Building One with Tomer Cohen

LinkedIn
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  • TECH NEWS
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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. 1H AGO

    Building Figma with Yuhki Yamashita: Collaborative Design, AI Teammates, and Building for Builders

    When product teams talk about “a single source of truth,” they’re usually describing an aspiration — a kind of digital nirvana where everyone works from the same context. In engineering, that problem was solved years ago. In design, it took a fundamental mindset shift. Few people understand that shift better than Yuhki Yamashita, Chief Product Officer at Figma. When Figma launched in 2012, the idea of multiple people editing the same file, watching every keystroke in real time, felt radical. Today, Figma is used by more than 95% of the Fortune 500, powering collaboration across designers, engineers, and product teams worldwide. In this episode of Building One, host Tomer Cohen talks with Yuhki about what it takes to build products for builders and what he’s learned from his product roles at Microsoft, Google, and Uber. Tomer and Yuhki discuss: Why designing for product teams is uniquely powerful and uniquely challenging What Yuhki learned from Microsoft, Google, and Uber, and how each shaped his product philosophy How to design tools for non-designers without diluting power or precision The rise of “vibe coding” and its parallels in design Why Figma’s multiplayer model was a means, not an end How AI can evolve from a personal assistant into a true multiplayer teammate Why storytelling is one of the most underrated product skills This conversation is for anyone building products, leading teams, or shaping tools, and for every builder who believes clarity and collaboration are the real drivers of great work. Follow Yuhki Yamashita on LinkedIn. Follow Tomer Cohen on LinkedIn and check out his newsletter, Building LinkedIn.

    29 min
  2. Building Y Combinator with Garry Tan: What It Really Takes to Build a Successful Startup

    JUN 3

    Building Y Combinator with Garry Tan: What It Really Takes to Build a Successful Startup

    What do Airbnb, Stripe, and DoorDash have in common? They were built with support from renowned startup accelerator, Y Combinator. And Garry Tan knows exactly what made them work. In the season finale of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator, to unpack what really makes a startup succeed, and why the startup journey is more about mindset, resilience, and ruthless honesty than having the “perfect” idea. Garry shares rare insights from his dual perspective: as a former founder who went through YC himself, and now as the leader of the world’s most iconic startup accelerator. He’s seen the full spectrum of startup journeys and in this candid conversation, he breaks down what sets the enduring ones apart. In this episode, Tomer and Garry cover: The difference between playing startup vs building one Why co-founders matter more than ideas, and how to find the right one How to avoid the startup “valley of despair” What YC looks for in early-stage founders and teams How to chase user truth instead of optics or false signals How to know when to persevere, when to pivot, and when to walk away Whether you're a first-time founder or a serial entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with startup wisdom you won’t hear anywhere else. Follow Garry Tan on LinkedIn. Follow Tomer Cohen on LinkedIn and check out his newsletter, Building LinkedIn.

    54 min
  3. Building IKEA with Fredrika Inger: Designing for Price, Experience & Real Life

    MAY 20

    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.

    44 min
  4. Building AMD with Mark Papermaster: How Bold Bets and Breakthroughs Reshaped the Semiconductor Industry

    MAY 6

    Building AMD with Mark Papermaster: How Bold Bets and Breakthroughs Reshaped the Semiconductor Industry

    How do you revive a tech giant and reshape an entire industry? AMD Chief Technology Officer Mark Papermaster joins Tomer Cohen to share how making bold bets, exiting stagnant markets, and betting on modular chip design led to one of the most remarkable comebacks in tech. They also dig into the ways in which semiconductors are powering the AI era. Mark Papermaster is the longtime CTO of AMD, where he helped lead a dramatic product and innovation strategy that changed the company’s future. Prior to working at AMD, his career spans leadership roles at IBM, Apple (where he was recruited by Steve Jobs himself), and Cisco. Mark and Tomer discuss: AMD’s comeback and product reinvention The end of Moore’s Law and rise of modular chip design Chiplets: How AMD bet on bold architecture and won What Mark learned from IBM, Apple, and Steve Jobs Why big bets need big exit strategies Semiconductors and the AI revolution Follow Mark Papermaster on LinkedIn. Follow Tomer Cohen on LinkedIn and check out his newsletter, Building LinkedIn.

