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“When you truly grasp the impact of your words, actions, and behavior, that awareness fundamentally transforms your approach to everything.”– Dr. Jonathan Baktari, Healthcare CEO, Entrepreneur, Speaker In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chats series, host Rebecca Kalogeris engages in an insightful discussion with Dr. Jonathan Baktari, a seasoned physician, entrepreneur, and leader with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Baktari owns and operates several businesses, including multiple health clinics and a software service used in over 20,000 locations. As a business leader, he relies on technology, data, and his trusted team to reach more people than ever before. He shares his extensive knowledge and unique perspective on the intersection of leadership, technology, and employee development. Join us for an engaging conversation that blends healthcare, technology, and leadership, offering practical advice for product managers, marketers, and leaders looking to elevate their teams and organizations. Key Take

“If you’re potential customers aren’t aware that they have a problem and you have a solution, your sales cycle is so much longer and so much more painful." Amanda Northcutt, CEO of Level Up Creators Join us for an insightful conversation with Amanda Northcutt, CEO of Level Up Creators, as she dives deep into the world of recurring revenue and subscription-based businesses. Amanda shares her expert knowledge on optimizing customer journeys, reducing churn rates, and leveraging revenue opportunities to ensure sustained business growth.   Key Takeaways: Understand and Optimize the Customer Journey: Amanda emphasizes the importance of mapping out and understanding the entire customer journey to enhance retention and improve the overall experience. Data-Driven Decision Making: Tracking customer behavior and using qualitative and quantitative data to inform decisions is crucial for refining products and services. Consistent Value Addition: Continuously providing value through new features, unique content, and impr

“There are certain things that product managers sometimes unintentionally do, or things they don't realize they do, that have really negative cascading impacts for engineers." Dan Corbin, Product Management Leader and Instructor at Pragmatic Institute In this episode, we dive deep into the dynamics between product managers and engineering teams with Dan Corbin, an experienced product management professional and instructor at Pragmatic Institute.   Dan shares his recent findings on the behaviors and practices that can either foster collaboration or create friction between these crucial roles.   With extensive experience leading product teams across various industries, Dan provides invaluable insights into building a harmonious and productive team environment.   Key Takeaways: Misconceptions About Engineer Satisfaction: Simple gestures like bringing donuts aren’t enough; effective collaboration requires more nuanced approaches. Common PM Pitfalls: PMs often make unintentional mistakes, such as failing to valid

“Consumers are our most valuable treasure trove of information, along with online reviews and some other data sets.” -Tim Trapp, Director of Quality Engineering at Mattel, Inc. In this episode, Tim shares all about product quality, specifically what can be learned from Mattel regarding the implementation of key product quality measures. Discussion topics include understanding customer feedback, the balance between cost, schedule, and quality, and the importance of monitoring both customer feedback and competitor performance. Don't miss your chance to gain insights from one of the most recognized names in the industry. Key Takeaways: 1. User Testing for Competitive Advantage: Testing products with real users to identify potential issues and improve design is a significant strategy at Mattel. This includes formative testing, which is done early and often to shape the design of products. 2. Active Post Market Surveillance: Once the products are in the market, the quality team looks at post-market surveillanc

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 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA  Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/  Start your Product Manager or Product Marketer certification here “It's all about setting up the right expectations with the company or the early user. So, it's not just giving it to them. It’s about being clear about what you expect in return early in the process.” -      Neil Baron, B2B Product Management Consultant, Founder of Baron Strategic Partners Join us for a critical discussion with Neil Baron and Rod Griffith, following their recent article in the Harvard Business Review (read it here) on extracting the full value of early user programs. This episode unpacks the nuances of designing early user programs that go beyond mere functionality checks to validate problem-solving, target accuracy, and accelerate market readiness. The conversation delves into the importance of having a dedicated program owner (not a dictator) and the necessity of involving cross-functional teams to

“There are so many factors that really affect conversion that start before a customer even begins to think about purchasing from a brand. Every element of a brand's website tells the consumer something about what you do and impacts if the consumer buys from you.” Jon MacDonald, founder of The Good and author of Behind the Click In this episode of Product Chats, Jon MacDonald, founder of The Good and author of "Behind the Click," shares invaluable insights into the intersection of psychological principles and digital optimization.   With a rich history of improving online brand experiences for giants like Adobe and Nike, MacDonald emphasizes the significance of understanding user psychology in design and product development. He argues for the removal of negative experiences from the internet (which keeps him busy), advocating for a holistic approach to customer experience that begins well before purchase.   Through a mix of qualitative research and quantitative data analysis, including heat maps and eye track

