Product Thinking

Melissa Perri

Successful product management isn’t just about training the product managers who work side by side with developers everyday to build better products. It’s about taking a step back, approaching the systems within organizations as a whole, and leveling up product leadership to improve these systems. This is the Product Thinking Podcast, where Melissa Perri will connect with industry leading experts in the product management space, AND answer your most pressing questions about everything product. Join us each week to level up your skillset and invest in yourself as a product leader.

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32 episodes
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#250
Oct 3, 2025 · 12 min
Episode 250: Building Smart: Clarity Over Perfection
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/melissa Check all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking
#249
Oct 1, 2025 · 43 min
Episode 249: Moving Beyond Function in Product Management with Nesrine Changuel
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 Delight Nesrine 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 Fatigue Nesrine 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 Connections Nesrine 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/9sLws71 Book landing page: www.productdelightbook.com Delight Tips (Substack): https://nesrinechanguel.substack.com/ My website: www.nesrine-changuel.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nesrinechanguel/ Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/dev Check our courses: https://productinstitute.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Nesrine Career Journey 11:16 Emotional Motivators 17:22 Measuring Delight: Happiness and Impact 22:17 Deep vs. Surface Delight 28:19 Inclusivity, Missteps, and the Excellence Checklist 36:23 AI, Emotion, and the Risk of Sameness 40:47 Advice and Final Thoughts
#248
Sep 26, 2025 · 13 min
Episode 248: Escaping the Reactive Trap in Product Teams
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
#247
Sep 24, 2025 · 54 min
Episode 247: Freeing Teams from Operational Overload with John Cutler
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 Processes John 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 Operations The 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 Operations Melissa 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/dev Check our courses: https://productinstitute.com/
#246
Sep 19, 2025 · 7 min
Episode 246: Rethinking the Role of R&D
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/dev Get a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissa Check all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking
#245
Sep 17, 2025 · 37 min
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 Engineers Matt 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 Communication In 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 Roles Matt 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/dev Check our courses: https://productinstitute.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Matt's career journey 08:07 Giving engineers context and autonomy 15:51 Building psychological safety for courage 21:26 Creating ownership through one-on-ones 26:31 Redefining roles in the age of AI 30:16 Shifting from order takers to product owners
#244
Sep 12, 2025 · 9 min
Episode 244: Thriving as a Platform Product Manager
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/dev Get a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissa Check all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking This episode was originally aired on December 15th 2023.
#243
Sep 10, 2025 · 33 min
Episode 243: Embracing Visual Collaboration in the Age of AI with Elaina O’Mahoney
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 Making Elaina 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 Teams Elaina 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 Operations Elaina 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/dev Check our courses: https://productinstitute.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Entering Mural and navigating product leadership 10:57 Enabling product creativity and outcome-driven teams 16:26 Building strong partnerships with sales and GTM teams 24:29 Balancing AI innovation with enterprise needs 30:34 Future of product leadership and final reflections
#242
Sep 5, 2025 · 10 min
Episode 242: Why Context Switching Slows You Down
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/dev Get a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissa Check all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking
#241
Sep 3, 2025 · 37 min
Episode 241: Mastering AI Strategy in Enterprise Teams with Maryam Ashoori
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 AI Maryam 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 Era The 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 Enterprises Maryam 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-governance Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/dev Check our courses: https://productinstitute.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:43 Maryam's career journey 05:07 AI agents and their role in business 07:45 Capabilities and limitations of AI agents 16:07 Guardrails and practical use of AI in teams 24:21 Creativity, UI standardization, and product strategy 28:10 Enterprise AI adoption and building future-ready strategy 34:38 Emerging trends and opportunities for product leaders
#240
Aug 29, 2025 · 13 min
Episode 240: Mastering Product Craft as a New VP
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/dev Get a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissa Check all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking
#239
Aug 27, 2025 · 38 min
Episode 239: Navigating the AI Shift at Stack Overflow with Jody Bailey
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 Enterprises Jody 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 Era Jody 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 Work The 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/dev Check our courses: https://productinstitute.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Coming Up 02:18 From retirement to Stack Overflow 06:52 Building trusted AI knowledge for enterprise 12:19 Redefining Stack Overflow’s strategy for the AI era 19:52 Trust, adoption, and the limits of AI in dev work 26:08 Keeping junior roles relevant in an AI future 32:22 Internal transparency and advice for ambitious leaders

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