AGL 443: Product Driven with Matt Watson

About Steven Steven Werley is a father, husband, brother, son, former Army Ranger, marketer, and entrepreneur on a quest for purpose, hope, and growth. There is no singular theme to his work. Some pieces are geared toward business owners and marketing executives, while others speak to individuals like him who are still discovering their path in life. For Werley, writing serves as a form of therapy. He pursues it not for celebrity status, a book deal, or any ulterior motive, but simply as an outlet for his thoughts. If those thoughts happen to help others along the way, he views it as a welcome side effect. Werley has long considered the sharing of knowledge a rather primitive aspect of humanity. Wisdom and experience circulate widely, yet society often fails to prepare its children for life's challenges—not from a lack of collective experience, but from an inability to prioritize the lessons imparted by parents, teachers, business leaders, scientists, doctors, and even politicians. He champions transparency above all. Those seeking hidden tricks to amass overnight millions, become beloved leaders, master parenting, or unlock the meaning of life may depart feeling unfulfilled. At the time of this writing, Werley is no world-renowned expert in any field, including parenting or business. As he has noted from the outset, growth remains one of his core goals. He aims to foster it by documenting his knowledge, goals, and learnings. If there is a single force to propel progress, it is the commitment to learn something new each day and to infuse love into every interaction. Among the most enduring lessons is that simple acts of kindness can unleash tidal-wave chains of events, rippling through the lives of countless others. Today We Talked About Military background Entrepreneurship Sales AI's help with Sales Feedback loops "This is The Play" Stoacism Connect with Steven Website LinkedIn Podcast Closable AI Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Matt Matt Watson learned the power of product-driven development the hard way. In 2003, at just 22 years old, he founded VinSolutions with exceptional technical talent but little product focus. The team built flawless features—yet few customers wanted to use them. Everything changed when the company shifted its mindset from “coders” to true product owners. By transforming its development culture, VinSolutions cut cycle times in half, dramatically increased feature adoption, and scaled to $35M in recurring revenue before being acquired by AutoTrader for $150M in 2011. He carried those lessons to Stackify, where a product-first culture was embedded from the very beginning. Developers weren’t just writing code—they were innovating by deeply understanding user problems. That approach fueled another success story, leading to Stackify’s acquisition by Netreo in 2021. Today, as founder of Full Scale, Matt helps other technical leaders make the same transformation. With a team of more than 300 developers serving 60+ clients worldwide, Full Scale demonstrates that a product-first approach works across time zones and geographies. This isn’t theory—it’s battle-tested experience from building and scaling multiple successful software companies. Today We Talked About Background Coding Product Driven Empathy Purpose Leadership Field Trips Feedback loops Product Managers could become the bottle neck Getting engineering involved in product Learn to say NO What if we "don't do it" One way Door, or Two way Door Decisions Don't stress about 2 way door decisions How you communicate every day Courage Thank and reward people for sharing Delegate  Hire people you trust learn to let go don't be the bottle neck Create Personal Relationships to build Trust Know the Why? Connect with Matt LinkedIn Website Book Full Scale Podcast Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Emily Emily Chase Coleman is a visionary in higher education analytics, reshaping how institutions use data to drive strategy. As the Co-founder of HAI Analytics Inc., she helps colleges and universities make informed, data-backed decisions about enrollment, financial aid, and student success. With over 20 years in higher education leadership and a PhD in Social Psychology and Statistics from Cornell, Emily is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between data science and institutional strategy. At HAI Analytics, Emily is leading the charge in making predictive modeling and data visualization tools more accessible to university decision-makers. Her team has developed an innovative software-with-service platform, empowering institutions to use analytics for long-term sustainability without relying on full-time consultants. Emily is also a strong advocate for education reform, challenging outdated models in admissions and financial aid. She critiques the high-price, high-discount tuition system for exacerbating socioeconomic disparities and pushes for test-optional admissions to promote equity in college access. Beyond higher education, Emily champions women in leadership and tech, sharing insights from her journey as a female founder in edtech and data analytics. She is passionate about increasing representation in STEM and creating pathways for women entrepreneurs. Today We Talked About Background Higher Education Analytics and Data Visualization for data modeling Interactive Dashboards Understanding the Data Connect With Emily LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again!

