Product Bakar

Rishikesh Kankal

Most product advice tells you what to do. Product Bakar focuses on how to think. Hosted by Rishikesh Kankal, this podcast explores real-world product strategy, AI, stakeholder management, and the decisions that actually move products forward. Real product thinking. Every week.

  1. 2h ago

    #64 From PM to Product Leader — The Shift No One Prepares You For

    The transition from Product Manager to Product Leader looks exciting from the outside. But internally?It’s messy, uncomfortable, and deeply transformational. In this first episode of The Product Leader’s Playbook, we unpack the mindset shift nobody prepares you for — moving from execution to enablement, from shipping features to shaping direction, and from being the “hero PM” to becoming the multiplier. We talk about:• Why leadership is not just a promotion• The identity crisis many first-time leaders face• The shift from doing → enabling• Why clarity becomes more important than speed• The real meaning of strategic influence• Lessons from Slack and Stewart Butterfield on scaling PM leadership• How to build leadership muscle without micromanaging If you’re stepping into product leadership — or aspiring to — this episode will help you rethink what leadership actually means in modern product organizations. Because great product leaders don’t create more activity.They create more clarity. 🔥 Keep the bakar alive. SEO KEYWORDS Product Leadership, Product Manager to Product Leader, Product Management Career Growth, Product Leadership Skills, PM Leadership Transition, Product Strategy, Leadership for PMs, Product Bakar, Product Vision, Stakeholder Management, Coaching Product Teams, Product Leadership Podcast, Product Management Podcast, Leadership Mindset, Product Organization Scaling SPOTIFY SHORT DESCRIPTION The real shift from Product Manager to Product Leader — and why nobody prepares you for it. SUGGESTED EPISODE TAGS Product Management• Product Leadership• Career Growth• Leadership• Product Strategy• Product Teams• Product Culture• Product Bakar

    5 min

  2. Jun 18

    #63 Speed Is Not Enough. Velocity Is Everything.

    Speed doesn’t make great product teams. Velocity does. In this season finale of Product बकर, we break down one of the most misunderstood concepts in product management — shipping velocity. Because velocity isn’t about how much you build. It’s about how fast you learn what actually matters. Across this season, we’ve explored discovery, validation, MVPs, GTM, and launches. This episode brings it all together by answering one critical question: How do great teams consistently move forward — without burning out or losing focus? Through examples like Stripe’s learning-driven culture, Figma’s rapid iteration cycles, Spotify’s squad model, and Basecamp’s structured rhythms, we explore what truly drives momentum inside high-performing teams. You’ll learn how to: Shift from measuring output to measuring outcomes and learning cyclesBuild teams with clarity, autonomy, and strong feedback loopsAvoid the trap of over-measuring and slowing yourself downCreate a sustainable rhythm that balances speed with recoveryTurn decision-making — not execution — into your competitive advantageBecause in product, moving fast isn’t enough. You need to move fast in the right direction. And the teams that win aren’t the ones that ship more. They’re the ones that learn faster, decide better, and build with purpose.

    6 min

  3. Jun 11

    #62 The Real Work Starts After Launch

    You’ve launched. The product is live. The team celebrates. But then what? In this episode of Product बकर (Season 4), we unpack why launch is not the finish line — it’s the beginning of real product learning. Because shipping something doesn’t mean it works. Adoption, engagement, and feedback decide that. Through examples like Google Wave’s missed learning loop, Airbnb’s listening sprints, and Figma’s real-time community feedback, we explore how the best teams stay close to the market after launch — not before it. You’ll learn how to: Measure what actually matters post-launch — adoption, engagement, and sentimentCombine data and user feedback to uncover real insightsBuild fast feedback loops that drive continuous improvementIdentify what to double down on, what to simplify, and what to cutTurn every launch into a learning system, not a one-time eventBecause the biggest mistake teams make isn’t building the wrong thing. It’s not listening after they’ve built it. If your roadmap ends at launch, you’re missing the most valuable part of product work. Because the market always speaks. The real question is — are you listening?

    6 min

  4. Jun 4

    #61 Launches Don’t Fail. Systems Do.

    Every product team has lived through it — launch week chaos. Last-minute bugs. Missing assets. Misaligned teams. And the uncomfortable realization that no one really owns the launch. In this episode of Product बकर (Season 4), we break down why great launches don’t happen by luck — they happen through discipline, clarity, and preparation. Because a launch isn’t a moment. It’s a process that starts long before release day. Through examples like Canva’s orchestrated feature launches and Slack’s philosophy of continuous launches, we explore how the best teams turn messy execution into repeatable systems. You’ll learn how to: Shift from thinking of launch as an event to a structured processAvoid common pitfalls like misalignment, lack of ownership, and late-stage chaosUse the 3R framework — Readiness, Rollout, ReflectionPlan launch assets, messaging, and sequencing alongside product developmentTurn every release into a consistent, well-executed experienceBecause shipping the product is only half the job. The other half is making sure it lands the way you intended. And when done right, launches don’t feel stressful. They feel… inevitable.

