Episode 245: Building Product Thinking in Engineering Teams with Matt Watson

Join Melissa Perri as she sits down with Matt Watson, founder and CEO of Full Scale, to delve into the evolving world of product management and software development. In this insightful conversation, Matt shares his journey from developer to CEO, offering lessons on how to blend engineering expertise with product thinking. Discover how Matt encourages a culture of ownership and courage among teams, and how AI is reshaping the roles of engineers and product managers alike.If you're interested in enhancing your product management skills and understanding the importance of clarity, communication, and collaboration in tech teams, this episode is a must-listen. Matt’s insights will resonate with anyone looking to break out of the build trap and focus on delivering real value to customers.Tune in to gain practical strategies for fostering innovation and empowering your team to think beyond the code.You’ll hear us talk about:10:15 - Encouraging Product Thinking in EngineersMatt discusses the importance of engineers understanding the product's broader impact, not just focusing on the technical aspects. He emphasizes the need for engineers to see themselves as part of the product team, contributing to the overall vision and strategy.22:40 - The Role of Clarity and CommunicationIn this segment, Matt highlights the significance of maintaining clarity in software development. He shares how regular communication and one-on-ones are essential for coaching and ensuring everyone understands the vision and scope of projects.35:55 - The Impact of AI on Engineering RolesMatt explores how AI is transforming traditional engineering roles, pushing engineers to adopt more product thinking. He underscores the growing importance of emotional intelligence and teamwork as AI takes on more technical tasks.Episode resources:Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/Product Driven: https://productdriven.com/Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/about-us/Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devCheck our courses: https://productinstitute.com/Timestamps:00:00 Matt's career journey08:07 Giving engineers context and autonomy 15:51 Building psychological safety for courage21:26 Creating ownership through one-on-ones26:31 Redefining roles in the age of AI 30:16 Shifting from order takers to product owners

What advice can you give for transitioning from end-user product management to platform product management, particularly regarding daily responsibilities and understanding the new role?The podcast discusses the transition to platform product management, emphasizing the importance of understanding internal users and workflows. It advises product managers to learn technical aspects like APIs and DevOps, collaborate with engineering teams, and align platform strategies with commercial goals. The role requires a focus on scalability and internal user experience while maintaining awareness of business objectives, highlighting the growing demand for skilled platform product managers.Episode resources:Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devGet a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissaCheck all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinkingThis episode was originally aired on December 15th 2023.

In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, Melissa Perri sits down with Elaina O'Mahoney, the Chief Product Officer at Mural, to explore the evolving landscape of product operations, the strategic use of AI, and the essential collaboration between product and go-to-market teams. Elaina shares her insights into how organizations can streamline their product operations and effectively integrate AI to enhance user experience without losing the human touch.She also delves into the dynamics of working with go-to-market teams to ensure products are aligned with market needs from the outset. For product leaders looking to enhance their strategic approach and better align with sales and marketing, this episode provides valuable perspectives and practical advice from a seasoned expert in the field.Want to understand how to integrate AI into your products strategically and enhance your product operations? Tune in to hear Elaina's insights on building a collaborative product culture.You'll hear us talk about:06:01 - Visual Collaboration and Decision MakingElaina discusses the transformative role of visual collaboration tools like MURAL in product development. She highlights how these tools enable faster decision-making and efficient iteration by providing a shared visual language across teams.20:57 - Embedding Product with Go-To-Market TeamsElaina explores the benefits of integrating product management with go-to-market strategies. She explains how involving product marketing early in the process leads to a more seamless transition from development to market, reducing friction and accelerating time-to-market.28:27 - Future of Product OperationsElaina shares her vision for the future of product operations, emphasizing the need to streamline tools and processes. She talks about the importance of focusing on outcomes, customer needs, and metrics to avoid the trap of building features without clear purpose.Episode resources:Mural: https://www.mural.co/Elaina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eomahoney/Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devCheck our courses: https://productinstitute.com/Timestamps:00:00 Entering Mural and navigating product leadership10:57 Enabling product creativity and outcome-driven teams16:26 Building strong partnerships with sales and GTM teams24:29 Balancing AI innovation with enterprise needs30:34 Future of product leadership and final reflections

What advice do you have for a situation where multiple product managers are accessing the same developer team, potentially slowing down delivery?Navigating multiple product managers sharing the same development team can lead to inefficiencies and context switching, which negatively impacts productivity. It's crucial to have dedicated developers for specific areas to improve ownership and accountability. The typical ratio of product managers to developers should be reconsidered, and if the workload is too high, hiring more developers may be necessary. Tracking productivity metrics and engaging developers in discussions can help present a case for leadership to make informed decisions about team structure and resource allocation.Episode resources:Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devGet a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissaCheck all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking

In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, Dr. Maryam Ashoori joins Melissa Perri to explore the transformative impact of AI on product management. Maryam shares her insights into how AI is reshaping roles within the industry, particularly the evolving relationship between product managers and engineers. With AI increasingly influencing design processes, she discusses the shift from traditional UI building to prompt definition. The conversation also delves into the distinct capabilities of AI agents compared to generative AI, highlighting their potential for reasoning and task automation.Maryam provides valuable guidance for enterprises on adopting AI strategically, emphasizing the importance of focusing on specific problems rather than being swayed by emerging technologies. The episode also touches on the challenges large organizations face in integrating AI tools amidst rapid technological changes.Curious about how AI can redefine your product management approach? Tune in to this episode for a deep dive into AI's role in transforming industry practices and discover actionable insights for leveraging AI within your organization.You’ll hear us talk about:05:45 - The Evolution of Product Management Roles with AIMaryam discusses the increasing integration of AI in product management, emphasizing the shift towards focusing on building the right products, not just any products. She highlights how AI is changing the dynamics between product managers and engineers.14:10 - Designers' New Role in the AI EraThe conversation shifts to how AI is impacting design roles, with designers moving away from traditional UI construction to defining prompts for AI. Maryam explains how this evolution is changing the design landscape.22:30 - Strategic AI Adoption in EnterprisesMaryam shares her insights on how enterprises can successfully adopt AI by starting small with proof of concepts and scaling strategically. She emphasizes focusing on problem-solving rather than being distracted by the latest tech trends.Episode resources:Maryam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mashoori/Watsonx.governance: https://www.ibm.com/products/watsonx-governanceCheck out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devCheck our courses: https://productinstitute.com/Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:43 Maryam's career journey05:07 AI agents and their role in business07:45 Capabilities and limitations of AI agents16:07 Guardrails and practical use of AI in teams24:21 Creativity, UI standardization, and product strategy28:10 Enterprise AI adoption and building future-ready strategy34:38 Emerging trends and opportunities for product leaders

What advice can a new VP of product, with extensive industry experience but limited product management experience, receive to succeed in their role?Advice for a new VP of product with industry experience but limited product management knowledge includes understanding product management as a craft, learning key concepts and methodologies, and leveraging industry expertise to empathize with customers. It's essential to establish a collaborative environment with product managers, focus on defining problems rather than solutions, and continuously engage with users to inform product strategy. Building strong relationships with engineering and design teams, while being open to feedback and learning, will help in successfully transitioning into the role.Episode resources:Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devGet a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissaCheck all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking

Jody Bailey, the Chief Product and Technology Officer at Stack Overflow, joins Melissa Perri to discuss the integration of AI and product strategy in one of the world’s largest online communities for technologists. Jody shares insights on how Stack Overflow is navigating the rapid technological advancements and adapting to maintain long-term trust within its community.They delve into the challenges and opportunities AI presents and how it influences product management at Stack Overflow. Curious about how AI is reshaping the product landscape and how Stack Overflow is positioning itself in this new era? Tune in to discover how Jody Bailey is leading the charge at the intersection of technology and community.You'll hear us talk about:06:52 - Building Trusted AI Knowledge for EnterprisesJody Bailey describes Stack Overflow's enterprise solution that maintains a positive feedback environment and identifies subject matter experts. He emphasizes the need for a trusted knowledge layer to manage and distribute proprietary information within organizations.13:43 - Leveraging Core Strengths in the AI EraJody discusses how Stack Overflow is focusing on its core strengths, such as human connection and technical information, to position itself as a vital source for technologists in a world increasingly turning to AI tools for quick answers.19:52 - Trust, Adoption, and the Limits of AI in Development WorkThe conversation covers the importance of trust in Stack Overflow's community and how the platform ensures transparency and reliability, especially when integrating AI into its offerings. Jody highlights the need for a balanced approach to using AI without compromising on human interaction and knowledge.Episode resources:Jody on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodybailey/Stack Overflow: https://stackoverflow.com/Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devCheck our courses: https://productinstitute.com/Timestamps:00:00 Coming Up02:18 From retirement to Stack Overflow06:52 Building trusted AI knowledge for enterprise12:19 Redefining Stack Overflow’s strategy for the AI era19:52 Trust, adoption, and the limits of AI in dev work26:08 Keeping junior roles relevant in an AI future32:22 Internal transparency and advice for ambitious leaders

