Building One with Tomer Cohen

Building One with Tomer Cohen

Building One, a podcast hosted by Tomer Cohen, LinkedIn's Chief Product Officer, is a series of engaging one-on-one conversations with accomplished product leaders. The series delves into the professional journeys of these diverse leaders, extracts insights into the intricacies of product development, and reveals the stories behind their most impactful products. Building One not only offers valuable insights into the world of product development but also serves as a source of motivation and inspiration for listeners pursuing their own careers in product development.

  1. Building IKEA with Fredrika Inger: Designing for Price, Experience & Real Life

    2D AGO

    Building IKEA with Fredrika Inger: Designing for Price, Experience & Real Life

    What if your product design didn’t start with form or function, but with price? That’s how IKEA has built one of the most beloved and iconic retail brands in the world. In this episode of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Fredrika Inger, IKEA’s Chief Product and Commercial Officer, to explore how IKEA creates affordable, high-quality products at scale. With more than two decades at IKEA, Fredrika has seen the business from all sides: materials sourcing, supply chain logistics, store experience, and now the full product range. She reveals the behind-the-scenes process that powers IKEA’s approach to innovation, design, and customer experience. Fredrika shares how IKEA: Begins product design by setting a target price first, and reverse engineers from there Uses in-home research to understand how people really live and what problems they need solved Builds immersive retail experiences by showcasing full living solutions, not just furniture Leverages the five pillars of democratic design: function, form, quality, sustainability, and low price Continuously improves product assembly to simplify the customer experience and support circular design Balances global scale with hyper-local customer insights to stay relevant across 60+ countries This episode is a deep dive into product thinking at scale: how IKEA delivers design-driven, experience-rich, affordable solutions to millions, while staying relentlessly focused on real-life needs. Follow Fredrika Inger on LinkedIn. Follow Tomer Cohen on LinkedIn and check out his newsletter, Building LinkedIn.

    45 min
  2. Building Hinge with Justin McLeod: Intentional Design for Meaningful Dating

    APR 8

    Building Hinge with Justin McLeod: Intentional Design for Meaningful Dating

    Rebuilding a company is one of the hardest challenges any founder can face. But for Justin McLeod, founder and CEO of Hinge, it was the only way forward. In today’s episode of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Justin to dive into the journey of rebooting Hinge from a Tinder competitor to the fastest-growing dating app in the U.S., focused on helping people build meaningful, long-term relationships. Justin shares the lessons he learned from tearing down Hinge and starting over, emphasizing intentional product design, clear product principles, and how to avoid chasing engagement for engagement's sake. As the dating app designed to be deleted, Hinge is built around one core goal: getting people into relationships and off the app. Justin's approach to onboarding, user interaction, and product design has created a platform that fosters genuine connections while avoiding the pitfalls of shallow dating apps. In this episode, Justin reveals: Why Hinge intentionally loses 20% of new users during onboarding to ensure better quality matches How limiting user actions can improve the overall user experience and lead to more meaningful interactions The importance of finding good proxies for key metrics, especially when your core goal is difficult to measure (like getting people into relationships) The role of AI as a coach - not a replacement - for human-to-human interactions How product principles can help companies make tough decisions and stay true to their mission  Follow Justin McLeod on LinkedIn. Follow Tomer Cohen on LinkedIn and check out his newsletter, Building LinkedIn.

    51 min
  3. Building Patagonia with Jenna Johnson: Redefining Product Development & Sustainability Practices

    FEB 25

    Building Patagonia with Jenna Johnson: Redefining Product Development & Sustainability Practices

    What does it take to build a brand that not only survives but thrives by prioritizing the planet over profit? In this episode of Building One, host Tomer Cohen sits down with Jenna Johnson, the President of Patagonia, to explore how the iconic brand is reshaping the future of business through innovation and sustainability. Together, they unpack how Patagonia anticipates customer needs, drives environmental change, and builds products with purpose—not just for today, but for the planet’s future. Jenna has served as the President of Patagonia for over four years, after spending a decade with the company in other roles. She has held several leadership positions with Patagonia, including Vice President of Technical Outdoor and Senior Global Director for Technical Outdoor. A passionate rock climber and outdoor enthusiast herself, Jenna brings a unique perspective to her role, using her personal experiences as an athlete to inform Patagonia’s product design and testing.  In this episode, you’ll hear about: How Patagonia anticipates customer needs and innovates beyond current market expectations The company’s mission-first approach and how they balance sustainability with product releases The challenges and rewards of leading in a circular economy and establishing a secondary-market for products Why changing the internal culture is critical for successful sustainability shifts The high stakes of moving toward a fully sustainable supply chain and the importance of long-term partnerships with producers If you’re building a business or leading a brand that seeks to prioritize sustainability, this conversation will offer actionable lessons on how to drive innovation while remaining committed to a greater purpose. Follow Jenna Johnson on LinkedIn Follow Tomer Cohen on LinkedIn and check out his newsletter, Building LinkedIn.

    50 min
  4. Building Xbox with Phil Spencer: A Bold Portfolio Today for Breakout Success Tomorrow

    FEB 11

    Building Xbox with Phil Spencer: A Bold Portfolio Today for Breakout Success Tomorrow

    In this week’s episode of Building One, Tomer sits down with Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming and Xbox. With decades of experience, Phil is at the helm of one of the largest gaming platforms on the planet, overseeing iconic franchises like Halo, Call of Duty, Minecraft, and Candy Crush. As a lifelong gamer, Phil’s passion for gaming runs deep, allowing him to bring a deeply personal approach to leadership.  In this conversation, Phil dives into how Xbox has expanded beyond consoles to create an ecosystem where games are accessible across devices, maximizing reach and convenience for players. He also discusses how the emotional connection gamers have with their platform plays a crucial role in Xbox’s success, noting that feedback—no matter how harsh—should always be seen as a gift. Phil highlights the importance of taking risks in game development, explaining how innovation thrives through bold decisions and how Xbox balances established franchises like Call of Duty with new, experimental titles. He also emphasizes that, for Xbox, success isn’t about hardware—it’s about delivering compelling games and creating an environment where developers have the creative freedom to push boundaries while still adhering to the platform’s broader goals. And for anyone looking to break into the gaming industry, Phil offers valuable advice: seek out indie studios, where creativity is abundant and there’s always a need for fresh talent. Listen now to hear more about Phil’s vision for the future of gaming, how Microsoft Gaming is shaping the next generation of interactive entertainment, and what aspiring game developers can do to get started. Follow Phil Spencer on LinkedIn. Follow Tomer Cohen on LinkedIn and check out his newsletter, Building LinkedIn.

    56 min
5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Building One, a podcast hosted by Tomer Cohen, LinkedIn's Chief Product Officer, is a series of engaging one-on-one conversations with accomplished product leaders. The series delves into the professional journeys of these diverse leaders, extracts insights into the intricacies of product development, and reveals the stories behind their most impactful products. Building One not only offers valuable insights into the world of product development but also serves as a source of motivation and inspiration for listeners pursuing their own careers in product development.

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