Suvrat Joshi

Reader feedback for my latest post about how to use AI and my PRD template to never have to write a PRD from scratch again. Read the full post here: https://lnkd.in/eJjVXJUJ

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maybe one of the few posts that I ever will do, but the situation did demand it! Just completed the "Improve your product sense" course by Shreyas Doshi as part of the November 2024 cohort. Doubt if I have ever taken such a unique course steeped in learnings extracted from years of Shreyas' product experience. And these are not learnings in the usual sense / frameworks that are dime a dozen (which can be misinterpreted based on the reader's context). Instead, it is a well thought & laid out interaction with Shreyas himself over 8+ days through live interaction, intense lecture, pre-reads, peer discussions & AMAs. Highly recommend the course for senior product folks as it helps reinforce good habits, identify & overcome anti-patterns, unlearn & relearn the product craft & how to apply it contextually for high leverage outcomes! https://lnkd.in/gWjzF3aN

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“PMs are now expected to respond quickly to inputs," Anthony emphasized, highlighting the changing role of product managers in today's fast-paced environment. He underlined the importance of product and product ops teams in using technology to shape strategy, a shift that's changing expectations across industries. In this latest Product Thinking episode, Anthony Maggio and I explore important topics like tackling challenges in the digital supply chain, addressing strategy drift, and Airtable's latest venture, Airtable AI. With over three years at Airtable, Anthony's leadership has played a vital role in driving the platform forward. Trusted by businesses worldwide, Airtable's innovative approach connects people and data to achieve their goals. We discuss Airtable's journey to becoming a leader in vertical integration, seamlessly integrating AI into its products. Anthony shares insights on balancing flexibility with market demands, offering practical advice for product professionals. Join us to learn how AI is reshaping the role of product managers, and how product operations drive AI transformation to provide actionable insights for teams. What challenges do you foresee in implementing AI-driven strategies in your organization? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! #ProductManagement #Innovation #AI #DigitalTransformation

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Truly enjoyed joining the Product Thinking with Melissa Perri podcast. It's a must-listen for product managers, innovators, and anyone eager to see their ideas take flight. During our 45-minute conversation, we covered a wide range of topics. Here are some highlights: 🔍 Origin Story: I shared my journey of helping organizations systematically venture into the unknown. When I transitioned from Amazon to McDonald’s, I had to create "new ways of working" because what’s standard at a tech giant is often a foreign language to more traditional companies. 🏢 Culture: I discussed my view on culture—not as a set of slogans, but as the reality of the employee experience. Changing how work gets done is the best way to evolve culture. 🚀 Beyond Execution: We explored why many Fortune 500 companies excel at execution but struggle with the muscles needed to bring good ideas to life. We talked about how to get to execution faster and more effectively. 🗣️ Leadership Hacks: I shared how I would hold meetings with teams (even as President) with the expectation of reviewing questions rather than answers. Starting with a good question list is a powerful way to kickstart momentum on ideas. 📚 Why I Wrote Decision Sprint: After a decade in the C-Suite at McDonald’s, Volvo, and MGM Resorts, I realized that the practices I was putting in place needed to be distilled into a methodology, leading to the creation of Decision Sprint, a WSJ bestseller. 🌐 Beyond Product: The next evolution in product thinking involves bringing the rest of the organization along. It’s not enough for just one part of the company to be product-oriented; collective intelligence is key to solving today’s problems. Decision Sprint is designed to create a universal language that works for any role in an organization. 🕵️ Purposeful Exploration: We discussed how purposeful exploration isn’t as time-consuming as you might think and how it actually speeds things up while providing more clarity. 💡 Ritual: I also shared why I started a workflow + AI company three years ago and how an idea that was ahead of its time is now finding product-market fit. Some describe what we’re doing as a McKinsey-killer, but we believe Ritual is much bigger, reshaping knowledge work in profound ways. Everything we discussed --> build momentum to allow ideas to flourish. 🎧 Thank you to Melissa Perri for hosting such an engaging and insightful conversation. If you benefit, it's because the host knows the right questions to ask :) Listen to the podcast: https://lnkd.in/g37Wb9K7 https://lnkd.in/g_--qb2S More links: www.decisionsprint.com (Atif’s WSJ bestselling book) https://app.ritual.work/ (try Ritual) https://www.produxlabs.com (Melissa’s company) #ProductThinking #Innovation #Leadership #Culture #DecisionMaking #AI #Podcast #ProductManagement

