Product Driven

Matt Watson
Product Driven

Building software products requires caring more about the product than it does the technology used to build the product. On this podcast, we discuss bringing a product driven mindset to every step of the product development process.

  1. Get Stakeholders to Agree on Product Direction with Stephen Pollack

    17 HR AGO

    Get Stakeholders to Agree on Product Direction with Stephen Pollack

    Product Strategies for Lasting Success: Stephen Pollack on Building Big Picture Plans 🚀 In this enlightening episode of Product Driven, host Matt Watson welcomes veteran tech leader Stephen Pollack of InsightSpin to explore why software developers and organizations struggle with understanding the big picture. Drawing from decades of industry experience, Stephen shares invaluable insights on creating sustainable product strategies, balancing customer-driven development with innovation, and leveraging AI as a strategic team member. Stephen Pollack shares how successful companies avoid the trap of short-term thinking and maintain focus on their North Star vision. He emphasizes that AI represents a transformational technology that can serve as a valuable team member when properly leveraged, particularly for documentation and knowledge synthesis. 🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!): Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/ Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Connect with Stephen Pollack: Website: https://insightspin.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenpollack/ Key Discussion Points: Why businesses often fail to create and maintain big-picture product plans How to balance stakeholder input without falling into consensus paralysis The critical importance of focus in product development Strategies for preserving innovation while serving existing customers Practical applications of AI in product management and documentation Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 00:34 - Why Developers Struggle with the Big Picture 02:22 - Stakeholder Alignment Challenges 04:05 - Leadership Decision-Making Dynamics 07:21 - Focus as a Critical Success Factor 09:44 - AI's Impact on Product Development 14:40 - Balancing Customer-Driven vs. Innovation-Driven Approaches 21:15 - The "Shitification" Challenge of Established Products 24:43 - Risk Aversion and Market Disruption 28:37 - Stephen's Background and Services Don't miss this insightful conversation that will challenge you to think beyond tactical implementation and embrace strategic product planning for lasting success.

    31 min
  2. Corporate Product Teams Face a Different Reality with Raechel Boston

    2 DAYS AGO

    Corporate Product Teams Face a Different Reality with Raechel Boston

    Beyond Tech Companies: Product Management in Traditional Industries with Raechel Boston 🛒 In this illuminating episode of Product Driven, host Matt Watson engages with Raechel Boston, a product manager at Kroger, to explore the nuanced landscape of product management and software development within traditional enterprises. Their conversation unveils the stark contrasts between technology practices in established corporations versus startups, examining how bureaucracy, innovation, and customer feedback loops operate in different organizational contexts. The conversation takes a fascinating turn when exploring how AI might transform the landscape, potentially disadvantaging those who function merely as "order takers" while empowering professionals who understand product vision and can leverage these new tools to move exponentially faster. 🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!): Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/ Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Connect with Raechel Boston: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raechelboston/ Key Discussion Points: The unique challenges of product management in non-SaaS, traditional industries How bureaucratic processes impact development velocity and innovation The disconnection between technical work and tangible customer value in large organizations Strategies for motivating engineering teams by connecting their work to business outcomes The evolving role of AI in reshaping software development and product management The delicate balance between innovation and stability in established enterprises Episode Chapters: 00:01 - Introduction and Raechel's Background 00:53 - Diversity of Technology Across Industries 02:30 - Startup vs. Enterprise Development Approaches 03:53 - Breaking Free from Corporate Bureaucracy 05:10 - Product Management at a Major Retailer 06:32 - Celebrating Wins and Addressing Negativity Bias 08:47 - Assembly Line Nature of Modern Software Development 11:21 - AI's Impact on Development Roles and Processes 14:05 - Bridging the Gap Between Product and Engineering Teams 16:13 - Internal vs. External Product Development Challenges 18:10 - Fighting Organizational Resistance to Change 19:36 - Innovation vs. Value Delivery in Corporate Settings 21:52 - When Stability Trumps New Features 24:24 - Raechel's TikTok Content on Scrum and Product Management Whether you're navigating corporate technology environments or building products in startups, this episode offers a valuable perspective on how organizational context shapes product development approaches, team dynamics, and ultimately, customer value delivery.

