Make Things That Matter

Itamar Gilad is the author of Evidence Guided, which is my favorite book out there on how to practically DO product discovery. Prior to becoming a product consultant and trainer, he had a long product career at Google where he led the creation and launch of products that are now used by over a billion people. In this conversation we explore the GIST approach to product discovery through the origin story of Gmail's tabbed inbox, to help you see what great product discovery looks like in practice. — Topics discussed (01:33) Creating frameworks and coming up with catchy models (10:02) GIST: the meta framework organizing model concept. (15:02) Illustrating GIST through the story of Gmail tabbed inbox (21:06) Refocusing goals led to stronger, simpler idea. (25:08) Prioritize, filter, and reevaluate for effective ideas. (29:02) Usability and value risks, low confidence, evolution. (35:43) Key results drive achieving goals, engaging company. (40:07) Inquiring about applying startup approach to enterprises. (45:32) Navigating uncertainty in strategy with evidence and discovery. (50:44) Emphasizing iterative nature of product discovery process. (59:10) Encouraging analysis for companies hesitant about changes. (01:01:18) Evaluate, test, experiment, launch, measure, impact, outcomes — Links & resources mentioned • Send episode feedback on Twitter @askotzko [https://twitter.com/askotzko] , or via email [connect@makethingsthatmatter.com] • Itamar Gilad : website [https://itamargilad.com/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/itamargilad/] • Evidence Guided (book) - website [https://itamargilad.com/book-evidence-guided/], Amazon [https://amzn.to/46uWZie] — Related episodes: • #55: How does continuous discovery come together for a new product? [https://pod.fo/e/107a32] • #44 Teresa Torres: Habits for clear thinking and better product bets [https://pod.fo/e/d0270] — Books: • Evidence Guided: website [https://itamargilad.com/book-evidence-guided/], Amazon [https://amzn.to/46uWZie] — Other resources: • Itamar’s downloadable frameworks & resources [https://itamargilad.com/resources/] • The GIST framework [https://itamargilad.com/gist-framework/] • Confidence meter for ICE scoring [https://itamargilad.com/the-tool-that-will-help-you-choose-better-product-ideas/] • Creating Product Strategy with Multiple Strategic Tracks (MuST) [https://itamargilad.com/product-strategy-must/] • Marty Cagan: The four big risks [https://www.svpg.com/four-big-risks/] • Gibson Biddle: proxy metrics (within product strategy) [https://gibsonbiddle.medium.com/4-proxy-metrics-a82dd30ca810] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.makethingsthatmatter.com [https://blog.makethingsthatmatter.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Steve Portigal is a veteran user research leader and consultant who helps companies mature their research practices. He’s the author of Interviewing Users, a classic in the field, and the host of the design leadership podcast Dollars to Donuts. In this conversation, we explore: • how to use creative practices to develop your voice as a leader and storyteller • how to be a smart consumer of research findings when you aren’t an expert in the craft of research • one simple question leaders can ask to set their organizations to make the most of research • and how to create the conditions for high-impact, effective creative work in your team — Topics discussed (10:21) Experimenting with writing and finding one's voice (15:47) Feedback model: GASP - goals, attempts, successes, possibilities (19:53) Workshops, creativity, and self-doubt (27:06) Embrace authenticity, find your unique facilitation style (28:10) Appreciating different approaches, understanding executives' skepticism (34:37) Engage with compassion (39:29) Research is essential for informed decision-making (49:01) Compassion and reflection are crucial for leaders (50:48) Create a safe learning space for engagement (56:03) Assessing code quality and marketing effectiveness (01:00:39) Research raises questions, timing and deployment important (01:10:31) Stay fascinated with the world around you — Links & resources mentioned • Send episode feedback on Twitter @askotzko [https://twitter.com/askotzko] , or via email [connect@makethingsthatmatter.com] • Steve Portigal: website [https://portigal.com/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveportigal] • Book: Interviewing Users [https://amzn.to/458xe6r] • Podcast: Dollars to Donuts [https://portigal.com/podcast/] — Related episodes • #3 Christina Wodtke: Unleashing potential with extraordinary teams [https://pod.fo/e/af7fd] • #62 Sahil Lavingia: Independent Thinking & Pricing at Gumroad [https://pod.fo/e/15ff5a] — Books • Interviewing Users [https://amzn.to/458xe6r] • Don’t Make Me Think [https://amzn.to/454FPXS] — Other resources • Great User Research (for Non-Researchers) [https://medium.com/user-research-explained/great-user-research-for-non-researchers-part-1-50cf67c4faad] • When to Use Which User-Experience Research Methods [https://www.nngroup.com/articles/which-ux-research-methods/] • Nielsen: Why You Only Need to Test with 5 Users [https://www.nngroup.com/articles/why-you-only-need-to-test-with-5-users/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.makethingsthatmatter.com [https://blog.makethingsthatmatter.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Christian Idiodi is a partner at Silicon Valley Product Group (SVPG). Before SVPG, he profoundly shaped or reshaped the culture and products of CareerBuilder, Snagajob, and led the product transformation in Datasite, the first SaaS for due diligence in the finance industry. — Topics discussed (08:56) An unusual childhood leads to survival skills, creativity (12:25) Aspiring doctor turned innovator seeking problem-solving opportunities (18:33) Guiding others through transformation, not crafting it (21:31) Thriving on tech success, driven by motivation (28:40) Cycle of innovation: growth, stagnation, reversion, reaction (36:45) Reading biographies as a leader to improve your decision-making (37:40) Key to career success: leadership, insight, humility (47:23) Transitioning roles, what were key mindset shifts? (56:30) Prioritizing practice before game day (01:03) Choose kindness, support, and do good work — Links & resources mentioned Find the full transcript at: https://podcast.makethingsthatmatter.com/christian-idiodi-telling-the-story-of-transformation/#transcript * Christian Idiodi - SVPG [https://www.svpg.com/team/christian-idiodi/] * New book: TRANSFORMED [https://amzn.to/4bA2WMx] * Inspire Africa Conference [https://www.inspireafricaconference.com/] * Innovate Africa Foundation [https://www.innovateafricafoundation.org/] — Related episodes: * Marty Cagan: Moving to the product model [https://pod.fo/e/226791] * Martina Hodges-Schell: Understanding your operating model [https://pod.fo/e/230f55] * Product Therapy - What is product sense? [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coaching-product-sense/id1738373011?i=1000654306717] — People & orgs: * Jay Acunzo [https://jayacunzo.com/] — Books: * Turn the Ship Around - L. David Marquet [https://amzn.to/3R4cxTE] * An Everyone Culture - Robert Kegan [https://amzn.to/3R2gUyc] * Build - Tony Fadell [https://amzn.to/3KlELoU] * Walter Isaacson - Steve Jobs [https://amzn.to/3X1PWea] * Team of Rivals - Abraham Lincoln [https://amzn.to/4aHkDsf] * Invention: A Life of Learning Through Failure [https://amzn.to/4e2XDqz] * Sam Walton: Made In America [https://amzn.to/3KiWPAf] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.makethingsthatmatter.com [https://blog.makethingsthatmatter.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Martina Hodges-Schell is a transformation coach and consultant that helps organizations adopt a Silicon Valley approach to innovation. She spent 25 years leading design and innovation in tech companies, and now she loves providing a fresh, outside perspective to help teams develop and mature their product practice. In this conversation, we… * define transformation and what it means for your company operating model * explore how a company operating model might be shifted by adapting AI technology * Discuss how embodied leadership practices like equine coaching can give leaders the most honest feedback Enjoy! — Topics discussed (05:31) A horse's feedback reflects your behavior and communication (06:51) Feedback on your actions and decision making (10:48) Leaders MUST be involved in change process (13:57) Control is