    8 min

  5. May 28

    #60 Features Don’t Sell. Narratives Do.

    People don’t buy products. They buy stories they want to be part of. In this episode of Product बकर (Season 4), we explore why product narrative is one of the most underrated skills in product management — and how it can make the difference between something that gets noticed and something that gets ignored. Because features explain what your product does. But stories explain why it matters. Through iconic examples like Apple’s iPod, Notion’s positioning, Duolingo’s simplicity, and Airbnb’s emotional storytelling, we break down how great products use narrative to turn complexity into clarity — and users into believers. You’ll learn how to: Turn features into meaningful, memorable storiesUse the 3 Cs framework — Context, Change, ClarityCraft messaging that people instantly understand and repeatMake your user the hero of your product storyBuild narratives that travel across teams, users, and marketsBecause data may convince people. But it’s stories that make them act. If your product isn’t landing the way you expect, it might not be a feature problem — it might be a story problem. And once you get the narrative right, everything else becomes easier to explain, sell, and scale.

    7 min

  6. May 21

    #59 Launch Is Too Late: GTM Starts on Day 1

    Most teams treat Go-to-Market as a launch activity. Something you figure out after the product is built. And that’s exactly why so many products struggle to find users. In this episode of Product बकर (Season 4), we break down why Go-to-Market is not a phase — it’s a product decision. Because distribution isn’t something you bolt on later. It’s something you design into the product from day one. Through examples like Clubhouse’s invite-only growth, Calendly’s built-in virality, Notion’s template ecosystem, and Superhuman’s waitlist strategy, we explore how the best products grow because of how they’re built — not just how they’re marketed. You’ll learn how to: Shift your mindset from “launch planning” to Day-1 GTM thinkingDesign product-led distribution loops that drive organic growthIdentify your true audience and where they already existCraft simple, clear messaging that instantly clicksBuild products that don’t just ship — but spreadBecause if your product depends only on marketing to survive, you’ve already made growth harder than it needs to be. The best products don’t just solve problems. They carry their own distribution with them.

    7 min

  7. May 14

    #58 Stop Building MVPs. Start Building to Learn.

    MVPs were never meant to be half-baked products. But somewhere along the way, that’s exactly what they became. In this episode of Product बकर (Season 4), we unpack the evolution from MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to MLP (Minimum Lovable Product) — and why understanding the difference can completely change how you build. Because building fast is not the goal. Learning fast — and creating something users care about — is. Through examples like Slack’s early product experience, Zappos’ scrappy validation, and Notion’s crafted early releases, we explore when to focus on speed and when to focus on delight. You’ll learn how to: Avoid the common trap of using MVP as an excuse for poor qualityDecide whether you’re testing uncertainty (MVP) or retention and emotion (MLP)Use a simple progression: MVE → MVP → MLPBuild products that are not just usable — but memorableBecause not every product needs to be perfect on day one. But it does need to be intentional. And while MVP helps you learn what works, MLP is what makes users come back. If you’ve ever shipped something quickly but struggled with adoption — this episode will help you rethink what “minimum” really means.

    7 min

  8. May 7

    #57 Before You Build, Validate This

    Every Product Manager has had that moment — the idea feels right, the team is aligned, leadership is excited… and yet, months later, nothing moves. Because the idea wasn’t wrong. It was unvalidated. In this episode of Product बकर (Season 4), we break down The Validation Stack — a practical framework to move from gut feeling to real, reliable signals before you invest time, money, and effort into building. Through stories like Zappos’ scrappy early experiment, Spotify’s business model validation, and Superhuman’s product-market fit approach, we explore how great teams reduce risk without slowing down. You’ll learn how to: Validate desirability — do users actually want this?Test feasibility — can this realistically be built?Prove viability — does this make business sense?Use lightweight tactics like fake door tests, concierge MVPs, and waitlistsReplace assumptions with evidence — early and cheaplyBecause validation isn’t about adding process. It’s about buying confidence before commitment. If you’ve ever built something that made sense on paper but failed in reality, this episode will give you a better way forward. Because the goal isn’t to prove your idea right. It’s to make sure you’re not wrong.

    8 min
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About

Most product advice tells you what to do. Product Bakar focuses on how to think. Hosted by Rishikesh Kankal, this podcast explores real-world product strategy, AI, stakeholder management, and the decisions that actually move products forward. Real product thinking. Every week.

Information

  • Creator
    Rishikesh Kankal
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 125685
  • Show Website
    Product Bakar