“Community-driven product development is not just about getting feedback, but about integrating community members and customers into the product development cycle itself.” Jake McKee, Community Driven Product Management Leader In this episode of Product Chats, we welcome Jake McKee, pioneer in community-driven product innovation. Jake delves into the transformative approach of weaving community insights into the product development fabric, aiming for products that resonate deeply with users.He outlines a strategy for seamlessly integrating community members into the development journey. At the heart of this integration is transparency around objectives, coupled with the strategic selection of community contributors based on their expertise and engagement levels. Timing, Jake emphasizes, is crucial in bringing these voices into the fold.   Jake's guidance for companies includes a careful examination of their product development cycles to identify opportunities for community inclusion. He champions the shift t

“If product managers are supposed to put a product on the shelf, product marketing is supposed to take it off the shelf.” Anubhav Rao, Product Marketing at AWS In this episode of Product Chats, we are joined by Anubhav Rao, Product Marketer at Amazon Web Services (AWS) for a discussion on the implications of AI in product marketing. Anubhav highlights how AI can lower the technical barrier for building products, leading to a cluttered market with numerous solutions. Differentiation and reaching the right audience become crucial for success.   Anubhav believes product marketing will play a key role in helping companies differentiate themselves in a crowded market. Product marketers can use AI to automate operational tasks related to customer insights, feedback collection, go-to-market strategies, and personalization at scale in closed communities.   The conversation explores transparency and authenticity when using AI tools, stressing the importance of maintaining a human touch despite leveraging automation.

"Just start! People are going to hate your product at the start, but you will learn, and you will get better. Failure is a way of learning." - Sean Gigremosa, Product Leader and CEO of Claritiv In this episode of Product Chats, we are joined by Sean Gigremosa, a product leader, agile expert, innovation enthusiast, self-described product management ninja and CEO and founder of Claritiv. The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities in product management, the importance of understanding customer needs, and the role of AI in extracting valuable insights from conversations. Key Takeaways: Talking Points: The conversation emphasizes the crucial role that dialogue plays in acquiring knowledge and generating insights. Sean underscores that 70% of knowledge is learned through conversation. However, notes from a conversation are like a game of telephone where each summary incorporates layers of potential bias. This is an issue because the actual problem could get lost. That’s why he started Claritiv

"Product operations is all about removing obstacles and helping product people accomplish everything that we teach in our product management classes – being data-driven, making sure that you're letting the market guide your decisions, and that you're following best practices." -      Dan Corbin, Proven Agile and Product Management leader In this episode of Product Chats, we have seasoned product professional Dan Corbin joining the podcast. Dan has worked at all levels of product management, from individual product management to product leadership roles in start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. His past roles allow him to provide first-hand knowledge about the implementation and benefits of product operations, as well as the challenges businesses might face when introducing this function. Dan is passionate about mentoring the next generation of product leaders, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in an ever-changing market landscape. His dedication to excellence and innovation ma

“Are we better than the competition, equal to the competition, or not as good as the competition? Do we know? Sales teams can help us answer these questions.” Steve Gielda, President and co-founder of Ignite Selling In this episode of Product Chats, we are joined by Steve Gielda, President and co-founder of Ignite Selling, a global sales training, simulation and consulting organization dedicated to helping customers build world class sales teams.   Steve opens the discussion by addressing the inherent tension between product marketing and sales groups, emphasizing their critical interdependence despite contrasting personalities. He highlights a staggering insight: the vast majority of new products fail to meet their first-year revenue targets, often due to misguided assumptions (detailed in the Whitepaper “5 Assumptions that Cause New Products to Fail”).   Steve identifies three common assumptions that lead to these failures: sales teams knowing which accounts to target, identifying the correct contacts with

“If you’re a product manager or product marketer, and you hear your leaders say ‘I want some real innovation this year. I want to see some new thinking.’ We hear that a lot, and they mean it. We all mean it. But what do you do about it? And that's where having an innovation framework comes in." Diane Pierson, author of How to Innovate on Purpose  In this episode of Product Chats, we are joined by marketing strategist Diane Pierson. Diane views innovation as a complex but critical aspect of an organization's strategy. She believes that understanding and defining innovation is crucial, as it often means different things to different people.   According to Diane, innovation begins with the market and market needs. She emphasizes that innovation must be something that the market is willing to pay for and something they can understand and adopt. However, the definition of innovation will depend on your organization's leadership and their specific vision or goals.   In this discussion, Diane outlines four phases o

 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA  Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/  Start your Product Manager certification here "Often your merchants and your partners are trying to solve the same problem, they just might have a different idea on how to get there." – Tiffany Wear Johnson, Chief Product Officer at NMI In this episode of Product Chats, Tiffany Wear Johnson, the Chief Product Officer of NMI and American Banker's Most Influential Women in Payments (2022), joins us to discuss the complexities of product management in a B2B2C environment, the importance of focusing on problems rather than features, and the strategies used to manage competing priorities among different buyer personas. Key Takeaways: Takeaway 1: Transitioning from a reactive feature list roadmap to an outcome-based roadmap can help manage contention between different stakeholders by focusing on shared objectives. Takeaway 2: Organizing product teams around 'value streams' rather than per

