Prioritization is one of the hardest parts of product management — and most teams are getting it wrong. They’re chasing the loudest voices instead of real impact. They’re getting distracted by shiny objects like AI. They fail to solve incongruencies between various areas of their organizations before executing. Mark Vanderweide, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Bungii , has seen this play out across startups, enterprise organizations, and M&A deals. In this episode, he breaks down how great...
Mar 10, 2025•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Data vs. gut instinct. What really drives the best product decisions? Nate Juraschek , Head of Product at Telarus , has spent 20+ years navigating the highs and lows of product leadership—from Sprint and H&R Block to fast-moving startups. Along the way, he’s learned one truth: data is only as good as the story you tell with it.Topics covered in this episode include: * How to use data as a guide when following gut instincts * Why curiosity is the secret weapon of great product leaders * The most ...
Feb 24, 2025•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Pat McLoughlin is the Director of Product at MoneyLion and former founder and CEO of Digs , a fintech platform for residential real estate. Digs provides tools that help renters save for their first home and homeowners maximize wealth while working with real estate agents and mortgage lenders. In this episode, Pat tells the story of how Digs came to be, and how he pivoted from pursuing architecture as a career to following a new interest in real estate, fintech, and educating first-time homebuye...
Feb 03, 2025•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Alicia Lopez, Chief Innovation Officer at Flatiron Corp , is an innovation enthusiast with a rich background in civil engineering and over 25 years of experience in the construction industry. Originally from Spain, Alicia has worked globally—from India to the Middle East—bringing a holistic approach to innovation. In this week’s episode, Alicia shares her insights on building a culture of innovation, aligning it with company goals, and emphasizing the strategic importance of fostering collaborat...
Dec 02, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tannis Liviniuk is the Digital Advancement Executive at Zachry Group and has a background in industrial construction, working on an array of different projects from greenfield and brownfield to shutdowns, freeze-ups, and fire rebuilds. In this week’s episode, we dive into the challenges of user adoption of new tools, the importance of understanding the end user, and the ethical questions surrounding AI. Other topics covered include: * the role of AI in data management * the ethics of AI and tech...
Nov 18, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tyler Campbell is the owner of Storybuilder Creative and co-host of the Construction Brothers podcast. His background in steel detailing coupled with experience creating videos in the commercial construction industry grants Tyler with unique insights into areas where construction tech falls short and how it can be improved. Topics include: * Challenges with technology adoption * The importance of proximity * Generational shifts in the industry * Technologists in the field Brought to you by Crema...
Nov 04, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dustin Burns is the VP of Technology at McCownGordon Construction . His approach to technology impacts corporate culture, creating higher associate engagement and productivity. Dustin believes technology is useless if it doesn’t help people, and that construction is the most important industry in the world. In this week’s episode, he breaks down how new tech solutions are transforming the AEC industry — from preventing rework and reducing safety risk to changing the way the next generation views...
Oct 21, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast What does it take to build the future environments that support where we live, work, and play? Eveart Foster is the Integrations Subject Matter Expert at Autodesk and has had a unique opportunity throughout his career to see the entire life cycle of the built world experience, from engineering and design to pre-construction planning. This week Eveart takes us through the role of data maturity in the architecture, engineering, and construction world. Other topics covered include: * the importance...
Oct 07, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast The path to product management can be an unconventional one. This week, Jessica Dubin shares her story of transitioning from the education sector, where she graduated from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education, to becoming Chief Product Officer at Remesh , an AI-focused research platform. Along the way, she observed how context influences how we work, serve our users, and develop products.In this episode, we’ll discuss: * navigating leadership and organizational challenges * balancin...
Sep 23, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast We all want our teams to be agile, but when is agile too agile? This week I’m joined by Hannah Clark, editor at TheProductManager.com and host of The Product Manager Podcast . Hannah shares insights from startup project managers at various levels who navigate challenges like “shiny object syndrome,” lack of collaboration while working remotely, and other issues that arise in rapidly scaling startups. Topics covered include: * the disconnect between product development and people management * bal...
Sep 09, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Currently serving as President of Diode Ventures , the infrastructure development arm of Black & Veatch , Brad Hardin has worked as a LEED-accredited architect, construction manager, and technology leader in a national and international capacity with a focus on business development/procurement, technology strategy, and growth. Join me in this week’s conversation with Brad as we discuss the crucial role of infrastructure development for the future of artificial intelligence and how to integrate a...
Aug 26, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Imagine the job site of the future, where autonomous drones are moving material across the worksite and earth is being moved by vehicles being operated by people across the world, all driven by AI. These are a few of the things we get to talk about this week on the podcast with Jeff Danley. Jeff Danley , is the Director of Innovation at Burns & McDonnell , and he has over 20 years of experience driving innovation at the intersection of technology and business. He’s been at the forefront of techn...
Aug 12, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join me in a conversation with Eric Whobrey, VP of Innovation at ARCO Construction, as we explore the parallels between the design-build process in technology and construction and how Eric navigates the tension between making sure that the organization is rowing in the same direction while also giving permission to experiment, innovate, and maybe even stretch the rules a little bit every once in a while. In this episode, we’ll talk about: * challenges and opportunities in balancing organizationa...
