Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career Lenny Rachitsky

Vikrama Dhiman heads all things product at Gojek, including product management, design, program management, and research, across Indonesia, Singapore and India. He has over 16 years of experience building internet products, consults with Fortune 500 companies, and is among the most well-known and respected product leaders in all of Asia. In our conversation, we discuss:
• The most common traits among successful product managers
• The 3 W’s framework for PM career growth
• The Four A’s of leveling up in product management
• The right way to push back as a PM
• Common pitfalls that stall PM careers
• Vikrama’s advice for transitioning into product management
• Why intent alone is not enough
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Brought to you by:
• Uizard—AI-powered prototyping for visionary product leaders
• Webflow—The web experience platform
• Coda—The all-in-one collaborative workspace
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Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/a-framework-for-pm-skill-development
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Where to find Vikrama Dhiman:
• X: https://twitter.com/vikramadhiman
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikrama/
• Website: https://www.vikramadhiman.com/
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Where to find Lenny:
• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com
• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/
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In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Vikrama’s background
(03:56) Three common traits among great PMs
(07:09) The first W: What you produce
(15:40) The second W: What you bring to the table
(18:58) The third W: What’s your operating model?
(20:36) Three traits that make you a great PM to work with
(21:49) How to improve the quality and quantity of your outputs
(23:26) The art of the pushback
(26:55) Common factors that impede career growth
(33:39) Vikrama’s personal reflections
(39:33) Choosing which skill(s) to focus on developing
(46:28) The ambiguity of the PM role
(51:47) The 8 axis for PM growth
(56:57) Contrarian corner: Why intent alone is not enough
(59:30) Lightning round
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Referenced:
• Taxi mafias, cash vaults, and 100% MoM growth: The story behind Southeast Asia’s biggest startup | Kevin Aluwi (Gojek): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/taxi-mafias-cash-vaults-and-100-mom
• How to scrappily hire for, measure, and unlock growth | Crystal Widjaja, Gojek and Kumu: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-hire-for-measure-and-unlock
• Gojek: https://www.gojek.com/en-id
• SQL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL
• Oracle: https://www.oracle.com/
• Crystal Widjaja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalwidjaja
• Raditya Wibowo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raditya-wibowo-a0845436/?originalSubdomain=id
• Sidu Ponnappa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sidup
• Leveraging mentors to uplevel your career | Jules Walter (YouTube, Slack): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/leveraging-mentors-to-uplevel-your
• Kevin Aluwi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaluwi/
• Workday: https://www.workday.com/
• Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/
• Small Data: The Tiny Clues That Uncover Huge Trends: https://www.amazon.com/Small-Data-Clues-Uncover-Trends/dp/1250080681
• Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World: https://www.amazon.com/Originals-How-Non-Conformists-Move-World/dp/014312885X
• Thinking, Fast and Slow: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555
• Miss Congeniality on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Miss-Congeniality-Sandra-Bullock/dp/B002R5HQDK
• Schitt’s Creek on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Schitts-Creek/dp/B083LDRW9F
• DramaBox: https://www.dramaboxapp.com/
• Am I Overthinking This?: Over-Answering Life’s Questions in 101 Charts: https://www.amazon.com/Am-Overthinking-This-Over-answering-questions/dp/1452175861/
• Crazy Rich Asians on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Rich-Asians-Constance-Wu/dp/B07JGJFXBF
• 9 Best Hawker Centers in Singapore—and What to Eat There: https://ww

Hamilton Helmer is one of the world’s leading experts on business strategy and the author of the seminal book 7 Powers: The Foundations of Business Strategy, which provides a comprehensive framework for understanding what it really takes to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage. With more than three decades of experience in the strategic consulting industry, Hamilton has advised over 200 companies—from burgeoning startups to Fortune 100 giants—on how to identify, build, and leverage their unique strategic powers. In our conversation, we discuss:
• Potential sources of power that startups should develop from an early stage
• Common misconceptions among companies about the types of power they possess
• How power relates to strategy
• The difference between a moat and a power
• Practical strategies for non-leaders to leverage insights about power and strategy in their work
• AI’s impact on competitive advantages and barriers to entry
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Brought to you by:
• WorkOS—Modern identity platform for B2B SaaS, free up to 1 million MAUs
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• Paragon—Ship every SaaS integration your customers want
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Find the transcript and references at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/business-strategy-with-hamilton-helmer
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Where to find Hamilton Helmer:
• X: https://twitter.com/hamiltonhelmer
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamilton-helmer-42983/
• Website: https://7powers.com/
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Where to find Lenny:
• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com
• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/
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In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Hamilton’s background
(04:08) When power becomes important
(08:24) How strategy relates to power
(12:09) How power informs strategy
(14:46) The sequence of powers
(21:13) Common misconceptions
(24:39) Network effects vs. network economies
(26:58) Uber’s success
(29:16) Moats vs. powers
(31:12) Strategies for non-leaders to leverage power and strategy
(37:51) Advice on how to become a strategic thinker
(39:27) AI’s impact on the seven powers
(45:43) Why moving fast is not a power
(50:24) Three things that create value in a company
(51:16) The debt trajectory of the U.S.