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After many years in product I finally decided to take my first, and probably last, "PM course": Shreyas Doshi's Product Sense course: https://lnkd.in/g6Gm9YzU Why my last? I don't think I'll ever need to take another course after this. He asked our honest take, so here's mine: The premise of a PM course always felt ironic to me because doing product in theory is never *remotely close* to doing product in practice. Well, this is finally the course that is built for, and built by, product in practice. Name a product concept that you've banged your head against the wall trying to put into practice (I'll name a few: Product Sense, Product Strategy, Product Vision). You've already read 5 books, 10 medium articles, and listened to 12 podcasts, and still feel like doing it yourself is like grabbing water. Every one of those concepts (and more) has finally been decomposed, distilled, and packaged into something that can compare to working directly with a world-class product leader yourself. Do yourself a favor and take this course, there is nothing remotely close to it that I'm aware of in existence. Also: you will laugh - guarantee you'll experience at least 1 moment of catharsis as Shreyas Doshi skewers some aspect of the tech industry and our experience as product people within it.

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“If there is no clear owner, then it’s the PM that owns it.” I sat down with Esteban Contreras from #ProductState to discuss Product leadership, or Prioritization process at Productboard. We also dug into the concept of Extreme Ownership, which is a principle I firmly believe in. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eVN47mWn #productmanagement #productexcellence #ownership

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If you're not following Ben Lang, then you should. He brings out the best under the radar opportunities with the next play newsletter. https://lnkd.in/gAxDUgzN. For product managers out there, follow him to see how you can make your career growth non-linear. #productmanagement #startups

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A critical mistake many product managers make is getting too wrapped up in the tactical aspects of Agile and feature prioritization. While these are important, neglecting strategic skills like user research and vision development can limit your impact and career growth. Focus on what truly matters to elevate your product and your career.

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If you are passionate about building high-performing product teams, my book "Hiring Product Managers" will be the perfect go-to resource to help you on your journey. Discover how to combine technical expertise with essential human skills, enabling you to drive innovation, collaboration, and organizational success. Get yours here ⬇️

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Product strategy is crucial, but obsession with the customer experience is critical. Great PMs don't just plan—they meticulously craft every touchpoint of the customer journey. Quality experiences does not happen by accident; it's a relentless, tough but rewarding pursuit.

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I wrote Hiring Product Managers to show that hiring can be an agent of change. We need to stop thinking of hiring as simply 'ticking a box' - approaching hiring in a meaningful way can have a great impact on our personal growth, team dynamics & the shaping of our organisational culture. Get your copy!

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As some of you may know, I run a book club at Gracenote a few times annually where we read books focusing on product management, strategy, and general business. For those interested, I've compiled a list of the best books we've covered and published it on Medium. You can find the full list here: https://lnkd.in/gfk3FgtS #BookClub #ProductManagement #BusinessStrategy #KnowledgeSharing

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Stop throwing a North Star Metric at your team without any context. It doesn't work. A NSM is not a concept that will create immediate alignment. "Here's the metric, now go optimize the product to improve the metric." Product teams need more to figure out what is influencing the NSM. And management needs more to prove its value. The CoCoCo for successful North Star Metric implementations 💃🏻 1️⃣ CONTEXT 2️⃣ CONNECTION to business value 3️⃣ CONNECTION to user value AND 💫 BONUS 1 - Co-creation 💫 BONUS 2 - Co-ownership With a shout-out to Amplitude and Daniel Schmidt. A comparison of Amazon vs. Patagonia. And the evolution of Netflix’s NSM over time - with a surprise, if you haven't heard it yet. 👉 Ask Me Anything: Drop your NSM questions in the comment 👇

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Lior Solomon and the team at Drata thought if their Amplitude experiment produced at least 500 customer adoptions, that would be a success. So, when the experiment actually drove 2,000 customer adoptions, let’s just say they were excited about that. Learn how Lior and the team at Drata use Amplitude!

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💡Managing up is one of the hardest parts of being a product leader. Here’s a clip (see comments) from the Prodify Product Leadership course we created, where we dive into how to manage up effectively. While designed for newer product leaders, the course offers valuable insights and strategies that can benefit professionals at various stages of their careers. Here's why mastering this skill is critical: 1. 🤝 Shared Success: Your wins are your manager's wins. Help them shine! 2. 🔍 Transparency Builds Trust: Keep them informed to reduce uncertainty and avoid surprises. 3. 🆘 Leverage Support: Your manager can be your best advisor and supporter in challenging times. 4. 🗣️ Influence Upwards: Don't shy away from giving feedback on strategy, culture, and processes. 5. 📈 Personal Growth: Take ownership of your performance and growth discussions. Our curriculum covers everything from product vision and strategy to team leadership and stakeholder management. It addresses the most core topics I would want leaders on my team to understand. 🚀 Ready to transform your product leadership skills? Don't miss this opportunity to invest in your career. Join us and learn how to not just manage products, but lead with confidence and impact. Enroll now: https://lnkd.in/ga5f6Wfi 🎉 Special Offer: Use code PRODIFY15 for a 15% discount when you sign up by October 31st! #ProductLeadership #ManagingUp #CareerGrowth #ProductManagement PS - What tips would you offer in managing up? Share in the comments – I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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Excellent episode by Melissa Perri, highlighting: 1. Pendo's vision to be a comprehensive platform for product managers, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data to help product managers make informed decisions. 2. The importance of balancing short-term customer needs with long-term strategic goals, and how Pendo leverages emerging technologies like AI and large language models to address real customer pain points while fostering a culture of innovation. 3. The role of product operations, including program management and systems management, in supporting product launches, coordinating cross-functional efforts, and ensuring a seamless customer experience. https://lnkd.in/ggvSK24t