    28 min
  3. Product Market Fit: When Customers Pull You Forward with Pablo Srugo

    10 APR

    Product Market Fit: When Customers Pull You Forward with Pablo Srugo

    🔍 Decoding Product-Market Fit: The Critical Journey from Concept to Market Success Journey into the nuanced relationship between product development and market validation with Matt Watson and Pablo Srugo, Partner at Mistral VC and host of the Product Market Fit podcast. This intellectually stimulating conversation explores the elusive phenomenon that transforms promising ideas into market-dominating solutions. This compelling discussion unpacks the critical markers of product-market fit, from quantifiable metrics like 40%+ demo-to-close ratios to qualitative signals such as the Sean Ellis test. Through candid exploration of both success stories and failures, including Pablo's personal journey with GymTrack, discover why timing, market understanding, and the willingness to pivot are fundamental to entrepreneurial success in the complex journey from product conception to market validation. 🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!): Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/ Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Find Pablo Srugo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablosrugo/ Podcast The Product Market Fit Show: http://pmf.show Venture Fund: http://mistralvp.com Key Discussion Points: 🧠 Definitive metrics that signal genuine product-market fit 💡 The critical difference between message-market fit and true product-market fit 🔄 How to navigate the challenging "gray area" of partial traction ⚡ Why solving a genuine "top-of-mind" problem is non-negotiable 📊 The counterintuitive relationship between NPS scores and product necessity 🌱 The "opportunity cost" dilemma in knowing when to pivot or persist 🚀 How market timing can transform modest products into exponential successes Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction and guest background 0:51 - Defining product-market fit 2:49 - Scale considerations in market validation 4:56 - Early indicators and metrics analysis 6:43 - Sustainable business without true PMF 9:07 - Managing explosive growth challenges 11:43 - Measuring customer relationship strength 13:43 - Getting to product-market fit methodologies 16:20 - The importance of solving top-of-mind problems 17:31 - Market timing and opportunity convergence 21:41 - Knowing when to pivot or persist 24:43 - The opportunity cost of persistence Transform your understanding of product-market fit beyond theoretical concepts into practical recognition and achievement strategies. Through illuminating case studies and expert analysis, discover how successful entrepreneurs navigate the complex terrain between product creation and market validation to build truly transformative businesses.

    30 min
  4. Who Should Run Daily Standups?

    8 APR

    Who Should Run Daily Standups?

    🔄 Engineering Leadership in Daily Standups: The Critical Role of Technical Management In this thought-provoking exploration, Matt Watson challenges conventional wisdom about daily standup meetings, revealing why technical leadership transforms these gatherings from mundane status updates into powerful catalysts for team collaboration, problem identification, and rapid decision-making. 🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!): Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/ Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Key Discussion Points: 🧠 Why engineering managers create superior standup dynamics compared to project managers 🔍 Reading team sentiment through body language and conversation flow ⚡ Identifying technical blockers that non-technical managers might miss 🌱 Creating psychological safety for junior developers to seek help 🔄 The startup founder's "superpower" of combining technical and product knowledge 📊 Cultural Considerations Affecting Team Communication Styles 💡 Alternative leadership models for teams with strong senior developers Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction to standups controversy 0:32 - Why status reports miss the point 1:12 - Engineering managers' unique perspective 2:18 - Identifying coachable moments 2:49 - Project managers vs. engineering managers 4:22 - Senior developers' self-managed approach 6:44 - The startup founder's advantage 9:03 - Balancing leadership styles This critical analysis transforms our understanding of daily standups from perfunctory rituals into strategic opportunities for team alignment, technical problem-solving, and leadership development. Through Matt's experienced perspective, discover how technical leaders create environments where information flows naturally, blockers become visible, and teams accelerate through challenges rather than merely reporting on them. Transform your team's daily cadence by reimagining standups as collaborative problem-solving sessions rather than administrative checkpoints. Join our community of engineering leaders dedicated to building more effective, communicative technical teams.