(56:35) Optimism for the future
(59:25) Lightning round
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Referenced:
• 7 Powers: The Foundations of Business Strategy: https://www.amazon.com/7-Powers-Foundations-Business-Strategy/dp/0998116319
• John von Neumann: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann
• Pearl Harbor: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor
• Where the Japanese Went Wrong at Pearl Harbor: https://pearlharbor.org/blog/where-japanese-went-wrong-pearl-harbor/
• The ‘7 Powers’ of business success—from one of Netflix’s early investors: https://www.qualitycompounders.com.au/post/the-7-powers-of-business-success-from-one-of-netflix-s-early-investors
• 7 Powers: Foundations of Business Strategy (Key Takeaways): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-powers-foundations-business-strategy-key-takeaways-nikita-maloo/
• Strategy Capital: https://strategycapital.com/
• Warren Buffett: https://www.forbes.com/profile/warren-buffett/
• Charlie Munger: https://www.forbes.com/profile/charles-munger/
• Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger: https://www.stripe.press/poor-charlies-almanack
• Bill Gates reveals why Warren Buffett was an invaluable source of support during the stormiest period of his career: https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-interview-warren-buffett-support-microsoft-antitrust-lawsuit-2019-6
•  Billionaire Warren Buffett’s Secret Love Affair With Castles, Revealed: https://www.thestreet.com/opinion/billionaire-warren-buffett-s-secret-love-affair-with-castles-revealed-14290973
• Netflix didn’t kill Blockbuster—how Netflix almost lost the movie rental wars: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/22/how-netflix-almost-lost-the-movie-rental-wars

Annie Duke is a former professional poker player, a decision-making expert, and a special partner at First Round Capital. She is the author of Thinking in Bets (a national bestseller) and Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away and the co-founder of the Alliance for Decision Education, a nonprofit whose mission is to improve lives by empowering students through decision skills education. In our conversation, we cover:
• What Annie learned from the late Daniel Kahneman
• The power of pre-mortems and “kill criteria”
• The relationship between money and happiness
• The power of “mental time travel”
• The nominal group technique for better decision quality
• How First Round Capital improved their decision-making process
• Many tactical decision-making frameworks
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Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/making-better-decisions-annie-duke
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Where to find Annie Duke:
• X: https://twitter.com/AnnieDuke
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-duke/
• Website: https://www.annieduke.com/
• Substack: https://www.annieduke.com/substack/
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Where to find Lenny:
• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com
• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/
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In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Annie’s background
(03:53) Lessons from Daniel Kahneman: humility, curiosity, and open-mindedness
(09:15) The importance of unconditional love in parenting
(15:15) Mental time travel and “nevertheless”
(20:06) The extent of improvement possible in decision-making 
(24:54) Independent brainstorming for better decisions
(35:36) Making sure people feel heard
(42:41) The “3Ds” framework to make better decisions
(44:49) Decision quality
(55:46) Improving decision-making at First Round Capital
(01:05:05) Using pre-mortems and kill criteria
(01:10:15) Making explicit what’s implicit
(01:10:55) The challenges of quitting and knowing when to walk away
(01:19:23) Where to find Annie
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Referenced:
• Daniel Kahneman, Who Plumbed the Psychology of Economics, Dies at 90: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/27/business/daniel-kahneman-dead.html
• Adversarial collaboration: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adversarial_collaboration
• Does more money correlate with greater happiness?: https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/does-more-money-correlate-greater-happiness-Penn-Princeton-research#
• Income and emotional well-being: A conflict resolved: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36857342/