About Magdalene Magdalene Amegashitsi is an accomplished digital and data leader, currently serving as Senior Manager in Digital Advisory at Avanade, where she brings over 12 years of experience in helping organisations unlock value from data through AI, data strategy, governance and digital innovation. Throughout her career, Magdalene has held a variety of roles spanning Data & AI advisory, data science, team leadership and digital ethics. Her hands-on approach and strategic vision enable mission-driven organisations to transform through intelligent solutions that tie business, data and technology together. A passionate advocate for inclusion, leadership and empowerment, she founded the Women’s Employee Network (WEN) for the UK & Ireland at Avanade in 2019. Under her leadership the community grew to 150+ active members, fostering growth, connection and professional development for women in technology and leadership.  In 2023, she took on the role of Co-Chair for the WEN for the Europe Chapter (covering 16 countries), broadening her impact across the region. Magdalene’s dedication to driving change has also been recognised across the tech industry. Notably, she was selected as one of six Role Models and Ambassadors for the Tech Talent Charter “Doing It Anyway” campaign and in 2022 received the TechWomen100 Award by WeAreTheCity. Outside of her corporate role, Magdalene invests in mentorship, hosts webinars, and partners with charities to support girls from under-privileged backgrounds in entering STEM and tech fields. Her personal mission: do what matters — creating impact, developing people, and building inclusive futures. Today We Talked About Magdalene's background AI Anaiya AI Governance AI Strategy Roadmap Value Data and Analytics Time Saved Change Adobption Journey AI Ready Culture High Engagement Have Champions in each department/area AI Transformation Engagement Technical Mastery Transformational Leadership Organizational Navigation Connect with Magdalene LinkedIn Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Erin Erin Herman empowers leaders to turn change into a superpower. With 20+ years advising Fortune 500 teams and global institutions, she's led partnerships worth over $300M and helped launch award-winning platforms like the Learning Passport, now in 40+ countries. A former executive at St. Jude and UNICEF, Erin speaks globally on leadership, impact, and innovation. She lives in Kansas City with her husband, daughter, and son. Today We Talked About Erin's background Change Management Positive Failure Culture Leadership is not about org charts... its about showing up in the moments that matter most What is your value system? Self-confidence ANTS Power of Assumptions Mirror Meetings The CEG Method - Courage, Empathy, Growth Mindset Empathy is a "Power Skill" Empathy is more than just caring, its doing something Healthy Arrogance Connect with Erin LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Jimi Jimi Gibson's been in the game for over 25 years, helping businesses figure out what to say and how to say it so people actually listen—and take action. He's the VP of Brand Communication at Thrive Agency, a TEDx speaker, and a Forbes Agency Council member. Before all that, he was a professional magician, which makes a weird amount of sense once you hear how he thinks about messaging. He created something called The Magic Script™, a framework that helps brands connect with people in a real, human way. He's one of those rare folks who can make marketing feel less like noise—and more like a conversation worth having. Today We Talked About Jimi's background Magic Zero Click World Thank a Thriver Thursday Culture Honor Chair Core Values Be part of Creating the Culture Magic to Marketing Magic Brain Chemicals 5 Fingers - Authentic Connection pinky promise ring finger relationship (passion) middle finger - save from the villian pointing finger - point to your avatar thumbs up   Connect With Jimi LinkedIn Website Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About John John Rossman is a business strategist, operator, and expert on digital transformation, leadership, and business reinvention. He has consulted with many great brands including Novartis, Fidelity Investments, Microsoft, Walmart, and Nordstrom. He served as senior innovation advisor at T-Mobile and senior technology advisor to the Gates Foundation. He is an operator and builder whose love is diving into business problems and customer needs designing solutions and business opportunities. Today We Talked About Background Outcomes Michelangelo Quote - "The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark." Create Clarity Maintain Velocity Accelerate Risk and Value Define the Future State AI affecting Digital Transformation Test plans Active Skeptic Communication Craft a story, Repeat Connect With John LinkedIn Website Twitter Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Noam Noam Krasniansky is a serial entrepreneur and innovator with a diverse background in product development, sales, and technology. He is widely recognized for his appearance on the television show "Shark Tank," where he and his wife, Irene, secured a deal for their company, Bambooee. Krasniansky's entrepreneurial spirit began early in life, with ventures ranging from selling orange juice in Costa Rica to hawking products on TV shopping channels. His passion for building companies from a simple idea led him to co-found Bambooee with his wife. Bambooee is an eco-friendly brand of reusable bamboo paper towels, and their success on "Shark Tank" propelled the company to significant sales and national recognition. However, this success also brought a new challenge: widespread counterfeiting and imitation of their product. The experience with Bambooee's intellectual property being compromised led Krasniansky to a new and innovative solution. He realized that traditional patents and legal protections were often insufficient in the face of a global counterfeit market. This challenge became the catalyst for his next venture, Komposite Blockchain. As the founder of Komposite, Krasniansky has focused on using blockchain technology to create a cutting-edge platform for brand protection. Komposite's solution aims to safeguard products from counterfeiting and imitation by linking physical goods to unique digital fingerprints and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This system provides a decentralized and verifiable way to prove a product's authenticity, giving brands and consumers peace of mind. Krasniansky's journey from a traditional product entrepreneur to a Web3 innovator highlights his ability to adapt and find solutions to complex problems. He is a frequent speaker and podcast guest on topics related to entrepreneurship, blockchain, and the future of brand protection in a digital economy. Today We Talked About Background Blockchain Shark Tank Copycats Patents, Trademarks, oh my Ooonimals Connect with Noam Komposite LinkedIn   Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Dane Dane Espegard, a division manager at Vector Marketing, has nearly two decades of experience training and managing thousands of young professionals in networking, interpersonal communication, and leadership skills. His mentorship has helped individuals realize their personal and professional goals, and he is now revolutionizing corporate cultures with his innovative "dreams program." Dane resides outside Minneapolis with his wife, Brookelynn, and their two daughters, Elin and Izzi. Today We Talked About Dane's background Cutco Cutlery Dreams Purpose Culture Be the Change you wish to see Dreams workshop Being proactive and not reactive Live life by design People over process Positivity Leaders need to Live it Authenticity Connect with Dane LinkedIn Website The Dreams Vault Book Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership

About Garrett Garrett has a 25-year track record of building innovative products and leading successful marketing campaigns. At Apple, he led product management teams and drove strategic partnerships with major tech companies like Adobe, Microsoft, and VMware. Before Callings.ai, he was Global Head of Products & Alliances at Maxon Computer, where he played a key role in expanding the company’s global reach. His ability to craft compelling products and bring teams together around a vision has been instrumental in shaping Callings.ai’s mission Today We Talked About Time at Apple Product Management Job Market Changes Modern Job Hunt is workflow Use AI to help applying to jobs My Insights Networking Coaching https://callings.ai/geek/   Connect with Garrett Website LinkedIn Leave me a tip $ Click here to Donate to the show I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word.  Thanks again! #1 in Technical Leadership