equated with power, active involvement important (18:58) Change is difficult, people resist it (19:45) Balancing ideas within organizations, encouraging participation (25:37) Four lenses for an operating model (29:18) How AI transforms operating model: structure and collaboration challenges (31:36) Organizational structure should promote collaboration and communication (37:17) Optimistic about innovation, promoting change and collaboration (39:55) Focus on broad possibilities, capabilities, and brand (43:16) Closing the loop from teams to leadership (50:20) Guiding questions in life (52:49) Book recommendations — Links & resources mentioned Find the full transcript at: https://podcast.makethingsthatmatter.com/martina-hodges-schell-operating-model/#transcript [https://podcast.makethingsthatmatter.com/martina-hodges-schell-operating-model/#transcript] * Send episode feedback on Twitter @askotzko [https://twitter.com/askotzko] , or via email [connect@makethingsthatmatter.com] * Martina Hodges-Schell: website [https://www.northshore.studio/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinaschell/] * Book: Communicating the UX Vision: 13 Anti-patterns That Block Good Design — Related episodes: * #72 Pam Fox Rollin: Growing Groups Into Teams [https://pod.fo/e/1f62d0] * #75 Chris Smith: Simple guidelines for AI investment sizing [https://pod.fo/e/20a76a] * #74 Chris Smith: How to think about adding AI to your product [https://pod.fo/e/20a5ef] * #77 Marty Cagan: Moving to the product model [https://pod.fo/e/226791] * #39 Melissa Perri: Product strategy and the missing middle in organizations [https://pod.fo/e/bf79a] — People & orgs: * Noelle Saldana [https://www.linkedin.com/in/noellesio] — Books: * The Build Trap [https://amzn.to/3UdxD3C] * Growing Groups Into Teams [https://amzn.to/3VOBPrY] * TRANSFORMED [https://amzn.to/3VVTQEF] * Managing Transitions [https://amzn.to/3vD13yY] * Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes [https://amzn.to/43SzLBh] * Leading Change [https://amzn.to/4cPSXUf] — Other resources: * Martina’s OMG (operating model goals) canvas [https://www.northshore.studio/omg] * North Shore - AI transformation blog series [https://www.northshore.studio/blog/beyond-buzzwords-finding-your-purpose-for-ai] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.makethingsthatmatter.com [https://blog.makethingsthatmatter.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Marty Cagan joins me for real talk about what it takes to transform into a strong product company. You can read the episode transcript here. [https://podcast.makethingsthatmatter.com/marty-cagan-moving-to-the-product-model] — Topics discussed: (00:00) The process and challenges in writing a book (12:27) Real world products need tech for results (17:28) Deciding on investments, solving problems, and changing processes (28:11) Understanding disconnects (36:00) Top leadership support crucial (40:28) How product coaches help (44:57) "Being agile" doesn't always mean "doing agile" (49:52) Handling objections well (54:45) How it comes together in an organizational operating model — Links & resources mentioned: Send episode feedback on Twitter @askotzko [https://twitter.com/askotzko] , or via email [connect@makethingsthatmatter.com] Marty Cagan • LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cagan/], website [https://www.svpg.com/] • New book: TRANSFORMED [https://amzn.to/3VeTh8y] • Previous books: INSPIRED [https://amzn.to/3IwgsDY], EMPOWERED [https://amzn.to/48Ut1Un] • SVPG [https://www.svpg.com/] — Related episodes: • #31 Marty Cagan - Empowering product teams [https://pod.fo/e/af7e6] — Books: • The Crux [https://amzn.to/3wZcXDg] • Good Strategy, Bad Strategy [https://amzn.to/3IGoxWt] • The Art of Action [https://amzn.to/3Thjtg7] — Other resources: • Product Management Theater [https://www.svpg.com/product-management-theater/] • Product Leadership Theater [https://www.svpg.com/product-leadership-theater/] • Transformation Theater [https://www.svpg.com/transformation-theater/] • So You Want To Write a Book? [https://www.svpg.com/so-you-want-to-write-a-book/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.makethingsthatmatter.com [https://blog.makethingsthatmatter.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]