    52 min
  5. Building Chase with Rohan Amin: Designing for Trust

    APR 22

    Building Chase with Rohan Amin: Designing for Trust

    In this episode of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Rohan Amin, Chief Product Officer at Chase, to discuss the evolving world of financial products and the challenges of delivering seamless, secure experiences. From his background in cybersecurity to his current role in shaping Chase’s product strategy, Rohan shares valuable insights into building products that balance privacy, security, and user-centric design. Tomer and Rohan discuss: Why security and trust are foundational at Chase—and in financial products overall The importance of designing for both happy and unhappy paths to ensure a smooth customer experience The power of incrementalism in scaling product improvements How Chase balances physical and digital products and services to create a more human-centered banking experience The strategic value of maintaining a personal touch, even in the digital age Follow Rohan Amin on LinkedIn. Follow Tomer Cohen on LinkedIn and check out his newsletter, Building LinkedIn.

    38 min
  6. 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.

    50 min
  7. Building WHOOP with Will Ahmed: Fitness Wearable Redefined

    MAR 25

    Building WHOOP with Will Ahmed: Fitness Wearable Redefined

    WHOOP has made a name for themselves as the go-to wearable for those at the top of their game. You may have spotted elite athletes like LeBron James and Michael Phelps wearing the slim, screenless device. So what has made the device so successful? In this week’s episode of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of WHOOP, to discuss how focusing on a narrow product vision and owning the entire user experience led to the brand’s success in the saturated fitness tracker market. Before founding WHOOP, Will was a competitive athlete and quickly recognized the need for more precise, actionable health data. WHOOP’s simplicity and dedication to providing pro athletes and everyday users with the most meaningful insights are central to the company’s approach. Tomer and Will discuss: The virtues of building a product with a narrow and deep focus. How avoiding product scope creep helped WHOOP create a best-in-class wearable. Why building original hardware was key to WHOOP’s competitive advantage. The role of restraint in showing users the data that truly matters. How WHOOP’s design for professional athletes translates to better experiences for everyday consumers. Follow Will Ahmed on LinkedIn. Follow Tomer Cohen on LinkedIn and check out his newsletter, Building LinkedIn.

    46 min
  8. Building Glean with Arvind Jain: Scaling Enterprise Search with AI Innovation

    MAR 11

    Building Glean with Arvind Jain: Scaling Enterprise Search with AI Innovation

    In a world where finding information at work is often more of a headache than it should be, Arvind Jain’s innovative solution is transforming the way enterprises manage and access knowledge. In this week’s episode of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Arvind Jain, CEO and founder of Glean, to discuss how the AI-driven platform is reshaping the future of enterprise search. Prior to founding Glean, Arvind was a Distinguished Engineer at Google, where he honed his deep technical expertise and understanding of search products. Passionate about building products that solve real-world problems, Arvind has been a key advocate for building with scalability in mind from day one. Tomer and Arvind discuss: Why Arvind Jain’s personal frustration with information search in the workplace led to the creation of Glean. Why Glean’s team designed their product with large enterprises in mind from the very beginning. How Glean uses both explicit and implicit data to measure success and improve its platform. The challenges of staying true to your product roadmap while meeting the diverse needs of enterprise customers. Why AI’s greatest potential lies in solving enterprise-level challenges and how Glean is leveraging this technology to improve workplace efficiency. Follow Arvind Jain on LinkedIn. Follow Tomer Cohen on LinkedIn and check out his newsletter, Building LinkedIn.

    47 min
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5
out of 5
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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.

Information

  • Channel
    LinkedIn
  • Creator
    LinkedIn
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    36
  • Copyright
    © LinkedIn. All rights reserved.

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