Product Therapy

In this episode, Christian Idiodi sits down with SVPG founder Marty Cagan to explore how AI is changing product teams. They dive into the relevant context from tech history, what they’re seeing in the industry today, and where they think things could go next. – Today’s discussion unpacks: * How AI could slash delivery workload and shrink team headcount * Product skills that are growing in importance * The challenges AI won’t solve * How product management, engineering, and design are changing * Marty’s biggest hopes and concerns for the future – References: * AI Engineering by Chip Huyen: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/ai-engineering/9781098166298/ [https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/ai-engineering/9781098166298/] * The End of Programming as We Know It by Tim O’Reilly: https://www.oreilly.com/radar/the-end-of-programming-as-we-know-it/ [https://www.oreilly.com/radar/the-end-of-programming-as-we-know-it/] – SVPG blog posts on AI and Product: * A Vision For Product Teams by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/a-vision-for-product-teams/ [https://www.svpg.com/a-vision-for-product-teams/] * AI Product Management 2 Years In: https://www.svpg.com/ai-product-management-2-years-in/ [https://www.svpg.com/ai-product-management-2-years-in/] * INSPIRED in the Generative AI Era by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/inspired-in-the-generative-ai-era/ [https://www.svpg.com/inspired-in-the-generative-ai-era/] * Product, Design and AI by Marty Cagan and Bob Baxley: https://www.svpg.com/product-design-and-ai/ [https://www.svpg.com/product-design-and-ai/] * Team Autonomy and AI by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/team-autonomy-and-ai/ [https://www.svpg.com/team-autonomy-and-ai/] – Where to find SVPG: * SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/ [https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/] * Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/ [https://www.svpg.com/books/] * Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/ [https://www.svpg.com/articles/] * Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/ [https://www.svpg.com/] * Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/ [https://www.svpg.com/videos/] – Where to find Christian Idiodi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/] – Where to find Marty Cagan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cagan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cagan/] – Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (00:17) Some caveats (05:42) How AI will impact product’s four key challenges (11:36) Discovery vs delivery: How AI flips the balance (15:03) Why product management will become more difficult and more essential (20:37) New must-have skills (25:50) The role of design (28:37) How AI changes product leadership (32:07) Remote work: Can AI tools rebuild collaboration & trust? (37:45) What excites and worries Marty about AI’s impact (42:28) Direct advice for product leaders (44:00) Where to learn more from SVPG – Disclaimer: While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/ [https://findahelpline.com/] – Production: Production by ⁠supermix.io [http://supermix.io/]

In this episode, Christian Idiodi welcomes back SVPG partner Martina Lauchengco to coach decision making. They break down what good decision making looks like in empowered teams and common mistakes that hold people back. Learn how to harness data, gut instinct, and contextual information to make better decisions. – Today’s discussion unpacks: * The role of gut instinct * Where AI can and can’t aid decision making  * Being data-informed, not data-driven  * The shortcomings of decision frameworks  * The link between strategy, priorities, and decisions  – References: * Product Sense Demystified by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/product-sense/ [https://www.svpg.com/product-sense/] * Amazon's “Disagree and Commit” principle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtjBkf8qDW4&ab_channel=InsideAmazon [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtjBkf8qDW4&ab_channel=InsideAmazon] * Garbage Can Model: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garbage_can_model [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garbage_can_model]  * Consensus vs Collaboration by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/consensus-vs-collaboration/ [https://www.svpg.com/consensus-vs-collaboration/]  – Where to find SVPG: * SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/ [https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/] * Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/ [https://www.svpg.com/books/] * Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/ [https://www.svpg.com/articles/] * Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/ [https://www.svpg.com/] * Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/ [https://www.svpg.com/videos/] – Where to find Christian Idiodi: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/] – Where to find Martina Lauchengco: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinalauchengco/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinalauchengco/] – Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (00:29)  What defines a "good decision"? (05:50) The role of frameworks in decision making  (07:45) Collaboration vs consensus (15:37) The role of gut feel (22:04) How to identify dogmatic or stubborn thinking (25:06)  Why you shouldn't delegate decision making to AI (29:27) The link between strategy, priorities, and decisions  (31:53) Where to learn more from SVPG  – Disclaimer: While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/ [https://findahelpline.com/] – Production: Production by ⁠supermix.io [http://supermix.io/]

