The Secrets of Product Management Podcast by Nils Davis: tips for product managers, covering storytelling, go to market,innov

Nils Davis
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The Secrets of Product Management Podcast by Nils Davis: tips for product managers, covering storytelling, go to market,innov

Brought to you by Nils Davis, this podcast will help you become a better product manager, marketer, innovator, or entrepreneur. With thought provoking and action-oriented content - this podcast tackles problems ranging from finding and validating market problems, to creating innovative solutions, to taking those solutions to market. Simply put, it will help you move your skills - and your products - to the next level.

  1. APR 11

    163: Chad McAllister – Unveiling the PDMA Body of Knowledge

    Unveiling the PDMA Body of Knowledge with Chad McAllister This episode my guest Chad McAllister introduces us to the Product Development and Management Association’s (PDMA) Body of Knowledge (BOK), a valuable yet underappreciated resource in product management. Established in 1976, PDMA has been pivotal in advancing product development and management practices across industries. Chad, a key figure in the third edition of the PDMA BOK, discusses its importance, contents, and the benefits it offers to both new and experienced product managers. The conversation also covers Chad’s Product Mastery Now podcast, the significance of certifications, and strategies for increasing PDMA’s visibility in the product management community. Links * Chad on LinkedIn * Chad’s website, including several great training options for product managers. * The Product Mastery Now podcast – 483 episodes and counting as of these show notes. * Chad’s episode introducing the PDMA Body of Knowledge (previous edition): TEI 307: Introduction to the PDMA Body of Knowledge for product managers and innovators – with Allan Anderson, PhD * Learn more about PDMA at pdma.org * Check out the PDMA Body of Knowledge, Third Edition, on Amazon   Unveiling the PDMA Body of Knowledge with Chad McAllister This episode my guest Chad McAllister introduces us to the Product Development and Management Association’s (PDMA) Body of Knowledge (BOK), a valuable yet underappreciated resource in product management. Established in 1976, PDMA has been pivotal in advancing product development and management practices across industries. Chad, a key figure in the third edition of the PDMA BOK, discusses its importance, contents, and the benefits it offers to both new and experienced product managers. The conversation also covers Chad’s Product Mastery Now podcast, the significance of certifications, and strategies for increasing PDMA’s visibility in the product management community. Links * Chad on LinkedIn * Chad’s website, including several great training options for product managers. * The Product Mastery Now podcast – 483 episodes and counting as of these show notes. * Chad’s episode introducing the PDMA Body of Knowledge (previous edition): TEI 307: Introduction to the PDMA Body of Knowledge for product managers and innovators – with Allan Anderson, PhD * Learn more about PDMA at pdma.org * Check out the PDMA Body of Knowledge, Third Edition, on Amazon

    30 min

  2. MAR 21

    162: Chris Mason on Product Management Jobs and the PM Job Market

    Chris Mason on Product Management Jobs My guest on this episode is Chris Mason, the co-founder and leader of Intelligent People, a recruiting firm in the UK that focuses on product managers and other product people – designers, heads of product, etc. In our interview, he shares his insights on the state of the product manager job market, hints and tips for folks looking a PM job, and even their first PM job, guidance for those hiring product managers, and lots of other great information. Chris has been in the recruiting industry almost as long as I’ve been in product management! And as leader of a firm focused specifically on product roles, he has a lot of useful insights for us product managers. Especially if you are looking for a job or hiring people. Links * Intelligent People, Chris’ recruiting company. Their website includes job listings, job seeker resources, and a free mentorship offer that’s definitely worth investigating. * Chris on LinkedIn. * A few of Chris’s recent posts on LinkedIn: * On their mentorship scheme. * His appearance on JJ Rorie’s podcast. (JJ’s been a guest on this podcast, too!) * A list of resources for folks searching for a new job in 2024. * Here’s a transcript of this episode! Comment, rate, subscribe Please comment on the episode just at the bottom of this page – I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you like this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and product manager friends, and subscribe via iTunes or your favorite subscription method. And please consider rating and reviewing the podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. The feedback helps other people find the podcast. Chris Mason on Product Management Jobs My guest on this episode is Chris Mason, the co-founder and leader of Intelligent People, a recruiting firm in the UK that focuses on product managers and other product people – designers, heads of product, etc. In our interview, he shares his insights on the state of the product manager job market, hints and tips for folks looking a PM job, and even their first PM job, guidance for those hiring product managers, and lots of other great information. Chris has been in the recruiting industry almost as long as I’ve been in product management! And as leader of a firm focused specifically on product roles, he has a lot of useful insights for us product managers. Especially if you are looking for a job or hiring people. Links * Intelligent People, Chris’ recruiting company. Their website includes job listings, job seeker resources, and a free mentorship offer that’s definitely worth investigating. * Chris on LinkedIn. * A few of Chris’s recent posts on LinkedIn: * On a href="https://www.

