Episode 246: Rethinking the Role of R&D

Dr. Magda Armbruster, Head of Product at Natural Cycles, joins Melissa Perri to discuss her unique journey from physics to product management, and how she leverages her scientific background to innovate in women's health technology. As the first FDA-cleared birth control app, Natural Cycles offers a non-hormonal alternative for women and is expanding into new areas such as perimenopause. Dr. Armbruster delves into the challenges and opportunities of integrating user feedback, scientific data, and regulatory compliance in product development. Explore how Natural Cycles maintains user trust through data privacy, and discover the role of AI and wearables in personalizing health experiences. Dr. Armbruster shares her insights on fostering collaboration between product and regulatory teams, balancing innovation with compliance, and the importance of transparency and communication in product management.Want to understand how to successfully develop compliant, user-centered health tech products? Tune in to gain insights from Dr. Armbruster's experience in transforming women's health through product innovation.You’ll hear us talk about:10:45 - Integrating Scientific Rigor in Product DevelopmentDr. Armbruster explains how her background in physics informs her approach to product management at Natural Cycles. She discusses the importance of applying scientific methods to product development, ensuring that products are both innovative and evidence-based.22:15 - Ensuring Data Privacy and User ControlThe conversation turns to data privacy, where Dr. Armbruster highlights how Natural Cycles prioritizes user control over their data. She details the features that allow users to manage their data, reflecting the company's commitment to trust and security.35:00 - Balancing Innovation with Regulatory ComplianceDr. Armbruster shares strategies for maintaining a balance between innovation and compliance. She emphasizes the importance of early collaboration with regulatory teams to ensure that new products meet compliance requirements without stifling creativity and user-centric design.Episode resources:Natural Cycles: https://www.naturalcycles.com/Magda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/magda-armbruster-326692a/Check our courses: https://productinstitute.com/Timestamps:00:00 From CERN to FemTech06:18 Scientific Thinking in Product Leadership14:03 Education and transparency20:52 Science-Backed Collaboration Across Teams26:54 Regulation as a Framework for Innovation31:46 Future of FemTech and Advice for Product Leaders

What framework or experience do product managers rely on to determine when a feature is ready for delivery?Product managers should balance clarity and collaboration with developers when determining if a feature is ready for delivery. Key considerations include validating the feature's worth, assessing risk levels, and ensuring specifications provide enough context for developers to start coding without needing every detail defined. Iteration and communication are essential for successful product development, allowing teams to adapt and refine features as they progress.Episode resources:Get 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, Melissa Perri welcomes Nesrine Changuel, a seasoned product coach, trainer, and author, known for her work at Google, Spotify, and Microsoft. Nesrine shares her journey and insights into creating products that users truly love by focusing on emotional connections and the concept of "Product Delight” - the name of her recently launched book.She discusses how understanding both functional and emotional user motivators is crucial in designing tech products that stand out and are memorable. Throughout the conversation, Nesrine explores the challenges and strategies for implementing emotional elements into product design, emphasizing the importance of balancing functional needs with the emotional experiences of users. She shares examples of how tech giants approach product delight and the significance of inclusivity in product design.Want to learn how to create tech products that are not just functional but also delight users on an emotional level? Tune in to this enlightening conversation with Nesrine Changuel.You’ll hear us talk about:06:39 - The Pillars of Product DelightNesrine explains the three pillars of product delight: removing friction, anticipating needs, and exceeding expectations. She shares how they apply to products like the Revolut app, which continuously surprises users with new, useful features.13:40 - Tackling Zoom FatigueNesrine discusses how Google Meet tackled user boredom and low interaction during COVID-19 by introducing features like background blur and emoji reactions to enhance privacy and engagement, helping alleviate "Zoom fatigue."36:46 - AI and Emotional ConnectionsNesrine expresses her concerns about AI's current inability to address emotional needs in products, emphasizing the importance of maintaining emotional connections in the increasingly functional world driven by AI advancements.Episode resources:Product Delight on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9sLws71Book landing page: www.productdelightbook.comDelight Tips (Substack): https://nesrinechanguel.substack.com/My website: www.nesrine-changuel.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nesrinechanguel/Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devCheck our courses: https://productinstitute.com/Timestamps:00:00 Nesrine Career Journey11:16 Emotional Motivators17:22 Measuring Delight: Happiness and Impact22:17 Deep vs. Surface Delight28:19 Inclusivity, Missteps, and the Excellence Checklist36:23 AI, Emotion, and the Risk of Sameness40:47 Advice and Final Thoughts

How can a product manager handle a backlog of unanswered customer support tickets and enhancement requests while transitioning to a more strategic approach?Addressing a backlog of customer requests requires strategic thinking rather than reactive responses. To manage this, categorize requests into buckets, establish communication rhythms for backlog reviews, and reset stakeholder expectations. Focus on quick wins to build credibility, engage with stakeholders collaboratively, and protect time for strategic discovery. Ultimately, create a framework for product strategy to prioritize feature enhancements effectively while involving customer support in the triaging process.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, Melissa Perri is joined by John Cutler to explore the often overlooked yet crucial role of product operations in driving organizational success. They dive into the balancing act between having the right people and the right processes, emphasizing how both are essential in managing complexity and fostering innovation.The conversation takes a deep dive into strategic planning, discussing flexible frameworks and the balance between simplification and nuance. They also touch upon the potential impact of AI in product operations, addressing the opportunities and challenges it presents for product managers.Curious about how to enhance your product management approach through strategic product operations? Listen to the full episode!You’ll hear us talk about:14:10 - The Balance Between People and ProcessesJohn Cutler explains the false dichotomy between having great people and needing processes in product management. He emphasizes the importance of both elements to effectively navigate uncertainty and complexity in product development.28:05 - Simplification vs. Nuance in Product OperationsThe discussion revolves around how to balance simplifying models for broader understanding while retaining the necessary nuance to capture the complexity of operations. John Cutler shares his perspective on maintaining this delicate balance.35:20 - Leveraging AI in Product OperationsMelissa Perri and John Cutler discuss the potential for AI tools to streamline processes in product operations, reducing the need for large teams and enhancing productivity. They also address some of the skepticism around the necessity of these roles.Episode resources:John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpcutler/TBM Newsletter: https://cutlefish.substack.com/Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devCheck our courses: https://productinstitute.com/

How can a company successfully integrate an R&D department that primarily works with academia within a product management model that emphasizes engineering, design, and business?The discussion emphasizes the role of R&D in product management, questioning its necessity when engineering teams are empowered. R&D can serve as content or market experts but may become disconnected from customer value if not integrated properly. It's important to align R&D efforts with customer needs and business value, especially considering the size of the company and available resources.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

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