Jul 29, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Construction leaders, this one is for you! This week on the podcast, we hear how J.E. Dunn Construction is piloting cutting-edge technology within their 100-year-old organization. They acknowledged that legacy and tradition are important, but so is future casting. Mark Stocks, VP and Director of Enterprise Architecture and his team are successfully balancing practicality and genuine innovation in an industry where it’s tough to do. In Q3 of 2024, Mark’s team is focusing on clean data and the ‘bi...
Jul 15, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast People of Product is back from a hiatus! In this brief episode, we'll fill you in on what to expect from the next season. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Jul 08, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Technology is changing the way we approach construction - from planning and visualization to project management. In this week's episode, Aaron Henderson of STACK Construction Technologies shares insights from his perspective after having shifted from traditional construction consulting to the tech-driven realm. George and Aaron talk about showcasing some of the exciting aspects of construction to attract new talent, niching down to specialize in specific markets, and picking the right technologi...
Feb 19, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast In 2024, the core principles of PdM haven’t changed. The number one role of a product manager is getting to the root of how serve your customer better. How do you make them LOVE your product and your business. Innovation is the name of the game, but how can you front new technologies while still creating value for customers? This and more on the episode with guest Blake Reichenbach, a product manager at Hubspot. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers o...
Feb 05, 2024•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast George Brooks interviews Anna Jordan-Douglass, the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Makefully Studios. Anna shares her profound journey through the realms of technology and creativity. Basked with an innate passion for making learning more interactive and fun, Anna explains the sheer magic of assimilating play with education and shares insights into her collaboration with the Jim Henson Company, and how she gathered experiences that later led to the creation of her very own Makefully Studio...
Dec 11, 2023•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast George Brooks interviews Lamees Butt, the Senior Vice President of Global Alliances and Channels at Zoovu. Lamees shares her passion for improving the customer experience and reducing employee workloads through AI-powered solutions, the importance of focusing on customer value, and reimagining the customer journey to drive growth. They discuss the role of AI in personalizing the buying experience and helping businesses make data-driven decisions. Lamees also highlights the opportunities for B2B ...
Nov 13, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast George chats with Ryan Glasgow, CEO of Sprig, a seasoned product expert. They discuss the key to successful product development: understanding customer problems. Ryan emphasizes the value of asking the right questions and draws insights from his experience at Weebly, where user feedback revolutionized their mobile app. They also dive into the broader concept of customer-centric product management, exploring the impact of genuine understanding on product-market fit and the significance of unconve...
Oct 09, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast George Brooks interviews Bryan House, Chief Experience Officer at Elastic Path. They discuss the world of composable commerce, the synergy between product management and customer success, and the role of user-centricity in e-commerce development. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
Sep 18, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast George Brooks interviews Artem Koren, Co-founder of Sembly.ai . Artem shares the journey of creating Sembly, an AI-powered meeting companion. Artem unveils Sembly.ai 's unique team structures for different technological components and emphasizes the flexibility required in handling NLP (Natural Language Processing) and AI development. The interview showcases the pivotal role of product managers, who drive innovation, user experience, and customer interaction. Discover how Sembly.ai transforms me...
Sep 05, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast George interviews Karthik Suresh, co-founder of Ignition, a platform that unlocks revenue opportunities by aligning product, marketing, and sales teams around new market initiatives. Ignition aims to help companies achieve a solid product-market fit and successful product launches by providing an AI-powered platform that guides users through the entire go-to-market process. Their discussion delves into the challenges of coordinating product launches, the importance of effective messaging and pos...
Aug 21, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join George in a conversation with Jon Darbyshire, the visionary founder of SmartSuite as they explore the art of user experience, relentless iteration, and the value of customer feedback in crafting a game-changing work management platform. Throughout the episode, Jon reveals the key principles of effective product design, emphasizing the value of continuous iteration and incorporating customer feedback. Whether you're an entrepreneur, product manager, or design enthusiast, this conversation sh...
Aug 07, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast George Brooks interviews Jon Ricketts, CEO and Co-Founder of a game-changing software platform that is set to transform content creation—Writerly AI powered by Generative AI. Tune in to learn how generative AI is reshaping content creation and marketing automation, and its incredible potential for businesses worldwide. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us...
Jul 24, 2023•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast We regularly preach to our clients that they ought to be seeking ways in which they should be evolving with the times. The same is true for our company. Crema is officially pivoting our business direction in 2023. In this episode, George explains why now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us...
Jun 26, 2023•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week Dan Linhart is joined by Crema's VP of Strategy to explain our new company direction. As we've evolved from a software agency into a design consultancy, we're taking a slightly new approach to our work. Hear how we use design thinking and more holistic strategies to solve highly complex business challenges. And whether you might be a good candidate to partner with a design consultancy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to b...
Jun 12, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peopleofproduct.us
May 26, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast George interviews Sean Steppe, senior manager of Restaurant Systems at Hawaiian Bros Island Grill. Hawaiian Bros is a breakout restaurant that is expanding across the country, using technology to create a better end-user experience, not only for ordering and checkout processes but also in the kitchen and on the backside of their organization. Hawaiian Bros uses technology and data to help make decisions and provide better service to their customers as they scale up. With the freedom to test and ...
May 15, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's good to recognize what AI is and what it is not. In this episode, George Brooks is joined by Michelle Frost to de-bunk myths & misconceptions about what AI can mean for processes in the workplace. Learn about the necessary steps to train a model, from collecting and preparing data to testing and evaluating the model. Plus, the importance of ML Ops and the impact of using third-party libraries and packages. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or...
May 01, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