    34 min

  3. MAR 14

    161: Clifton Gilley on What The Data Shows About Product Leaders and Product Laggards

    Clifton Gilley of Gartner’s Tech Product Management team In this week’s episode my guest is Clifton Gilley, a long time product manager, and now a VP Analyst with Gartner’s Tech Product Manager team. Cliff made the jump from product management practitioner to analyst because they had the data. As he says, “What really made me gravitate toward Gartner is I knew that they did research.” In the interview we delve into what the data says sets successful companies apart. And the answer? Leading companies (we talk about what leaders and laggards mean in Gartner-speak in the interview), are involving product managers in strategy, and it’s an outward facing role, facing the market and customers. Laggards tend to see product as a delivery team, mostly internal facing. It’s clear in Gartner’s data that the more strategic the product management role, the better the outcomes. For more, check out the episode. Links * Cliff on LinkedIn * His author page on Gartner’s site, and Gartner’s Tech PM practice site * The Clever PM blog (in stasis since 2018, but all the articles are still there)   Clifton Gilley of Gartner’s Tech Product Management team In this week’s episode my guest is Clifton Gilley, a long time product manager, and now a VP Analyst with Gartner’s Tech Product Manager team. Cliff made the jump from product management practitioner to analyst because they had the data. As he says, “What really made me gravitate toward Gartner is I knew that they did research.” In the interview we delve into what the data says sets successful companies apart. And the answer? Leading companies (we talk about what leaders and laggards mean in Gartner-speak in the interview), are involving product managers in strategy, and it’s an outward facing role, facing the market and customers. Laggards tend to see product as a delivery team, mostly internal facing. It’s clear in Gartner’s data that the more strategic the product management role, the better the outcomes. For more, check out the episode. Links * Cliff on LinkedIn * His author page on Gartner’s site, and Gartner’s Tech PM practice site * The Clever PM blog (in stasis since 2018, but all the articles are still there)

