customer-centric approach. In 2016, he transitioned to product management, where he could apply his skills to both new product development (0 to 1) and scaling existing products (1 to n).The first step in product development is recognizing a genuine need. Vijay shared an example of creating a network management system for insurance agencies, where no existing product met their unique requirements. The key was to conduct extensive user research and engage directly with potential users to understand their pain points.Connect with Vijay on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Owner and Creative Director of Viim, Steph Hilfer. Steph spoke on what heart-centric branding truly means. It's an approach that goes beyond the transactional aspects of business and focuses on creating a genuine connection with consumers. Heart-centric branding is about tapping into the authentic core of a brand and sharing that truth with the world. It's not just about selling a product or service; it's about resonating with customers on a deeper level, through shared values and beliefs.When asked for an example, Steph highlighted industries where trust is non-negotiable, such as financial advising or healthcare. In these fields, heart-centric branding can be the differentiator that builds trust by authentically communicating a business's values and mission. This approach isn't just about what you offer but who you are as a business and how you connect with the needs and values of your clients.A key takeaway from the discussion was the importance of internal alignment within an organization. Steph emphasized that a staggering 80% of brand work should be focused internally. The rationale is simple: for a brand to be perceived as genuine, the people within the company must live and breathe the same values that the brand projects to the outside world. This internal-external consistency is what makes every customer interaction feel authentic.Connect with Steph on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Product Management Consultant of Slalom, Charles Jessup. Charles' entry into product management was somewhat serendipitous, beginning with his work in building digital products for an oil and gas company. His career trajectory took an exciting turn when he transitioned to product coaching and consulting at Slalom, guiding new product teams to understand the multifaceted role of a product manager.One of Charles's notable projects involved a pharmaceutical company's transition from a project-based to a product-based approach. He detailed the challenges of empowering product owners to make decisions that create value for users and customers. It's a testament to the importance of organizational changes and incentives that support such a significant shift.Connect with Charles on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Product and Technology leader, Justin Hunter. Justin's story is a testament to the fluid nature of career paths. Initially setting his sights on events management, he found himself drawn to the structure and impact of infrastructure and project management. His transition was not just a change in job titles but a fundamental shift in mindset. Justin emphasized that to thrive in product management, one must adopt a product mindset. This involves aligning vision, setting clear priorities, and fostering a deep understanding of the end-user.Justin referenced a pivotal book that reshaped his approach to product management. The book's core message, focusing on outcomes over outputs, became a guiding principle for him. It's about driving behavioral change, not just delivering features. This insight is crucial for product managers who aim to create products that truly resonate with their users.Connect with Justin on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas' work at 3Leaf Consulting.

Your host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the President of EPS Optic(s), Ryan Weiss. Ryan's product is a testament to the powerful synergy between people and process. He shared the foundational vision of his SaaS solution, which is to seamlessly integrate these two elements. The goal? To create a platform that not only functions efficiently but also aligns with the users' needs.Transitioning from a mere concept to a scalable product is no small feat. Ryan candidly discussed the initial hurdles they faced, emphasizing the need to simplify the user experience. It's a common pitfall for SaaS products to become overly complex, but Ryan's focus was clear: streamline the process to make it as user-friendly as possible.One of the most impactful strategies Ryan implemented was leveraging customer feedback. This wasn't just about listening to what customers had to say but actively incorporating their insights into the product development process. By using their system to document processes, Ryan's team revitalized the customer journey, leading to a more engaging and satisfying user experience.Learn more about Ryan's work HERE. Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Learn more about Thomas' work at 3Leaf Consulting.

In the inaugural episode of Product Led Growth Leaders, Josh Elledge of UpMyInfluence interviews the show's host and creator, Thomas Watkins. Thomas, a UX practitioner, plans to share insights from product leaders and encourage innovative thinking. Josh and Thomas invite listeners to subscribe, share, and even apply to be guests on the show. He also shares his experience working with diverse clients, from large industry players to startups, across sectors like video gaming, crypto, NFT, and industrial verticals. Learn more about Thomas's work at 3Leaf HERE. Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.