Product Pals

Charlotte Bian, Kiet Truong
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  • Entrepreneurship

Welcome to Product Pals. This is a space where product people come together to talk honestly about the work, the challenges, and everything in between. We share stories from our own journeys and from others in the product world. The moments that felt uncertain, the lessons that stuck, and the shifts that changed how we think and build. Product Pals is also a community. A place to feel supported, to learn from each other, and to remember that you are not navigating this alone. Whether you are experienced, just getting started, or somewhere in the middle, you are very welcome here. ☕️🍵🧋

  1. Aug 31

    Innovation, AI and Experimentation in Government with Adam Reitsma | Product Pals Live @ Signal-Not-Noise Conference Sydney 2026

    What does innovation really look like inside a huge government organisation? In this episode of Product Pals Live at Signal Not Noise 2026, we sit down with Adam Reitsma, former Senior Manager of Innovation and Capability at Transport for NSW. Adam shares how a five-person team worked across AI, VR, experimentation and organisational capability to create impact at scale — often without a large budget or a traditional delivery team. We talk about what makes a proof of concept actually useful, how GitHub Copilot grew to more than 500 active users across Transport for NSW, why good innovation is often about reducing risk rather than chasing novelty, and how internal communities can help great ideas spread across a massive organisation. Adam also reflects on more sensitive innovation work, including at-risk behaviour detection and suicide prevention, and what changes when the stakes are much higher. A practical conversation about constraints, experimentation, scaling, and one simple definition of innovation: Any change that creates value. 🎙️ Recorded live at Signal Not Noise 2026. Content note: This episode includes a discussion about suicide prevention, at-risk behaviour on the transport network, and the impact of these incidents on individuals, families and frontline staff. Links & resources mentioned in this episode: • TrackSAFE Foundation — rail safety, suicide prevention and employee wellbeing• Black Dog Institute — mental health and suicide prevention research and resources• TrackSAFE Suicide Awareness Training — free training for the rail workforce

  2. Aug 28

    Product Pals: Beyond the Build with Heshan Jayavardhana - Enterprise, startups, and building toward freedom

    Heshan Jayavardhana shares how 15-plus years across enterprise, scale-ups, startups, and platform products shaped the way he thinks about product management, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The conversation centers on the changing role of product managers in an AI-assisted world, plus the lessons behind his current venture, PyFi, and his broader “Project Freedom” mindset. projectfreedom.xyz https://pifiproperty.com https://linktr.ee/productpalspodcast

  3. Aug 23

    Product Pals Live @SNN: Paru Madhavan on Product Thinking Without Product Authority

    How does product work in a non-product/ content organisation? At the ABC, Paru Madhavan works in a world where customer value is created not just by Product, Design and Engineering, but by Content, Marketing and teams with decades of audience knowledge. Recorded live at Signal Not Noise 2026, we explore what product thinking looks like when you don’t have all the authority, and why that might actually make you a better product person. Paru shares how the ABC has experimented with a different kind of product trio, bringing Product, Content and Marketing together around customer problems. We get into prioritisation, strategic bets, working within constraints, building trust across very different teams, and why putting everyone into Jira is definitely not the answer. And perhaps the biggest reflection: great product practice doesn’t have to look like the Silicon Valley textbook and we can all be pragmatic and creative!  Sometimes the best product thinking starts with understanding the organisation you’re actually in. Hope you enjoy this episode  #ProductManagement #ProductThinking #ProductLeadership #ProductStrategy #ProductPals

    Product Pals Live @SNN: Paru Madhavan on Product Thinking Without Product Authority

  4. Aug 17

    Product Pals Live @SNN: Emma Carter on Leading Design in the AI Era

    It’s one of the biggest questions product teams are asking right now. If anyone can generate prototypes, build interfaces, and ship ideas faster than ever… what happens to the role of design? In our latest Product Pals Live episode, recorded at Signal Not Noise 2026, we sat down with Emma Carter, Head of Design at MYOB and author of three books on design leadership. One idea from our conversation has really stayed with me: AI will make building easier. But it won’t replace the need to deeply understand people, ask better questions, or know whether we’re solving the right problem. That shift changes the conversation. Design is not just about creating screens. It’s about connecting customer needs, business goals, technology, and human judgement. In this episode we also explore: 🎨 Why design is much more than UI and aesthetics 🤝 How Product, Design, and Engineering can become better partners 🗣️ Why engineers should spend more time talking to customers ⚖️ When to move fast with AI—and when slowing down creates better outcomes 🔮 How AI may reshape the future of product teams and specialist roles This was one of our favourite conversations from Product Pals Live, and we hope it sparks as much discussion for you as it did for our live audience. 🎧 The episode is out now! Search Product Pals on YouTube or your favourite podcast platform. 💬 I’m curious what do you think? As AI becomes better at creating, do you think the roles of Product Manager, Designer, and Engineer will become more specialised… or begin to merge?