    38 min

  4. MAR 6

    160: Seize the Customer Conversation And Other Advice With Mike Smart

    Embracing Change and Customer Engagement in Product Management In this episode Mike Smart, an old friend and longtime product management leader, instructor, and consultant, says we can’t wait for the world to change (quoting an old John Mayer song). Product management needs to seize the day, and actively engage with customers even if it means breaking some glass and stepping on some toes, bending some rules. Mike shares his history as a product leader, starting from a sales role to becoming a product management consultant. Mike has an amazing historical perspective on product, and discuss the common challenges faced by product organizations, such as the influence of sales on product development and the importance of customer discovery. The conversation also touches on the shift towards product marketing management and the vital role of go-to-market strategies in today’s competitive landscape. Key takeaways include the imperative for product managers to initiate customer conversations and the pivot towards focusing on how products are marketed and understood by potential customers, and for product leaders in particular to have (or develop) business acumen focused on sales velocity rather than just release velocity. Links and contact information * Mike on LinkedIn * Mike’s company, Egress Solutions * Mike’s podcast is GTM Disrupted. You can listen on its home page, or find it wherever you get your podcasts (here’s the Apple link and the Spotify link). Support this podcast * The easiest and best way to support the podcast is to leave me a comment or question, drop a note or connection request to me on LinkedIn, or just send me an email at nils@nilsdavis.com. * You can also rate and review the podcast on Apple iTunes – that really helps others find it. * And you can just share the podcast directly with your product manager friends – they’ll probably really appreciate it! Timings 00:00 Introduction: Waiting for the World to Change 00:34 Guest Introduction: Mike Smart of Egress Solutions 01:03 The Journey of a Product Manager 02:06 The Importance of Customer Conversations 03:22 The Evolution of Product Management 05:19 The Role of Product Marketing 10:22 The Challenges of Product Management 11:31 The Impact of Sales on Product Management 12:46 The Shift in Product Management Focus 14:56 The Importance of Business Acumen in Product Management 23:07 The Role of Go-To-Market in Product Management 33:06 Conclusion: The Future of Product Management Embracing Change and Customer Engagement in Product Management In this episode Mike Smart, an old friend and longtime product management leader, instructor, and consultant, says we can’t wait for the world to change (quoting an old John Mayer song). Product management needs to seize the day, and actively engage with customers even if it means breaking some glass and stepping on some toes, bending some rules.

    18 min

  5. FEB 28

    159: Ryan Gottfredson on The Transformative Power of Mindsets in Life and Leadership

    The Transformative Power of Mindsets in Life and Leadership In this episode, an engaging conversation about mindsets with Ryan Gottfredson, a renowned leadership and management professor, author, and mindset expert. The core discussion revolves around the foundational role mindsets play in shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and overall success in life, work, and leadership. Gottfredson emphasizes the potential for profound personal and professional transformation through the understanding and shifting of our mindsets. The mindsets He introduces four primary sets of mindsets identified through academic research and discusses the process of ‘vertical development’ as a means of enhancing one’s internal operating system for better outcomes. The four mindset dimensions are: * Fixed Growth * Open Closed * Prevention Promotion * Inward Outward If you take Ryan’s assessment, you’ll find where you stand on each of those dimensions. How to improve your mindset – vertical development The conversation also touches upon the impact of trauma on mindsets, the benefits of mindset-oriented personal development, and practical steps anyone can take to work on their mindsets. Additionally, Gottfredson shares personal anecdotes and insights on overcoming self-protective mindsets for greater productivity and fulfillment, highlighting resources like his mindset assessment and the ‘Success Mindsets’ book. Links * Ryan Gottfredson’s site. * Ryan on LinkedIn. * Ryan’s mindset-related assessments. * Ryan’s book, Success Mindsets: Your Keys to Unlocking Greater Success in Your Life, Work, & Leadership. * Carol Dweck’s book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, where many of first learned about the growth and fixed mindsets. Time codes for the episode 00:00 Introduction to Mindsets 00:19 The Power of Shifting Mindsets 00:51 Meet the Guest: Ryan Gottfredson 01:14 The Role of Mindsets in Leadership and Management 02:26 Understanding the Concept of Fixed and Growth Mindsets 02:58 The Journey to Shifting Mindsets 03:45 The Neuroscience Behind Mindsets 06:36 The Impact of Mindsets on Success 07:41 The Process of Vertical Development 24:44 The Role of Trauma in Shaping Mindsets 30:21 Practical Steps to Improve Mindsets 32:11 Conclusion and Contact Information The Transformative Power of Mindsets in Life and Leadership In this episode, an engaging conversation about mindsets with Ryan Gottfredson, a renowned leadership and management professor, author, and mindset expert. The core discussion revolves around the foundational role mindsets play in shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and overall success in life, work, and leadership. Gottfredson emphasizes the potential for profound personal and professional transformation through the understanding and shifting of our mindsets. The mindsets He introduces four primary sets of mindsets identified through academic research and discusses the process of ‘vertical development’ as a means of enhanci...