What product management principles can be applied in an enterprise setting where teams implement a purchased SaaS tool rather than building their own?The podcast discusses the role of product management in organizations that implement purchased software rather than building it. Melissa Perri emphasizes that product managers still need to evaluate whether the tools solve the right problems, customize them for their needs, and ensure they align with business goals. She encourages teams to practice good product management principles, regardless of whether they own the tools, and to communicate the importance of these practices to leadership.Episode resources:Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devGet a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissaCheck all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking

Keith Lucas, author and former product leader at Roblox, joins Melissa Perri to discuss his new book "Impact," which focuses on building high-performing, innovative teams. Keith shares insights from his experience leading teams at Roblox and explores how visionary leadership and mission-driven strategies can inspire and align teams for success. The conversation delves into creative constraints, the balance between vision and mission, and the continuous improvement necessary for effective leadership.Ready to learn how to lead innovative teams and align them with your organization's mission? Tune in to gain valuable insights from Keith's experience and discover practical strategies for building impactful teams.You’ll hear us talk about:05:45 - Visionary Leadership and Team AlignmentKeith explains the importance of visionary leadership and involving teams in strategy formation to inspire and align them with the organization's goals. He discusses how this approach helps in building trust and fostering a shared sense of purpose among team members.15:30 - Creative Constraints and InnovationIn this section, Keith emphasizes the need for creative constraints and maintaining flow states to foster innovation. He shares strategies on how leaders can set boundaries that encourage creativity without stifling the team's potential.27:20 - Decency Over Niceness in LeadershipKeith talks about the distinction between being decent and being nice as a leader. He argues that transparency and honesty are more valuable than mere niceness, especially when it comes to making tough decisions and fostering a culture of trust.Episode resources:Impact book: https://keithvlucas.com/writing/impact/Keith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvlucas/Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devCheck our course: https://productinstitute.com/Timestamps:00:00 Coming Up02:40 Why Keith wrote Impact09:33 Creating focus and the year of growth15:30 OKRs, cadence, and Kanban approach22:58 Mastery and ownership in high-performing teams33:11 Course correction and tough calls35:40 Decency over niceness and creating space for creativity44:56 Intuition, mastery, and first steps for leaders

Join Melissa Perri as she dives into some of the best advice about career growth in product management from an incredible group of industry leaders. Monica Lewis from LinkedIn, Kristin Dorsett from Viator, Dheerja Kaur from Robinhood, Lucie Buisson from Contentsquare, Ben Hafele from the Lean Startup Co., Marco De Freitas and Amber Brestowski from Vanguard, Oliver Seil from Belkin International, David Myszewski from Wealthfront, and Eilon Reshef from Gong share their insights on developing strategic judgment, embracing learning, and leveraging AI for productivity.Discover how focusing on impact over scope, obsessing over problems, and starting small can accelerate your growth in product management. Our guests also discuss the importance of market fit strategy, learning from missteps, and being open to unexpected opportunities.Want to accelerate your product management career with practical advice from industry leaders? Tune in to this episode for actionable insights and strategies to help you grow and succeed.You’ll hear us talk about:07:45 - Embracing Learning on the JobKristin Dorsett talks about not sweating the small stuff and embracing learning on the job, emphasizing that nobody has it all figured out and the value of continuous growth in product management.15:22 - Leveraging AI for ProductivityLucie Buisson explains how using AI can enhance productivity, allowing product managers to focus on strategic thinking and customer engagement by freeing up valuable time.23:10 - Starting Small to Prove ConceptsBen Hafele introduces the "Convinced Do Loop," highlighting the importance of starting small to prove concepts instead of trying to convince everyone at once, thereby enabling more effective product management strategies.Episode resources:Monica Lewis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamlewis/Kristin Dorsett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristindorsett/Dheerja Kaur: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dheerja/Lucie Buisson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucie-buisson/David Myszewski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmyszewski/Amber Brestowski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-brestowski-019b56ab/Marco De Freitas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-de-freitas-80416714/Oliver Seil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-seil/Eilon Reshef: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eilonreshef/Ben Hafele: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hafele/Check our new course: https://productinstitute.com/p/mastering-product-strategy-overviewTimestamps:00:00 Introduction03:03 Monica Lewis: Grow where you are04:28 Kristin Dorsett: Don’t sweat the small stuff07:36 Lucie Buisson: Use AI to reclaim time for strategy11:12 David Myszewski: Lean into what’s working13:30 Amber & Marco: Obsess over problems, be ruthless with priorities18:50 Oliver Seil: Learn with intention21:20 Ben Hafele: Start small and let doing drive buy-in