    Product Pals Live @SNN: Emma Carter on Leading Design in the AI Era

  5. Aug 10

    Product Pals Live @SNN: Herry Wiputra on how AI is Rewriting Product Management with

    AI isn’t just changing how we build products—it’s changing how product organisations work. Recorded live at Signal Not Noise 2026, Herry Wiputra, Chief Product Officer at hipages, shares his vision for the future of product management in the AI era. We discuss why leaders should think like system owners, how Product, Design, and Engineering roles may evolve, why judgement is becoming more valuable than execution, and how AI could replace traditional handoffs with rapid experimentation. We also cover AI “slop”, hiring Product Managers, Claude, Figma Make, and the practical changes Herry is already making inside his teams. A thought-provoking conversation for anyone building products in the age of AI.

    Product Pals Live @SNN: Herry Wiputra on how AI is Rewriting Product Management with

  6. Jun 1

    Justin Homer - Designing and leading Change, Creative Slop and Good Work - Beyond the Build

    In this episode of Product Pals: Beyond the Build, Charlotte and Kiet sit down with Justin Homer, Partner and Co-founder of Be Luminous, to explore what it really means to create meaningful change through collaboration, design and play. Justin shares the journey from social policy and homelessness support to building world-class collaborative design practices across global consultancies and now Be Luminous. Together, they unpack why great work requires vulnerability, why creativity needs messiness, and why leaders must design systems that help people do their best work ,  not just manage change after the fact. This conversation is for product thinkers, founders and leaders who care about craft, systems, people and the courage it takes to keep pushing for the last 5%. 🧠 Knowledge Snacks Here’s a curated list from Justin’s learning library. Matt Taylor David Snowden & the Cynefin FrameworkDieter RamsToo Good To Go, Reducing food waste one surprise bag at a time.Substack and the following subscriptions: Fix The News-A newsletter focused on positive progress and solutions from around the world.The Citerini Project- AI futures and emerging technology discussions.Michael Burry-Investor and author known from The Big Short and his commentary on markets and economics.Vikings: War of Clans , Justin’s current gaming obsession.A fashion-focused podcast hosted by Bella Freud (fashion designer and great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud), which Justin describes as surprisingly intimate, thoughtful and full of unexpected conversations.

  7. May 22

    Product Pals: Beyond the Build with Ed Wong | Signal Not Noise Conference | Product Pals Live

    Product Pals is going live! In this special episode, Charlotte and Kiet sit down with Ed Wong, founder of LAST Conference and creator of Signal Not Noise,to announce the very first Product Pals LIVE podcast event happening in Sydney this June. Together, we explore the evolution from LAST to Signal Not Noise, why authentic communities matter more than ever, and how product and tech professionals are navigating an industry shaped by AI, uncertainty, and constant change. Ed shares the story behind building one of Australia’s most loved grassroots product communities, what it takes to sustain a community for over a decade, and why “finding your tribe” still matters in a world full of noise and hot takes. In this episode, we discuss: The future of product management in the age of AI Why titles matter less than the value you bring Cross-functional careers and evolving roles Building meaningful communities in product and tech The vision behind Signal Not Noise What to expect from the upcoming conference 🎙️ Product Pals LIVE will be hosted at Signal Not Noise in Sydney on 25 June at the NSW Teachers’ Federation Conference Centre in Surry Hills. 🎟️ Product Pals listeners can also enjoy 10% off tickets using the code: PRODUCTPALSLIVE Find out more here: Signal Not Noise Sydney If you’re curious about the future of product, community, and meaningful work — this episode is for you.

    Product Pals: Beyond the Build with Ed Wong | Signal Not Noise Conference | Product Pals Live

  8. Mar 25

    Commercial Mindset, AI and the Future of PM with Kurt Yang [Beyond the Build]

    In this episode of Product Pals, we sit down with Kurt Yang to explore why every PM needs a stronger commercial mindset. Kurt shares his journey from finance into product, unpacks the difference between commercial and digital product management, and reflects on how AI may reshape the future of the PM role. We also discuss: commercial mindset in product AI and the future of PMs ownership, accountability, and product leadership startup lessons and common mistakes frameworks, substance, and career growth A thoughtful conversation for product managers navigating change, ambiguity, and what comes next. About Product Pals Product Pals is where product people get real — exploring product craft, career growth, and the human side of building in tech.  Follow and leave a review for more honest conversations with product leaders, builders, and operators navigating the real world of product management. Contact ProductPalsPodcast@gmail.com if you’d like to be part of the show. Guest enquiries, sponsorship opportunities, and feedback are always welcome.

    Commercial Mindset, AI and the Future of PM with Kurt Yang [Beyond the Build]
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About

Welcome to Product Pals. This is a space where product people come together to talk honestly about the work, the challenges, and everything in between. We share stories from our own journeys and from others in the product world. The moments that felt uncertain, the lessons that stuck, and the shifts that changed how we think and build. Product Pals is also a community. A place to feel supported, to learn from each other, and to remember that you are not navigating this alone. Whether you are experienced, just getting started, or somewhere in the middle, you are very welcome here. ☕️🍵🧋

Information

  • Creator
    Charlotte Bian, Kiet Truong
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Charlotte Bian, Kiet Truong
  • Show Website
    Product Pals