Products That Count Podcast

How can active listening help product leaders be more effective at building customer-centric products powered by AI and machine learning? In this episode of the Product Talk podcast, host Justin Leibow sits down with the Choice Hotels International Senior Product Manager and winner of the Products That Count Product Leader Award Rohit Taneja to speak on leveraging active listening and AI. Rohit shares his journey into product management, highlighting the importance of balancing technology with human judgment and decision-making. Listeners will gain insights into Rohit's strategies for launching new products, influencing without authority, and mentoring the next generation of product leaders.

How can product leaders approach bridging the gap between engineering and product management? In this podcast hosted by Nacho Andrade, DataCamp's Chief Product and Technology Officer Eduardo Oliveira will be speaking on bridging the gap between engineering and product management. Oliveira shares his unique perspective on transitioning from an engineering background into a product leadership role, and the key lessons he's learned about identifying and addressing critical product gaps to drive business impact.

What is the secret to building successful products? In this podcast hosted by Barbara Bermes, Workleap Co-founder & CEO Simon de Baene will share his insights on the power of simplicity in product development. Learn how he and his team built products like ShareGate by embracing a minimalist approach, and discover how to balance data-driven decisions with instinct and passion when developing innovative software.

How can SaaS/AI be leveraged to enhance environmental justice and community engagement? 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, host and Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing Unified Ground Founder & CEO Jamil Ellis to discuss building SaaS technology to enhance environmental justice and community engagement, best practices utilizing AI for data analytics and relationship development, as well as leveraging the climate ecosystem to optimize partnerships and growth.

What do product leaders need to consider to deliver value-based care through customer-centric innovation? In this podcast hosted by Chenny Solaiyappan, DUOS Chief Strategy and Growth Officer Jenn Kerfoot shares insights on the evolving healthcare landscape, the role of technology and data, and her advice for aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs. Tune in to learn how Jenn is helping DUOS bridge the gaps in healthcare and deliver personalized, coordinated care.

How can product leaders build innovative solutions to tackle the complex challenges of the circular economy? In this episode hosted by Jonathan Ozeran, Rheaply VP of Product Sabira Lakhani shares insights on navigating the journey of creating asset reuse, material exchange, and empowering industries to transition from a linear to a circular model. From her early experiences witnessing the global waste crisis to building technology that enables circularity at scale, her story offers valuable lessons on driving systemic change through product development.

How can product leaders scale enterprise businesses in the highly regulated financial industry? In this episode hosted by Sid Shaik, Treasuer Financial CPO Julia Stefani shares insights on leveraging personalization powered by AI and the potential of embedded finance to drive innovation and accessibility in FinTech. Tune in to learn Julia's strategies for preparing teams, identifying growth engines, and sustaining success in a rapidly evolving market.

How can product leaders effectively lead teams and drive success when entering a new industry? In this episode hosted by Mark Bailes, Sentara Health Head of Product Cybersecurity Commercialization Shane Wooten shares his insights on positioning yourself for success when transitioning to a new vertical. Learn how to build trust and credibility with experienced teams, sell a compelling product vision, and leverage your core product skills to make an impact - even without prior industry expertise. Shane draws on his diverse background, spanning entrepreneurship, Fortune 500 companies, and now healthcare, to provide practical advice for product managers looking to take on new challenges and accelerate their careers by expanding into unfamiliar markets.

What can product leaders expect in 2025? In this insightful episode, Products That Count Founder and Board Chair SC Moatti joins Products That Count CEO Hoda Mehr to discuss five key predictions for the product management space in the coming year. From the financial outperformance of product-led companies to the rising prominence of Chief Product Officers becoming CEOs, the conversation delves into the transformative trends shaping the future of product leadership. They also explore how AI is redefining the role of product managers, the critical need for reskilling, and the growing anxiety around AI's impact on the profession. With a wealth of data and real-world examples, this episode provides product leaders with a roadmap to navigate the exciting changes ahead and position themselves for success in 2025 and beyond.

How can healthcare organizations harness the power of predictive analytics, AI, and member-centric strategies to achieve the Triple Aim of better care, lower costs, and improved population health? In this episode of the Care Catalyst series hosted by Chenny Solaiyappan, mPulse CPO Saeed Aminzadeh shares his insights on leveraging data and advanced technologies to transform healthcare. He discusses his journey in building data-driven solutions that empower health plans to proactively engage members, improve experiences, and drive better outcomes.

What's the secret to becoming a standout product leader? In this episode hosted by Justin Leibow, News Corp VP of Strategic Products Nicole Castillo and winner of the Products That Count Product Leader Awards shares how cultivating a distinctive personal brand and developing a unique product management style is crucial for product managers looking to excel in their careers. Nicole emphasizes the importance of identifying and embracing what makes you unique as a product leader.