• Strategic decisions: When can you trust your gut?: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/strategic-decisions-when-can-you-trust-your-gut
• Cass Sunstein on X: https://twitter.com/CassSunstein
• Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside
• A framework for finding product-market fit | Todd Jackson (First Round Capital): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/a-framework-for-finding-product-market
• First Round Capital: https://firstround.com/
• Brett Berson on X: https://twitter.com/brettberson
• Renegade Partners: https://www.renegadepartners.com/
• Renata Quintini on X: https://twitter.com/rquintini
• Roseanne Wincek on X: https://twitter.com/imthemusic
• Josh Kopelman on X: https://twitter.com/joshk
• Bill Trenchard on X: https://twitter.com/btrenchard
• Linnea Gandhi on X: https://twitter.com/linneagandhi
• Maurice Schweitzer on X: https://twitter.com/me_schweitzer
• Problems with premortems: https://sjdm.org/presentations/2021-Poster-Gandhi-Linnea-debiasing-premortem-selfserving~.pdf
• Create a Solid Plan on How to Fail Big This Year: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2020/02/07/create-a-solid-plan-on-how-to-fail-big-this-year/
• Quit: The

Kayvon Beykpour was the longest-serving head of product at Twitter and was GM of Twitter’s consumer division until the platform was acquired by Elon Musk. He originally joined Twitter in 2015 through the acquisition of his company, Periscope, the largest live video streaming platform at the time. Periscope pioneered technology that inspired Instagram Live, TikTok Live, Facebook Live, and other social networks’ expansion into video streaming. In our conversation, we discuss:
• The story of being let go from Twitter after Elon’s acquisition
• How he turned Twitter’s stagnant culture around
• Kayvon’s thoughts on the limitations of frameworks like Jobs to Be Done
• Why Periscope failed
• Advice for building consumer products
• When to copy, when to innovate
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• Heap—Cross-platform product analytics that convert, engage, and retain customers
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Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/twitters-former-head-of-product-kayvon-beykpour
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Where to find Kayvon Beykpour:
• X: https://twitter.com/kayvz
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayvz/
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Where to find Lenny:
• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com
• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/
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In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Kayvon’s background
(04:31) Getting Elon up to speed at Twitter
(11:34) The story of being let go from Twitter after Elon’s acquisition
(21:09) Changing the product culture at Twitter
(29:44) Building the “hide replies” feature
(32:02) Sacred crows, taking bold bets, and reigniting growth
(34:28) Aquihires and their impact
(42:40) Tips for successful acquisitions and staffing
(47:00) The limitations of frameworks like JTBD
(53:20) Signs you’ve gone too far with a framework
(57:44) Lessons from building Periscope
(01:00:41) Reasons why Periscope failed
(01:07:24) The challenges of implementing video at Twitter
(01:12:05) Copying ideas in good taste
(01:17:58) How to get better at building consumer products
(01:19:51) What Kayvon is building
(01:20:31) Lightning round
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Referenced:
• Lessons on building product sense, navigating AI, optimizing the first mile, and making it through the messy middle | Scott Belsky (Adobe, Behance): https://www.lennyspodcast.com/lessons-on-building-product-sense-navigating-ai-optimizing-the-first-mile-and-making-it-through-t/
• What it’s like to sell your startup for ~$120 million before it’s even launched: Meet Twitter’s new prized possession, Periscope: https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-periscope-and-why-twitter-bought-it-2015-3
• Walter Isaacson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walter-isaacson-b8b81520/
• Elon Musk on X: https://twitter.com/elonmusk
• Parag Agrawal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parag-agrawal-5a14742a/
• Jack Dorsey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-dorsey-a43b07242/
• Blackboard: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackboard_Inc.
