Productly Speaking: Real Stories for Product Managers

In this insightful and entertaining episode, Karl Abbott sits down with Ali Rakhimov, author of Make Pigs Fly: Product Manager’s Bathroom Book. Ali shares his unconventional journey into product management, his philosophy of “blue-collar product management,” and how storytelling, curiosity, and resilience shape great product leaders. Key Topics Discussed Ali’s Origin Story Blue-Collar Product Management Communication & Storytelling The Power of Idioms Features vs. Outcomes Building Confidence The Role of Humor Product Management Beyond Tech About the Book Title: Make Pigs Fly: Product Manager’s Bathroom Book Where to Buy: Ali’s Website Amazon IngramSpark Key Quotes “I didn’t stumble into product management—I tripped, fell, and landed face-first into it.” “You don’t need to speak louder—you just need to translate better.” “Good PMs ship features. Great PMs ship belief.” “You have to be fearless. You have to be hungry. That’s how you grow.” Connect with Ali LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arakhimov/

In this episode of Productly Speaking, Karl Abbott chats with Adil Hussain, a product manager at the Financial Times, about his unconventional path into product management, the lessons he's learned from working across public and private sectors, and his passion for mentoring aspiring PMs. They explore how AI is reshaping the role, the importance of community and real-world learning, and how the UK’s Government Digital Service (GDS) offers a global model for accessible, user-centered design. Topics Covered Adil’s Journey into Product Management Public vs. Private Sector Product Work Mentorship and Community Building The Evolving Role of the Product Manager AI in Product Management Resources Mentioned GOV.UK Design System UK Government Digital Service (GDS) GDS Service Standard GDS Product Management Capability Framework Key Quotes “Product management for me is about solving those problems in the right way and also making sure that we're building really good user experiences.” “I come across people that I mentor, that I teach or just have normal conversations with who aspire to break into product… and don’t realize they’re already doing product-style thinking.” “Being able to tell good stories as a product manager and being able to tell a narrative… it’s very, very important.” Connect with Adil Interested in Adil’s bootcamp or mentorship? Reach out to him on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adilh1/

In this episode, Karl and Richard Cawkill delve into the critical intersection of sales and product management. They discuss the challenges and synergies between these two roles, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for business growth. Richard shares his unique insights from his dual roles at ProdPad and the Sustainable Watch Company, offering valuable perspectives on how sales and product teams can work together more effectively. Key Topics Discussed: Sales and Product Management Dynamics Richard's Experience and Insights Challenges in Sales and Product Collaboration The Role of AI in Sales and Product Collaboration Richard's Entrepreneurial Journey Quotes: "Product and sales are so heavily dependent on each other. It's almost like a classic brother-sister relationship." "The importance of feedback can unlock a lot of opportunities for both product market fit and sales dialogues." Call to Action: Follow Richard Cawkill on LinkedIn for more insights on sales and product management. Check out the Sustainable Watch Company for eco-friendly timepieces.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Productly Speaking, Karl sits down with Keith Allen Johns, a seasoned career, business, and life coach. Keith shares his journey from climbing the corporate ladder to the C-suite and eventually transitioning to coaching. The conversation delves into the challenges of product management, focusing on handling stress and influencing without authority. Keith offers valuable insights and practical tools for becoming more self-aware, managing stress, and effectively influencing others. Key Topics Discussed: Challenges in Product Management Handling Stress Influencing Without Authority Keith’s Coaching Approach Keith’s Personal Insights Memorable Quotes from Keith Allen Johns: "The change you want to see in your life can all be driven from the inside out." "How you choose to handle stress is a choice." "Influence begins with understanding the motivations and drives of the people you work with." Call to Action: Listeners are encouraged to connect with Keith Allen Johns on LinkedIn or visit his website at www.keithallenjohns.com to learn more about his coaching programs and upcoming events.

In the Season 1 Finale of “Productly Speaking”, we talk about what happened when Karl went ice skating for the first (and last) time and how this became lived experience that led to truly understanding the importance of accessibility in product design. This type of lived experience and a strong desire to tinker are key to product management. After this discussion, we delve into empathy, contrasting emotional empathy with empathic concern and addressing the challenges of burnout. We discuss the criticality of having a healthy work-life balance and the need to value self-empathy and avoid self-gaslighting. We highlight some of our favourite learnings from the season, including understanding customer feedback, picking the right customers, and figuring out how to achieve product market fit. We then touch on imposter syndrome and the importance of authenticity in leadership. We also talk about teamwork, remote work, and using the two-hour design sprint to help bring people together. If that weren't enough, we also talk about the ever-present but elusive inspiration and readiness required for product managers to seize opportunities. Lastly, we discuss the critical role that product managers play in understanding the jobs to be done and bringing value to the table. Enjoy this whirlwind journey as we look back on Season 1 of "Productly Speaking". Show Notes

In this episode of “Productly Speaking”, Teresa Cain shares her insights on her creation of the 2 Hour design sprint. We explore how design thinking benefits product managers and how Teresa's condensed two-hour design sprints can be an excellent implementation of design thinking. Despite the shorter timeframe, participants can achieve meaningful outcomes by preparing beforehand. Teresa also discusses fostering an inclusive organizational culture, compares two-hour sprints with the traditional five-day format, and highlights the importance of customer empathy. Additionally, she addresses challenges related to remote or hybrid teams and provides strategies for driving alignment. We also discuss the origin of the two-hour design sprint and Teresa's journey from writer to product manager. Show Notes

In this episode, we explore the journey of becoming a successful product manager through Adam’s career transition from technical support to product management. Key insights include the necessity of embracing ambiguity, understanding people, and the significance of customer feedback, especially from those who are constructively critical. The discussion highlights the art of building products from scratch and the delicate balance of feature prioritization. Adam reflects on the lessons learned from prioritizing features that didn’t resonate with the market and emphasizes the importance of talking to less satisfied customers to gain valuable insights. The episode also delves into the strategic aspects of defining an ideal customer profile, the risks and rewards of joining a startup, and the complexities of transitioning from a single product to a multi-product company. Additionally, it covers the importance of storytelling and communication in product management, concluding with final thoughts on the subject. Click Here for the Show Notes