Have you ever wondered how Chief Product Officers are transforming their organizations with artificial intelligence? In this Super Episode of Products That Count’s CPO Rising Series, host Renee Niemi, the Resident CPO at Products That Count, invites five distinguished CPOs to discuss the pivotal role AI plays in product innovation and efficiency.   Join us as we hear from: - Prat Vemana, CPO of Target, who emphasizes leveraging generative AI to accelerate product roadmaps and manage risks responsibly. - David Wong, CPO of Thomson Reuters, who explores AI's dual capabilities in legal tech, enhancing information retrieval and automating workflows. - Ritu Bhargava, President and CPO of SAP, who discusses the importance of building trust with customers while navigating AI's rapid advancements. - Alex Hardiman, CPO of The New York Times, who shares insights on responsibly integrating AI into journalism to enhance storytelling and accessibility. - Smita Hashim, CPO of Zoom, who highlights the need for every product

What are the keys to building successful cross-functional product launch teams? In this episode hosted by Barbara Bermes, Launch Code Project CPO and Author James Whitman shares insights from his research on how the best companies introduce new offerings. He discusses the importance of trust, governance structures, and aligning product, sales, and engineering teams to overcome common reasons for product launch failures. Whitman provides case studies of both successful and failed launches, highlighting the critical role of cross-functional collaboration and a continuous product introduction mindset.

How can product managers build climate tech products that truly benefit communities and the greater good? In this episode hosted Silicon Valley Bank (a Division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech SVP Maggie Wong, Heirloom Head of Climate Policy Vikrum Aiyer shares his insights on developing diverse, community-centric climate tech products. Vikrum discusses Heirloom's mission to remove atmospheric CO2 through innovative direct air capture technology, the importance of engaging with policymakers and local communities, and the need for product managers to consider the broader societal impact of their work.

How can AI be used to make work more human? In this episode hosted by Nacho Andrade, PeopleReign CEO Dan Turchin shares his vision for leveraging AI to reduce employee friction and unlock human potential. Turchin discusses the principles of responsible AI development, the transformative impact of smart machines on the future of work, and his advice for entrepreneurs looking to solve meaningful problems. This thought-provoking conversation explores how technology can be a partner in empowering employees to be their best selves.

How can product leaders navigate the evolving landscape and harness the power of emerging technologies? In this episode, Products That Count Resident CPO Renée Niemi, one of the first in the world, sits down with Capgemini Engineering Chief Digital Officer and Intelligent Products & Services Leader Nicholas Rousseau. Nicholas shares his unique perspective as the "CPO for the CPOs," providing insights into the rapid acceleration of innovation, technology, and customer expectations across industries. He emphasizes the importance of leveraging the broader ecosystem, including partners, startups, and universities, to stay ahead of the curve and identify the next big opportunities. He also delves into specific examples of how Capgemini is helping clients transform their products and services by integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI, edge computing, and distributed smart systems.

How can product managers effectively utilize AI to improve their products and workflows? In this episode hosted by Daniel Feldman, Paylocity Senior Group Product Manager Balaji Ananthanpillai shares insights on the role of AI in product management. He discusses strategies for identifying the right use cases for AI, avoiding forced implementation, and using AI to automate repetitive tasks while empowering product managers to focus on higher-level strategic initiatives. Tune in to learn about leveraging AI to enhance product efficiency and effectiveness.

How can product managers develop the courage to make bold decisions and stay ahead of the curve? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Justin Leibow, Okta Director of Product for Identity Management Vijay Pitchumani shares his insights on building confidence in decision-making and maintaining a curious learning mindset as a product manager. Vijay discusses his journey from cybersecurity to product management, the importance of bridging the gap between product and sales, and the evolving landscape of identity governance and security. He emphasizes the value of mentorship, team growth, and staying ahead of the curve in an industry driven by rapid technological advancements. Vijay's advice to aspiring product managers highlights the significance of continuous learning, embracing mistakes, and cultivating the confidence to make impactful decisions.

What are the keys to driving product success as a visionary leader in a complex B2B industry? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Finastra CPO Mike Vigue shares insights on balancing customer-centricity and visionary leadership as a top product executive. He discusses the importance of understanding user needs, guiding customers to the best solutions, and leveraging data and process to deliver consistently great products. Mike also explores the transformative potential of AI in product management, from automating non-value-add tasks to optimizing complex systems.

In this "Super Episode" of Product Talk, dive into the minds of the world's top product leaders as they reveal the secrets to building game-changing products. Join host Renee Niemi, Resident CPO of Products That Count, for a master class in product leadership. The episode takes you on a journey through the evolving role of product leadership. Hear from industry luminaries as they share their unique perspectives honed from decades of experience. Tune in for insights from: - Siddharth Mantri, former Disney Plus CPO, on generating "power moments" for customers by blending Silicon Valley innovation with local product development expertise. - Jim Denney, NBC Universal CPO, on balancing customer needs and business goals through a mix of art and science in product management. - Olivier Houpert, Altria CPO, on fostering a culture of curiosity and leveraging the transformative potential of AI and Gen AI. - Sabrina Ellis, Pinterest CPO, on the ethical considerations behind AI-powered accessible products and the importa