• Keith Coleman on X: https://twitter.com/kcoleman
• Esther Crawford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esthercrawford/
• Twitter acquires Chroma Labs: https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/twitter-acquires-chroma-labs-story-aqvcRPAoYXqXJuAbefA6cN.html
• John Barnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarnettt/
• Jobs to Be Done framework: https://jobs-to-be-done.com/jobs-to-be-done-a-framework-for-customer-needs-c883cbf61c90
• Hot takes and techno-optimism from tech’s top power couple: https://www.lennyspodcast.com/hot-takes-and-techno-optimism-from-techs-top-power-couple-sriram-and-aarthi/
• Nike Is Unveiling the Kobe 11 Tomorrow Using Periscope: https://sneakernews.com/2015/12/13/nike-is-unveiling-the-kobe-11-tomorrow-using-periscope/
• Chris Sacca’s website: https://chrissacca.com/
• Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/formedia

Carole Robin spent over 20 years teaching the Stanford Graduate School of Business course Interpersonal Dynamics, affectionately known as “Touchy Feely.” After leaving Stanford, she founded a nonprofit called Leaders in Tech, which applies the Touchy Feely principles to help Silicon Valley executives build their leadership and interpersonal skills. Carole co-authored the popular book Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues, which shares key insights from her decades of teaching these courses. In our conversation, we discuss:
• The benefits of building robust relationships, in life and work
• The 15% rule, and how it will help you build better relationships
• The power of vulnerability
• Examples of how to practice vulnerability
• Why mental models you build early in life hold you back later
• The “three realities” and “the net”
• The art of inquiry
• Practical tips for avoiding defensiveness when getting feedback
• The impact of long Covid on Carole’s life
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Brought to you by:
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• The a16z Podcast—Featuring conversations with the founders and technologists shaping our future
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Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/build-robust-relationships-carole-robin
—
Where to find Carole Robin:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-robin/
• Email: carolerobinllc@gmail.com
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Where to find Lenny:
• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com
• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/
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In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Carole’s background
(05:17) The importance of building robust relationships
(10:20) The “Touchy Feely” course at Stanford
(13:29) An example of the in-class experience
(17:19) Leaders in Tech: developing interpersonal competence
(21:36) Progressive disclosure and the 15% rule
(24:28) Appropriate disclosure
(26:52) The power of vulnerability
(34:57) Admitting mistakes and sharing feelings
(37:08) Understanding mental models
(42:57) The “three realities” framework
(53:52) The power of feedback and personal change
(58:47) The art of inquiry
(01:03:27) How to get better at giving feedback
(01:07:47) Exercises and continued learning
(01:10:49) “Advice hinders relationships”
(01:16:49) Failure corner: AFOG
(01:20:30) Takeaways
(01:21:51) Lessons from long Covid
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Referenced:
• How to Build Better Relationships: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/how-build-better-relationships
• Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues: https://www.amazon.com/Connect-Building-Exceptional-Relationships-Colleagues-ebook/dp/B0894279WZ
• Leaders in Tech: https://leadersintech.org/
• Leaders in Tech Fellows: https://leadersintech.org/learnaboutfellows
• Steve Jobs: https://www.forbes.com/profile/steve-jobs/
• Sheryl Sandberg on X: https://twitter.com/sherylsandberg
• Ursula Burns: https://www.forbes.com/profile/ursula-burns/
• Application for Leaders in Tech: https://leadersintech.org/programs-and-applications
• Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding Theory: https://www.simplypsychology.org/zone-of-proximal-development.html
• The Best Leaders Aren’t Afraid to Be Vulnerable: https://hbr.org/2022/07/the-best-leaders-arent-afraid-of-being-vulnerable