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Deep Dive: Lessons from 50+ Conversations with VP Product / CPOs Over the Last Year 🔍 In the past 12 months, I've engaged in enriching discussions with numerous VP Product and Chief Product Officers. These conversations have been insightful, revealing both challenges and best practices shaping the product management landscape today. Here’s a detailed list of the top 10 takeaways: 1. Integrative User Research: Successful products are built on a foundation of continuous user research, integrating feedback loops into every stage of the product life cycle to refine UX/UI. 2. Agile Leadership Evolution: Dynamic markets demand leaders who not only advocate for but actively implement agile methodologies, ensuring rapid adaptability and resilience. 3. Advanced Analytics for Predictive Insights: Leveraging sophisticated analytics tools to not only interpret current data but also predict future user behaviors and market demands. 4. Building Scalable Systems: Emphasizing the need for infrastructure that supports scaling, particularly as products grow and evolve in complexity and user base. 5. Enhanced Cross-Functional Synergy: Encouraging seamless interaction between product, marketing, sales, and tech teams to ensure a unified approach to product development and launch strategies. 6. Focus on Product-Led Growth: Shifting strategies to center around the product as the primary driver of customer acquisition, conversion, and expansion. 7. Emphasis on Continuous Learning and Development: Investing in continuous education and professional development to keep skills relevant and teams innovative. 8. Strategic Experimentation: Cultivating a culture where calculated risks and strategic experiments are encouraged to quickly test new ideas and learn from the outcomes. 9. Enhanced Customer Journey Mapping: Detailed mapping of the customer journey to understand and anticipate every touchpoint, improving personalization and identifying opportunities for product improvement. 10. Regulatory Compliance and Security: Staying ahead of regulatory changes and enhancing product security to safeguard user data and comply with global standards. Each of these points reflects a broader trend in product management that demands attention and strategic action. I’m keen to hear how others in the industry are navigating these complexities. What challenges have you faced, and what solutions have you found effective?

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One of the most significant challenges I've observed when working with Fortune 50 companies is the creation and deployment of product strategy. Without a solid product strategy to guide our product managers, we risk veering into a realm of uncertainty and confusion regarding our priorities, which can leave our teams unsure of their direction. Crafting a cohesive product strategy is far from simple, and it requires asking lots of questions to understand the correct approach. Each company's distinct context will shape how you create the appropriate product strategy. Some organizations are better suited to be thought of as whole platforms, where leveraging backend data and services can enhance the strength of each customer-facing (and internal) product. Other companies operate more like separate entities within their business lines, necessitating individualized product strategies for each line. Regrettably, I often encounter companies that should be harnessing their platform capabilities but instead function as isolated business units, forfeiting the chance to capitalize on cross-product line collaboration and value creation. In this episode, I delve into how to formulate a product strategy within a large enterprise, considering the various factors that influence its design. Regardless of your ultimate objective with product strategy, a great chief product officer can be instrumental by: ▪Developing a portfolio strategy that utilizes technology to propel customer value and business expansion. ▪Fostering collaboration among product leaders across different silos to discover synergies and develop scalable platforms. ▪Immersing themselves in the nuances of product strategies to ensure they are in lockstep with the broader corporate vision. ▪Harmonizing priorities across our collective resources. ▪Working in close partnership with technology leaders to evaluate feasibility and maximize our use of software. The result? A clear link between our corporate ambitions and the tangible actions of our teams, all under the guidance of strategic product leadership. I'm keen to learn about your insights and experiences in surmounting the alignment challenge within your organizations. Drop your comments below! Listen now 🎧 Youtube: https://lnkd.in/eAQey-Zc Website: https://lnkd.in/gHdeqkUD Do you have a burning product-related question for me? Feel free to submit one here DearMelissa.com and you might find your question featured and answered in an upcoming episode. #ProductThinking #ProductStrategy #CorporateAlignment #DigitalTransformation

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