    11 min
  5. From Side Project to Startup - Key Lessons with James Green

    3 APR

    From Side Project to Startup - Key Lessons with James Green

    🚀 From Idea to Impact: The Entrepreneur's Journey with James Green In this illuminating conversation, Matt Watson and James Green, Co-founder and General Partner at DQ Ventures, delve into the transformative journey from concept to viable business. Discover why technical brilliance alone isn't enough and how aspiring founders can navigate the challenging path to entrepreneurial success without sacrificing financial stability. 🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!): Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/ Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Connect with James Green: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greenjim/ Website: http://www.dqventures.com Key Discussion Points: 🔍 The fundamental misconception of entrepreneurship as primarily product creation 💡 Why 90% of entrepreneurial success revolves around effective selling 🧠 The critical importance of customer validation before significant product investment ⚡ How technical and non-technical founders approach market opportunities differently 🔄 The challenge of context-switching for technically-minded entrepreneurs 📊 Reframing sales as a problem-solving conversation rather than persuasion 🌱 The innovative "Don't Quit" approach to entrepreneurship while maintaining stability Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction and entrepreneurial landscape 1:41 - The reality of entrepreneurship as primarily sales 3:16 - The myth of overnight startup success 4:31 - Customer validation and market feedback importance 6:31 - Technical vs. non-technical founder success patterns 9:19 - Engineering mindset challenges in sales contexts 12:16 - Context-switching difficulties for technical founders 14:20 - Reframing sales as listening and problem-solving 18:04 - The "Don't Quit" approach to entrepreneurship 20:55 - Risk management in mid-career entrepreneurship 22:09 - Real-world consequences of the all-in approach 24:39 - Resources and support for aspiring entrepreneurs This conversation illuminates the critical bridge between technical expertise and commercial viability, offering profound insights for technically-minded professionals contemplating the entrepreneurial leap. Through James's "Don't Quit" methodology, discover a more sustainable approach to building your business without sacrificing financial security or career stability.

    27 min
  6. Why Software Engineering Is Neither Art Nor Science

    1 APR

    Why Software Engineering Is Neither Art Nor Science

    🧠 The Craftsmanship of Code: Reframing Software Development Beyond Art and Science In this intellectually stimulating exploration, Matt Watson challenges the traditional dichotomy of software development as either art or science, proposing instead a more nuanced understanding of the discipline as a craft built on practical problem-solving and purposeful creation. Through historical context and thoughtful analysis, discover why the evolution from "software development" to "software engineering" reflects our discipline's growing maturity. 🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!): Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/ Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Key Discussion Points: 🔍 The historical evolution from computer science to software engineering 🧩 Why traditional scientific methodology poorly describes modern development 🎨 The limitations of viewing code as pure artistic expression ⚙️ The parallels between software creation and skilled craftsmanship 🌉 The distinction between software engineering and traditional engineering disciplines 🛠️ The balance between rigorous methodology and creative problem-solving Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction and historical context 0:45 - The scientific perspective examination 2:29 - Artistic elements in software creation 4:54 - The craftsman analogy introduction 7:19 - Traditional engineering comparisons 9:39 - Evolution of terminology and education This perspective-shifting analysis invites developers to reconsider their professional identity beyond conventional categorizations. By understanding software development as a craft—blending technical expertise with creative problem-solving in service to human needs—we gain a richer appreciation of our discipline's unique position in the professional landscape. Transform your understanding of software development's true nature and embrace the craftsmanship mindset that balances methodical approaches with creative solutions. Join our exploration of this nuanced perspective that honors both the technical precision and human-centered purpose of our work.

