Product Talk

How can product leaders navigate remote communication challenges? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Workleap Director of Product Barbara Bermes, Upwork Director of Engineering Sebastiano Armeli speaks on managing remote teams and effective async communication. He discusses strategies for using Slack productively, setting clear expectations for response times, and fostering a healthy remote work culture. Sebastiano emphasizes the importance of empathy, clarity, and leading by example in digital communications. He also touches on detecting high performers in remote settings, the future of remote work, and what makes a great product manager. The conversation provides practical tips for leaders navigating the challenges of distributed teams and remote collaboration.

How does democratizing EV charging access facilitate the decarbonization of the mobility sector? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing Voltpost CEO and Founder Jeff Prosserman to discuss decarbonizing mobility by enabling EV charging through lamp posts, leveraging everyone's unique skillset to contribute to sustainable product development, as well as keeping impact and diversity top of mind during the process.

What do product leaders need to consider when leading product strategy at SMBs? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, BILL CPO Irana Wasti shares her expertise on leading product strategy for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). She discusses the importance of customer-centric innovation, adapting to rapidly changing business environments, and integrating AI into product experiences. Irana emphasizes the need for experimentation in product development and explains how her immigrant background has shaped her adaptable leadership style. She also explores the challenges of serving diverse SMB needs at scale and offers valuable insights on leveraging AI to enhance both internal operations and customer-facing solutions.

How can product leaders master remote communication and team collaboration? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Workleap Director of Product Barbara Bermes, Spotify Senior Product Lead Srividhya Chandrasekaran shares valuable strategies for effective remote communication and team collaboration. She discusses Spotify's innovative approach to asynchronous work, including the use of Slack, team manuals, and collaborative tools. Srividhya offers practical tips for managing communication overload, fostering team cohesion, and maintaining productivity in a distributed work environment. She also explores the future of remote work and shares her favorite resources for continued learning in product management.

How can healthcare leaders make a difference with innovative models for food security and health equity? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, U.S. Hunger President & CEO Rick Whitted shares his journey from corporate banking to healthcare leadership. He discusses U.S. Hunger's innovative approaches to addressing food insecurity and social determinants of health, including their community activation events and full cart program. Rick emphasizes the importance of understanding lived experiences, leveraging technology and data, and creating connected ecosystems in healthcare. He offers valuable perspectives on the future of healthcare, the role of community-based organizations, and advice for aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs.

How is AI reshaping product management for one of the most iconic brands in the world? Join us for the latest episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, where CONA Services CPO Petra Romano shares her experiences leading product development for Coca-Cola bottlers. She discusses the evolution of the CPO role, emphasizing the importance of innovation, AI integration, and customer-centricity. Petra highlights her team's approach to prioritization, stakeholder management, and delivering impactful products. She also offers valuable insights on time management, learning from challenges, and the future of AI in product management.

What do product leaders need to consider when hiring in a changing tech landscape? In this episode hosted by Nacho Andrade, Launchpad Recruiting Labs Founder John LaMarche shares his expertise on building high-impact product teams in today's evolving tech industry. He discusses current hiring trends, the impact of AI on product roles, and strategies for job seekers to stand out in a competitive market. John offers valuable insights on networking, personal branding, and the shift towards fractional work, providing actionable advice for both recruiters and job candidates in the product management field.

How can product leaders leverage AI to scale product businesses? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik, PEAK6 Head of AI Yuying Chen-Wynn speaks on her experience scaling product businesses globally and leveraging AI. Yuying shares lessons from building products internationally at Microsoft, in China, and for the education sector. She emphasizes the importance of timing when bringing products to market and adapting quickly when market conditions change. Yuying also discusses how she used AI to rapidly automate content creation and scale an education business in China. Tune in for insights on international product development, leadership mindsets, and Yuying's vision for how generative AI will transform business models.

How can data be used to build trust with customers? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Varo Bank CPO Wook Chung discusses how the company is using data and behavioral insights to build trust with customers and provide innovative lending solutions. As a digital-first bank aiming to serve the underbanked, Varo is developing new ways to underwrite customers based on their behaviors and transactions over time. Chung shares how they are visualizing the trust relationship and using data to offer near-instant access to credit when customers need it. This interview explores Varo's mission to create a financial operating system that combines traditional banking services in a seamless digital experience, while ensuring regulatory compliance.