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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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  • 27 episodes
  • Avg 23 min
  • English

Episodes 27

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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.

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