  6. JAN 10

    158: Steve Johnson Shares His Wisdom

    Steve Johnson, OG product management thinker Steve Johnson is my guest on this week’s episode. I’m sure you know of him already. And if not, you will after this episode. He’s one of the OG product management thought leaders, especially in the software world. Many people got to know Steve during his long stint as a trainer for Pragmatic Marketing, which followed a career as a product manager, product marketing manager and product leader. He’s now running Product Growth Leaders, a community for product managers, and a training company. In his courses, including The Fundamentals of Managing Products, intensives such as The Product Launch Intensive, and assessments, he uses the Quartz Open Framework, a process framework for systematically managing and marketing products. Quartz is a non-proprietary model for product planning created by industry thought leaders, including the founders of Product Growth Leaders. In this episode Steve is renowned as a storyteller, and in this episode you’ll hear a lot of them, starting with how he learned what product management is and how it interfaces with other roles in the organization, especially sales and marketing. He’ll share the origins of his statement that agile has to some degree broken product management. And what he means by that. And we’ll talk about the different challenge that is leading product managers. And why so many companies struggle with that? I started by asking Steve about his origin story in product management, because, you see, he started his PM career in sales. Contacting Steve * Product Growth Leaders * Steve on LinkedIn * The Quartz Open Framework Support this podcast * The easiest and best way to support the podcast is to leave me a comment or question, drop a note or connection request to me on LinkedIn, or just send me an email at nils@nilsdavis.com. * You can also rate and review the podcast on Apple iTunes – that really helps others find it. * And you can just share the podcast directly with your product manager friends – they’ll probably really appreciate it! Steve Johnson, OG product management thinker Steve Johnson is my guest on this week’s episode. I’m sure you know of him already. And if not, you will after this episode. He’s one of the OG product management thought leaders, especially in the software world. Many people got to know Steve during his long stint as a trainer for Pragmatic Marketing, which followed a career as a product manager, product marketing manager and product leader. He’s now running Product Growth Leaders, a community for product managers, and a training company. In his courses, including a href="https://www.productgrowthleaders.com/offerings/fundamentals-of-managing-products" target="_blank"...

    43 min

  7. JAN 2

    157: Looking Back, Leaping Forward: 2023 Retrospective

    Looking Back, Leaping Forward: 2023 Retrospective In the last episode of 2024, I go through a retrospective of the show for 2023, and share some of my plans for 2024. A few stats, lessons learned, things that went well and went badly, and then a sneak peek into what I’m planning for 2024. 2023 recap I released a total of 34 episodes, including seven reruns. Five of the episodes were interviews. I introduced some interesting new topics like anti-fragility and the PRD as the product bible. Both of those need more coverage in 2024! As well, of course, the show continued (and will continue) to hit on all the old favorites like storytelling, go to market, psychological safety and basic product management skills. Stats & achievements * My monthly downloads almost doubled since mid-2022. * The best month hit 2,481 downloads. * My most popular episode reached 320 downloads in the first 30 days. Challenges * Some of the usual suspects – consistency, content ideas, all that stuff. (It’s a creative endeavor, and so creative blocks are gonna happen, I don’t care who you are!) * And then there were indeed a few technical challenges, including one interview I recorded where half the recording disappeared at one point. Luckily, I was recording it with another tool as well, so I think I’ll be able to save it. * ChatGPT was not the helper I thought it would be (although it did contribute a lot to these show notes, based on the transcript of the episode). Looking ahead to 2024 Expect a higher ratio of interviews in 2024. As I mentioned, I only did five interviews in 2023. I expect that to go way up. This is both to widen the content because (haha!) I don’t know everything. And also to widen the audience because a lot of folks have audiences that would be interested in what we do here on the podcast. And I want to get that out to them. I plan to explore the Descript tool further and ramp up the marketing side of the podcast. My goal for the year is 52 episodes, although not all new. I don’t know why this wouldn’t be possible. Content goals I will continue exploring go-to-market strategies, getting jobs, being mentally successful in product management. And some newer topics like AI (as I explore it for myself and report on what others are doing), the product bible concept, and anti-fragility, among other topics. I’ll be working on “filling the well” in 2024, to help me have more ideas and insights to share. I’ve set a personal goal to read 24 books in 2024, 1/2 fiction, 1/2 business/non-fiction. Currently I’m reading User Stories Applied, by Mike Cohn. I rag on user stories a lot, so I thought it would be a good idea to read one of the original guides on how to write and use them. Coaching episodes! In 2024 I will be introducing coaching episodes where you, my listeners, can participate for guidance and learning. Let me know if you’d like to get some coaching from me on some issue that you wouldn’t mind being shared to the world. It’ll be fun! (I love the way Dallas Travers uses coaching in her podcast “Coaches On A Mission.” Adam Scheuble is another master of this on his podcast “Podcasting Business School.”) Episodes I mentioned * Dan Balcauski on pricing in episodes 134 and 135. * Evading “product management gatekeepers” in episo...

