Product on the Road: Insights from Product Leader Breakfast & SVPG's Transformed Workshop in Chicago
A week spent with Product Leaders in Chicago
I spent the past week in my hometown visiting and the product community in Chicago. I’ve been wired thinking about everything I discussed with folks I met
Hosting a Product Leader Breakfast
Attending Marty Cagan’s Transformed workshop
Of course, I have to tell you about it…
Product Leader Breakfast in Chicago
One of the things I love about my work is the ability to take it on the road.
I’ve started hosting my Product Leader Breakfast series in cities I visit. I first did this in July1 and last week, I brought it to Chicago. Next up: Miami!2
These intimate gatherings are incredible for fostering camaraderie and shared insights. The Chicago edition was particularly special.
Aside from hosting in my hometown, leaders were eager to dive deeper into the unique challenges of the role, going beyond AI’s3 impact. Instead, we explored the crisis leaders are acutely facing these days4 and some of my other favorite topics:
Why product leaders struggle to sustain…
My primary hypothesis is that the issue lies in the ambiguity and misunderstanding of the product role, which varies significantly depending on the size of the company. I shared more on this last month.
What to look for in hiring a good PM, beyond frameworks or certifications5.
My favorite and long time belief - It’s the soft skills: Empathy, intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, advocacy and teamwork.
How and when to draw internal boundaries as a leader.
We know scope fluctuates but how do you know when to do it vs. delegate?My provocation: Do systems need to fail in order to be built stronger?6
Chicago Product folks need more community!
There’s so much opportunity to foster a product community in Chicago. If you’re in product in Chicago, watch this space, I think more is coming.
Marty Cagan’s “Transformed” Workshop
I attended my first Silicon Valley Product Group training during my time at Spotify. Marty Cagan's book, Inspired, is still my go-to recommendation for new PMs. I still remember the magical, “Wow, I’m really in the right role” feeling filling me up, chapter after chapter.
Over the years, I’ve followed Marty’s work closely. His guidance has only become more valuable as I transitioned into product coaching.
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Marty’s Transformed workshop in Chicago, detailing the principles in his latest book.
While a walkthrough of his book could have felt repetitive, I was surprised by how energized I felt.
It was shocking to have “aha” moments on concepts that felt not only familiar, but deeply embedded into my practice.
I’m reflecting on a lot, days after the event. And, I plan to dive deeper into these topics (some have actually been sitting in my drafts folder!) because there’s a lot to unpack.
Here’s what I’m still thinking about…
Product work is people work
I’ve been beating this drum for a long time. Product isn’t complex, people are.
I believe with my whole heart that successful product management is rooted in understanding people and navigating organizational politics. SVPG likes to call it winning hearts and minds.
When I think back to my success as a PM, it was my people skills that carried me. It was my ability to work with literally anyone at the company, rally teams when no one wanted to be rallied and build deep trust with people who had all the reasons to remain my skeptics. It certainly wasn’t my technical skills.
Soft skills, especially in the world of gen-AI, are and will be everything.
Why companies (and people) choose to transform
Transformed focuses on how companies can shift to a product operating model.
As a coach, I’ve been reflecting on what drives companies but really, people to change.
Marty highlights three main motivators for transformation:
Fear of competitive threats
Frustration with poor returns on tech investments
Excitement about potential financial impact
Marty mentioned the first two were the most important to drive change within an organization.
Pain, especially fear, often catalyzes change. I know there are evolutionary reasons for this, and the proof is in the pudding7, but I can’t help but feel sad that pain *needs* to be the reason we change.
In what world and under what circumstances do positive motivators, like excitement, move us to make big change?
The problem with roadmaps
Lately, in breakfasts, with clients, at this workshop, I’ve been surprised to encounter how many product leaders are tasked with defining roadmaps without a clear vision.
Product 101 says that roadmaps are the cascading artifact from a well-defined vision and strategy.
Though I understand why we’re getting stuck in the roadmap trap (it’s tangible, it’s output focused), I don’t understand why we’re lacking clear product visions from leaders.
Now more than ever we need:
Product leaders to focus on creating inspiring, emotional and strategic visions.
Empowered PMs to manage up when there’s a lacking vision. This a big part of my coaching work these days.
What focus really means
Focus isn’t just saying no. It’s passing up on great ideas you’re eager to pursue in favor of the ones that align with your strategy.
As a soloprenuer, this is probably my biggest challenge these days. *sigh*
This is also one of the biggest challenges I see happening with builders today. Ruthless prioritization is not happening. As a result, burnout is rampant.
“Failing fast” is misleading
I loved Marty’s reframing up of the classic “fail fast” motto.
Failure is important and should be embraced, in product discovery, not in product delivery.
The Importance of co-location for innovation
Ok, this one is literally in my drafts but I do think Product Leaders need to bring teams back together.
We all know innovation took a hit in the pandemic.
But today, remote relationships are more fragile than ever, leading teams to take the path of least resistance rather than engage in difficult conversations.
Friction is crucial for real product discovery.
And friction is tough through Zoom.
It’s why many big companies are pushing for a return to office.
It’s why I’m suggesting it too.8
Thanks for joining me on my Tour de Product de Chicago!
I’m truly looking forward to staying in touch with all the amazing Product folks I met there and eager to help Chicago build up it’s community.
Hi - I’m Jori and I’m a Product Coach. Here’s how to work with me ↩️
I work with Product Leaders and their teams to unlock their biggest product moments. If you’re looking for support - drop me a note, I’d love to connect. 🤝
I co-host Product Leadership Breakfast NYC, a monthly product breakfast series to bring together curated groups of PM leaders to connect over casual breakfast. If you live in NYC or find yourself passing through, join us! ☕
Curious how you could benefit from coaching? I’m hosting a FREE Product Power Hour November 21st. Join me to get your product questions answered in real-time. 💪
Reflections from Berlin’s breakfast: https://joribell.substack.com/p/how-to-maximize-your-executive-presence
But ping me if you’re in SF bc I’m heading there in December and I’m on a tight schedule but tempted to host one while I’m there.
I’m so sick of the “how will AI destroy X” conversation. Just me?
It comes up at EVERY breakfast.
Which I mostly frown upon as credentials…
Inspired by events of November 5th, 2024 ;-)
Again, November 5th, 2024 ;-)
Says the one who can make her own schedule.