Episode description

In this episode, Carlos González de Villaumbrosia, CEO at Product School interviews Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco. This is a very special episode for me because it was recorded live from our conference ProductCon San Francisco in front of 2,000 product leaders.

Jeetu shares his journey in the tech landscape, detailing his role in driving Cisco's innovative strategies following the landmark acquisition of Splunk for $28 billion. He discusses the complexities of integrating cybersecurity and observability into Cisco's offerings, the importance of collaboration with competitors in the cybersecurity space, and how to maintain a customer-centric focus in a rapidly evolving tech environment.

Jeetu dives into his strategic framework for becoming an AI-first company, emphasizing how to prioritize AI integration across various functions. He also addresses the future of AI in product management, highlighting trends such as modular systems and enhanced user experiences.

What you'll learn:

Jeetu's journey to becoming EVP & CPO at Cisco and his vision for the company’s future.
The challenges and strategies involved in integrating AI and cybersecurity into existing product ecosystems.
How to effectively transition from traditional models to an AI-first approach.
The evolving landscape of AI and its key players.

Key Takeaways👇:

Customer-Centric Innovation: Jeetu emphasizes that understanding customer needs is vital for successful product development. Leveraging AI can significantly enhance user experiences and streamline operations.
Collaborative Cybersecurity: He advocates for working closely with competitors to strengthen defenses against common threats, demonstrating that unity can lead to better security outcomes.
Embracing Lifelong Learning: Jeetu highlights the importance of networking and engaging with experts to deepen understanding of AI, suggesting that curiosity and proactive learning are key to mastering new skills.

Brought to you by:
Sprig, a product experience platform that generates AI-powered opportunities to continuously improve your product at scale. Sprig AI captures your product experience in real-time through Heatmaps, Replays, Surveys, and Feedback studies, instantly analyzing all of your product experience data to generate real-time insights. Join product teams at Figma and Notion by uncovering AI-powered product opportunities at scale. Visit sprig.com/productschool to book a demo and get a $75 gift card.

Social Links:
- Follow our Podcast on Tik Tok here
- Follow Product School on LinkedIn here
- Join Product School's free events here
- Find out more about Product School here

Credits:
Host: Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia
Guest: Jeetu Patel