  8. 12/12/2023

    156: Chris Butler on Why Meetings Are Great And Other Projects

    Welcome back Chris Butler! My guest on this episode is Chris Butler, whom we first heard from in episode 107! It’s great to have him back, sharing some of his new projects since we last talked 18 months ago. Chris is a self-described “chaotic good” product manager, as well as a prolific writer and speaker. His work focuses on helping product managers operate more effectively – helping teams make better, less biased decisions, and build new and innovative products. He has been a product leader at Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Cognizant, KAYAK, and Waze. He created techniques like Empathy Mapping for the Machine, Animistic Design Mapping, and Confusion Mapping to create cross-team alignment while building AI products. I first met Chris in a product manager meetup, and then I happened to watch his amazing video on Adversarial Product Management, the topic of his previous appearance on this podcast. Some of what we cover in this episode: * Why meetings are actually good and other insights from the Uncertainty Project. * A new way to think about strategy * Concrete ways that AI might change our lives, and his futurist work with the Near Future Laboratory Links * Connect with Chris on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbu/ * Check out the Uncertainty Project, which Chris co-founded. * The Near Future Laboratory, the inventor of “design fiction” and host of Chris’s “Employee Manual Design Fiction” project. * A playlist of 120(!) of Chris’s videos on YouTube, including Adversarial Product Management, The Future of Meetings, and Decoding Decision Making in Product Management. * We talked about complexity and complicatedness, using the Cynefin sense-making model. Worth watching this video series from Dave Snowden (inventor of Cynefin) to learn more. * Wardley Mapping: An Intro To Wardley Maps (by Simon Wardley), Learn Wardley Mapping. Welcome back Chris Butler! My guest on this episode is Chris Butler, whom we first heard from in episode 107! It’s great to have him back, sharing some of his new projects since we last talked 18 months ago. Chris is a self-described “chaotic good” product manager, as well as a prolific writer and speaker. His work focuses on helping product managers operate more effectively – helping teams make better, less biased decisions, and build new and innovative products. He has been a product leader at Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Cognizant, KAYAK, and Waze. He created techniques like Empathy Mapping for the Machine, Animistic Design Mapping, and Confusion Mapping to create cross-team alignment while building AI products. I first met Chris in a product manager meetup,

    39 min
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Brought to you by Nils Davis, this podcast will help you become a better product manager, marketer, innovator, or entrepreneur. With thought provoking and action-oriented content - this podcast tackles problems ranging from finding and validating market problems, to creating innovative solutions, to taking those solutions to market. Simply put, it will help you move your skills - and your products - to the next level.

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