 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA  Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/  Start your Product Manager certification here   "The best CX is often when you can meet your customers exactly where they are. For example, if your customer persona is busy and unable to engage with email easily, offering phone support likely brings happier customers and retention." – Erin Knobler, Customer Experience (CX) Guru   In this episode of Product Chats, Erin Knobler, CX researcher and designer, joins us to discuss the importance of customer experience (CX), the methods for gathering data and insights about CX, and the role CX plays in achieving business goals.   Key Takeaways: Takeaway 1: Understanding the customer journey, which involves mapping out each touchpoint a customer has with a business, is crucial to identifying areas where customers may be experiencing difficulties. Takeaway 2: Research and data, from customer-facing employees, reviews, customer support interact

 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA  Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/  Start your Product Manager certification here "Disruptive innovation is when a company gets into a new category for them and attempts to engage customers on a different level or via a different set of products." – Will Scott, Product Expert In this episode of Product Chats, Rebecca Kalogeris and Will Scott discuss how businesses can approach and structure their thinking around innovation. They focus on the importance of understanding what problems a business is trying to solve, the outcomes they wish to achieve, and how they plan to grow. Key Takeaways: Takeaway 1: Innovation isn't just about creating something new; it's about understanding the problems your business is trying to solve and the outcomes you want to achieve. Takeaway 2: You can view innovation through different lenses - such as customer needs, market maturity, and your business's growth strategies - to determine the r

 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA  Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/  Start your Product Manager certification here “We can try to take a hypothesis-based mindset to the product that we're trying to build or the ideas that we have or the strategy that we have, and use things like user research or design prototyping to put it into play.” – David Lifson In this episode of Product Chats, product management veteran David Lifson joins us to discuss the nuances of product strategy, the challenges of merging with a competitor, and the importance of a hypothesis-based mindset in product development. Key Takeaways: Takeaway 1: David highlights the importance of focusing on outcomes over outputs in product management, emphasizing the need to align strategy and execution. Takeaway 2: David shares insights from his experiences at companies of varying sizes and stages, from startups to large firms, including the unique challenges faced by a company that loses pro

“My hope is that for product leaders and product managers is that in five years time you look back and you say, ‘tools like this have allowed me to free up my time so that I can do more high value work.’” - Paul Young   How will ChatGPT impact product professionals?   Since the growing popularity of powerful AI tools is dominating the tech news, we’re sitting down for a round table with Pragmatic instructors to discuss this question.   Paul Young, Cindy Cruzado, Amy Graham, Terry Sadowski, and Will Scott explain the basics of ChatGPT and what this tool (and tools like it) could mean for product teams.   During this episode, they discuss The limitations of ChatGPT in its current version How ChatGPT can help product managers in their role Whether or not they are hopeful for new AI tools like ChatGPT Want to learn more from these Pragmatic Instructors? Enroll in Foundations where you’ll learn how to master the Pragmatic Framework and build products the market wants to buy.   Enroll in Foundations   If you’ve al

 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJI2Tv2yxOLBI02nyJoprA  Learn more about us: https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/  Start your Product Marketer certification here "Journalists are story builders, and you have to always be aware that what you're releasing has to fit the narrative of the story." – Mickie Kennedy In this episode of Product Chats, Mickie Kennedy joins us to discuss how to craft compelling press releases by understanding the needs of journalists, focusing on storytelling, and considering newsworthy elements. He emphasizes the importance of including standout quotes, presenting data and numbers effectively, and using the human-interest angle. Key Takeaways: ·     Product marketers and managers should focus on the narrative they're presenting with their press release, ensuring it aligns with the journalist's audience's interests. ·     Including elements such as case studies, testimonials, and relevant data in press releases can make them more appealing and informative. ·     Sharing m

"Marketing is starting a conversation with someone that could be a great client." - Tom Schwab, Chief Evangelist Officer at Interview Valet Tom Schwab is a trailblazer in the world of online marketing. With his extensive experience working with over 700 leading brands, Tom brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insight to the table. His role as a Chief Evangelist Officer at Interview Valet allows him to share his expertise and help businesses transform their product strategies. In this episode, Tom Schwab and Rebecca Kalogeris delve into the power of podcast interviews as a platform for marketing. Tom shares invaluable insights on how to identify the right conversations to engage with one's audience, the importance of bringing value during podcast interviews, and the strategies for maximizing the impact of the interview afterwards. Key Points: 1. The Power of Conversation: Tom emphasizes that marketing is about starting a conversation with potential clients and this can be achieved effectively through po