    12 min
  7. Mindset Shift Needed to Go From Writing Code to Running Business with Abhishek Ray

    27 MAR

    Mindset Shift Needed to Go From Writing Code to Running Business with Abhishek Ray

    🚀 From Engineer to Founder: Transforming Technical Mindset Through Entrepreneurship Journey with Matt Watson and Abhishek Ray (YC Founder of Opslane) as they explore the profound mindset shift when a technical leader becomes a startup founder. This compelling conversation reveals how entrepreneurship transforms one's perspective on value creation, customer empathy, and the true purpose of technology. This insightful discussion explores Abhishek's journey from being an infrastructure engineer at Robinhood to becoming the solo founder of a Y Combinator-backed startup. Uncover the vital lessons learned when technical skills intersect with business realities and understand why the shift from writing flawless code to delivering real customer value may represent the most significant growth opportunity for technically inclined professionals. 🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!): Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/ Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Connect with Abhishek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhishekray00/ Company Opslane: https://opslane.com - Automating front-end bug resolution with AI and session recordings Key Discussion Points: 🔄 The jarring transition from technical perfectionism to customer-centric thinking 💡 Y Combinator's role in accelerating founder mindset development 🎯 Embracing discomfort through cold outreach and customer conversations ⚡ The challenge of context-switching between building and selling 📊 How founding a company transforms one's view of technical value creation 🌱 Learning to embrace ambiguity and value delivery over technical purity Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction and founder journey 1:03 - Opslane origin story and Y Combinator experience 3:33 - The challenge of sales and marketing 5:17 - Developing customer empathy 9:06 - Infrastructure engineers vs. product engineers 13:43 - Code perfectionism vs. business value 16:15 - Managing founder context switching 19:14 - Value delivery and business impact 22:40 - Professional growth through entrepreneurship Transform your technical perspective by understanding how entrepreneurship fundamentally reshapes one's relationship with technology development. Discover why the most valuable engineers aren't necessarily the ones solving the hardest technical problems, but those who deliver the most meaningful business outcomes.

    27 min
  8. How CTOs Build Trust with their CEO

    25 MAR

    How CTOs Build Trust with their CEO

    🔄 CTO & CEO: Navigating the Startup Leadership Dynamic Explore the critical relationship between CTOs and CEOs in startup environments with Matt Watson. This illuminating episode unpacks the communication challenges, expectation management, and strategic alignment necessary for productive technical leadership in early-stage companies. Drawing from real-world scenarios of startup friction, Matt Watson provides invaluable insights on how CTOs can effectively collaborate with CEOs while maintaining technical integrity. Discover practical frameworks for balancing innovation demands with technical realities, and learn why ownership, clear expectations, and strategic roadmapping create the foundation for successful leadership partnerships. 🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!): Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/ Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/ Key Discussion Points: 🎯 Taking complete ownership as a fundamental leadership principle 📈 Creating and maintaining strategic roadmaps amid changing priorities ⏱️ Setting realistic expectations that build trust and credibility 🔄 Navigating the innovation vs. stability trade-off 💡 Establishing regular priority-setting sessions with executives 🛠️ Balancing MVP development with technical excellence Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction to CTO-CEO relationship challenges 1:04 - Common friction points and frustrations 2:18 - Managing to change priorities and expectations 4:30 - Setting honest timelines and building trust 6:55 - Understanding necessary technical trade-offs 9:13 - Taking ownership and establishing clear plans Transform your CTO-CEO relationship through strategic communication and expectation management. Discover how ownership, planning, and honest dialogue create the foundation for successful technical leadership in startup environments.

    11 min
See All (46)

About

Building software products requires caring more about the product than it does the technology used to build the product. On this podcast, we discuss bringing a product driven mindset to every step of the product development process.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Watson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Matt Watson
  • Show Website
    Product Driven

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