• The Surprising Benefits of Admitting Mistakes: 5 Ways to Build Intellectual Humility: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2021/12/29/the-surprising-benefits-of-admitting-mistakes-5-ways-to-build-intellectual-humility/
• How to Build Conflict Skills—The Pinch/Crunch Model: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahart/2023/12/15/how-to-build-conflict-skills-the-pinchcrunch-model/
• Slides mentioned (The Three Realities Framework | The 15% Rule | Feedback Guidelines): https://www.notion.so/pen-name/Carole-

Mihika Kapoor is a design-engineer-PM hybrid at Figma, where she was an early PM on FigJam and is now spearheading development on a new product at the company that’s coming out this June. She’s known as the go-to person at Figma for leading new 0-to-1 products, and, as you’ll hear in our conversation, beloved by everyone she works with. Her background includes founding Design Nation, a national nonprofit focused on democratizing design education for undergraduates; spearheading product launches at Meta; and community building within the NYC AI startup scene. In our conversation, we discuss:
• How to effectively take ideas from 0 to 1 at larger companies
• How to craft a compelling vision
• The importance of vulnerability and feedback
• The role of intuition and product sense in making decisions
• How to practically communicate your vision
• How to balance collaboration and strong opinions
• Advice for building a strong team culture
• Pivoting with grace and enthusiasm
• The current AI revolution and its impact on PM
—
Brought to you by:
• Paragon—Ship every SaaS integration your customers want
• Lenny’s Talent Team—Hire the best product people. Find the best product gigs
• Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security
—
Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/vision-conviction-hype-mihika-kapoor
—
Where to find Mihika Kapoor:
• X: https://twitter.com/mihikapoor
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mihikakapoor/
—
Where to find Lenny:
• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com
• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/
—
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Mihika’s background
(04:29) Core attributes of great product managers
(07:34) Crafting a compelling vision
(12:12) The vision behind FigJam 
(18:25) Delivering a vision without design or engineering skills
(21:52) Creating momentum
(26:36) The importance of strong conviction
(27:45) Direct communication
(32:48) Building hype
(42:20) Immersing yourself in user insights
(47:16) Operationalizing user insights  
(50:33) Caring deeply about what you build
(54:01) Finding passion in your work
(57:00) Building a strong culture
(01:07:07) Pivoting with grace and enthusiasm
(01:11:48) Design Nation
(01:13:15) Mihika’s weaknesses
(01:16:07) Building new products at larger companies
(01:20:50) Coming up with a great idea
(01:22:49) The key to going from 0 to 1
(01:26:47) Spreading the idea across the company
(01:29:15) Closing thoughts
(01:32:11) Lightning round
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Referenced:
• Figma: https://www.figma.com/
• Sho Kuwamoto on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shokuwamoto/
• The Medici Effect: What Elephants and Epidemics Can Teach Us About Innovation: https://www.amazon.com/Medici-Effect-Preface-Discussion-Guide/dp/1633692949
• FigJam: https://www.figma.com/figjam/
• Cognition: https://www.cognition-labs.com/
• Devin: https://www.cognition-labs.com/introducing-devin
• David Hoang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhoang2/
• Replit: https://replit.com/
• The Making of Maker Week at Figma: https://www.figma.com/blog/the-making-of-maker-week/
• Yuhki Yamashita on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuhki/
• Jeff Bezos’ Simple Decision-Making Framework Will Give You Clarity, Conviction, and Courage: https://medium.com/illumination/jeff-bezos-simple-decision-making-framework-will-give-you-clarity-conviction-and-courage-adf8d0183625
• Alice Ching on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceching/
• Karl Jiang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-jiang-4a07424/
• Kris Rasmussen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopherrasmussen/
• Config: https://config.figma.com/
• Dev Mode: https://www.figma.com/dev-mode/
• Asana: https://asana.com/
• Julie Zhuo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-zhuo/
• StrengthsFinder test: https://www.gyfted.me/personality-quiz/strengthsfinder-test-fr