In this episode, Christian Idiodi is joined by SVPG partner Lea Hickman to break down what it really takes for organizations to navigate change effectively. From shifting mindsets to avoiding common leadership traps, this conversation dives into the human side of transformation—and how to lead through it. – Today’s discussion unpacks: * Why change is about mindset not just process  * The biggest anti-pattern in change management  * How to decide between incremental change and a “big bang” approach * What makes change so hard (and how to make it easier) * The key role of trust, communication, and proving early success – References: * Start with Why by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447 [https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447] – Where to find SVPG: * SVPG’s newest book, TRANSFORMED: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/ [https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/] * Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/ [https://www.svpg.com/books/] * Articles: ⁠ [https://www.svpg.com/articles/%E2%81%A0]https://www.svpg.com/articles/ [https://www.svpg.com/articles/] * Workshops: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/⁠ [https://www.svpg.com/%E2%81%A0] * Videos: ⁠https://www.svpg.com/videos/ [https://www.svpg.com/videos/] – Where to find Christian Idiodi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/] – Where to find Lea Hickman: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahickman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahickman/] – Timestamps  (00:00) Intro (00:33) Why change is hard(04:59) The biggest anti-pattern in change management (06:35) Big bang vs. incremental change (10:45) Harnessing the "why" behind change (14:40) How to build a compelling case for change (17:27) The silent resistance of middle management (18:41) The power of pilot teams (22:46) Measuring success of organizational change (24:56) Advice for individual contributors reacting to change (28:48) How leaders can catalyze change (30:09) Outro  – Disclaimer: While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/ [https://findahelpline.com/] – Production: Production by supermix.io [http://supermix.io/]

In this episode, Christian Idiodi sits down with SVPG partner Chris Jones to unpack some of the most misunderstood ideas in product. Learn how to move beyond surface-level thinking and refine the mindsets, dynamics, and team structures required for exceptional product work. – Today’s discussion unpacks: * Why the best product ideas often come from engineers * What people get wrong about the role of design * The hidden cost of hiring for domain expertise * Why product managers shouldn’t give customers exactly what they ask for * What “true collaboration” looks like in great product teams – References: * Shreyas Doshi on domain dogma [https://x.com/shreyas/status/1438004497775677444?lang=en] – Where to find SVPG: * SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/ [https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/] * Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/ [https://www.svpg.com/books/] * Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/ [https://www.svpg.com/articles/] * Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/ [https://www.svpg.com/] * Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/ [https://www.svpg.com/videos/] – Where to find Christian Idiodi: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/] – Where to find Chris Jones: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjonessvpg/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjonessvpg/] – Timestamps: (00:00) Why product managers shouldn’t own the “what” alone (03:40) True collaboration starts in the “huddle” (06:08) Why the best product ideas often come from engineers (07:35) Debunking the “design is downstream” myth (09:55) Design as a discovery role (13:07) Why domain expertise can lead to domain dogma (15:57) Learning the domain on the job (18:46) Why customers don’t always know what they want (22:10) Managing feature requests and “specials” – Disclaimer: While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/ [https://findahelpline.com/] – Production: Production by ⁠supermix.io [http://supermix.io/]

In this episode, Christian Idiodi sits down with author and leadership coach Kate Leto to explore the power of emotional intelligence (EQ) in product management. They break down the critical human skills that set great product practitioners apart, and share tactics and strategies to develop them. – Today’s discussion unpacks: * The four key competencies of EQ * How high EQ accelerates a product career * Signs of weak EQ * The critical “inner and outer games” * Building EQ using the “self-awareness trilogy” * Why EQ matters more than ever in the age of AI – References: * Dr Dan Siegel’s Hand Model of the Brain [https://drdansiegel.com/hand-model-of-the-brain/] * Emotional Self Control Probably Doesn't Mean What You Think [https://www.kateleto.com/articles/emotional-self-control-probably-doesnt-mean-what-you-think-but-its-an-essential-skill-for-leaders] * Empathy is (an important) Part of Your Job as a Product Leader [https://www.kateleto.com/articles/empathy-is-an-important-part-of-your-job-as-a-product-leader] * Hiring Product Managers: Using EQ to go beyond culture and skill [https://www.amazon.com/Hiring-Product-Managers-beyond-culture/dp/B09RFYCGL9] * What People (Still) Get Wrong About Emotional Intelligence [https://hbr.org/2020/12/what-people-still-get-wrong-about-emotional-intelligence] * What Got You Here Won’t Get You There [https://marshallgoldsmith.com/book-page-what-got-you-here/] * What is Emotional Intelligence? [https://www.keystepmedia.com/what-is-emotional-intelligence/] * Why Emotional Intelligence Is Important in Leadership [https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/emotional-intelligence-in-leadership] - Where to find SVPG: * SVPG’s Newest Book: TRANSFORMED [https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/] * More SVPG Books & Resources: Books [https://www.svpg.com/books/] | Articles [https://www.svpg.com/articles/] | Workshops [https://www.svpg.com/] | Videos [https://www.svpg.com/videos/] – Where to find Christian Idiodi: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/] – Where to find Kate Leto: * Books & insights: https://www.kateleto.com/books-and-insights [https://www.kateleto.com/books-and-insights] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateleto/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateleto/] – Timestamps: (00:44) The four key competencies of EQ (04:18) Signs of weak EQ (08:01) Starting with self-awareness (10:33) Managing emotions in the workplace (14:28) The role of empathy in leadership (17:03) The link between EQ and influence (21:19) A simple daily reflection tactic (24:18) How to use “trusted critics” for growth (25:24) The value of observational feedback (27:28) Why you need “growth partners” (29:10) Why high EQ gives you an edge in the AI era (31:37) Outro – Disclaimer: While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/ [https://findahelpline.com/] – Production: Production by ⁠supermix.io [http://supermix.io/]