Episode 256: De-Risking Product Launches Effectively

In this episode, Melissa Perri discusses the common dilemma faced by product managers: whether to prioritize large, high-risk features or focus on delivering smaller, incremental updates. She delves into the considerations that should guide this decision, including the value to users, stakeholder goals, and the need for experimentation and risk management.

Read More
Melissa Perri
Episode 254: Pushing Back on Unsustainable Workloads

Join Melissa Perri in this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast as she tackles the complex issue of managing an overwhelming workload as a product manager. A senior product manager shares their struggle of handling five engineering teams, a task typically assigned to multiple product managers. Melissa offers practical advice on how to communicate with leadership, prioritize effectively, and implement systems to manage scope.

Read More
Melissa Perri
Episode 253: Intelligent Friction in Digital Banking with Tony Brancato

Tony Brancato, Chief Product Officer at Charlie Financial, joins Melissa Perri on the Product Thinking Podcast to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities in developing financial products for older Americans. With a focus on security and user-friendliness, Tony shares how Charlie Financial is reimagining banking for the senior demographic, often overlooked by tech innovations.

Read More
Melissa Perri
Episode 252: Understanding Product vs Project Management

In this episode, Melissa Perri dives into the often-confused realms of product management and project management. Many people conflate these roles, but they serve distinct purposes and bring different values to an organization. Melissa unpacks the unique responsibilities and skills required for each role and discusses how they can effectively complement each other to drive product success.

Read More
Melissa Perri
Episode 251: From CERN to FemTech Innovation with Magda Armbruster

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.

Read More
Melissa Perri
Episode 250: Building Smart: Clarity Over Perfection

In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, Melissa Perri dives into the challenge of managing a backlog of customer requests without losing strategic focus. She shares insights on how to categorize and triage requests effectively and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strategic approach to product management. 

Read More
Melissa Perri
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.

Read More
Melissa Perri
Episode 248: Escaping the Reactive Trap in Product Teams

In this episode, Melissa Perri discusses strategies for managing overwhelming customer requests and how to avoid falling into a reactive cycle. Drawing on her extensive experience in product management, Melissa shares practical advice on transitioning from a reactive approach to a strategic one, emphasizing the importance of product thinking and discovery.

Read More
Melissa Perri
Episode 246: Rethinking the Role of R&D

This episode 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.

Read More
Melissa Perri
Episode 244: Thriving as a Platform Product Manager

This episode 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.

Read More
Melissa Perri
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.

Read More
Melissa Perri
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. The conversation also delves into the distinct capabilities of AI agents compared to generative AI, highlighting their potential for reasoning and task automation.

Read More
Melissa Perri