Episodes
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In this episode, Melika Hope, Director of Product at Spotify, shares her candid journey of navigating this leap and provides actionable insights for aspiring leaders. Drawing from her 15+ years of experience, managing teams across continents, Melika introduces her "4 Ds" framework: Decide, Declare, Demonstrate, and Deliver, to help you become one of the exceptional few who excel in people management.
Whether you're contemplating your first leadership role or looking to refine your management style, this episode is packed with lessons on coaching, declaring your goals, and overcoming the pitfalls of early leadership. Melika's energy, personal stories, and strategic advice make this a must-listen for product managers and product leaders aiming to make a lasting impact. -
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we flip the script as Mike Belsito, Co-Founder of Product Collective, takes the guest seat to share his journey from entrepreneur to product leader. Interviewed by his longtime co-host Michael Sacca, Mike dives into the foundational skills every product manager needs, the importance of customer empathy, and how evolving tools like AI are reshaping the role. He also reflects on his early uncertainties and how building community and continuous learning helped him thrive.
Whether you’re an aspiring product manager looking to avoid common mistakes or a seasoned professional eager to revisit the essentials, this episode is packed with actionable insights. From navigating frameworks to balancing soft and hard skills, Mike offers a candid, relatable perspective on what it takes to succeed in today’s fast-changing product landscape. -
Missing episodes?
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What does it mean to lead with impact in a world of uncertainty, ambiguity, and endless best practices? In this compelling episode of Rocketship.FM, we explore how product teams can directly tie their work to measurable business success, ensuring alignment with company goals while resisting the low-impact work that often derails progress.
Drawing from the soon-to-be-released book Impact First Product Teams, our guest shares actionable insights on setting meaningful team goals, keeping impact at the forefront of every step, and avoiding the pitfalls of "low-impact death spirals." Whether you're a product manager navigating tricky trade-offs or a leader seeking clarity in your team’s contributions, this episode offers a blueprint for building resilient, results-oriented product teams. -
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, world-renowned positioning and marketing expert April Dunford joins us to share her insights on crafting sales pitches that close deals and win markets. Drawing from her book Sales Pitch, April dives into the art of creating a compelling narrative that helps your customers confidently choose your product over competitors—and the dreaded "do nothing."
In this recording of her keynote talk from INDUSTRY: The Product Conference in 2023, April breaks down her proven step-by-step framework for building a pitch that communicates your differentiated value, positions your product as the clear solution, and guides prospects through the buying journey. From the role of discovery and demos to understanding why “do nothing” is your fiercest competitor, she covers everything you need to transform your pitch into a powerful storytelling tool. Whether you're an entrepreneur, marketer, or sales leader, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you stand out in any crowded market. -
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we tackle one of the most critical and overlooked elements of the product marketing mix: pricing. Joining us is Bill Wilson, Founder and CEO of Pace Pricing, a SaaS pricing expert with a background as a founder and product leader. Bill shares insights into how pricing has evolved, the common pitfalls companies face, and why leveraging data is key to getting it right.
We also explore the psychological effects of pricing on buyers, the challenges of pricing AI products in today’s rapidly changing landscape, and the necessity of embracing change as markets evolve. Whether you’re starting fresh or reevaluating your pricing strategy, this episode is packed with actionable advice and resources to help you find success. -
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we dive into the world of Product Operations with Jenny Wanger, an expert in product ops coaching for product leaders. Together, we unpack the foundations of Product Operations, exploring how it enables product teams to focus on what truly matters — building great products. Jenny shares insights on implementing product ops practices effectively, even for teams without a dedicated product ops function. From understanding the four pillars of product ops to establishing a product-centric culture, this episode is packed with actionable advice for teams looking to elevate their operational efficiency.
Whether you’re just starting your product ops journey or seeking ways to refine your current approach, Jenny offers a wealth of knowledge on best practices, potential pitfalls, and the strategic impact of product ops done right. Tune in to learn how Product Operations can become the backbone of your product strategy, helping you streamline workflows, enhance cross-functional collaboration, and create a scalable process that grows with your team. -
In this special episode of Rocketship.FM, we welcome back the podcast’s original founder, Michael Sacca, for a unique and insightful conversation. Recently appointed as CEO of Leadpages, Michael brings with him a wealth of experience from his years as a product executive across early-stage startups. Now, he faces the challenge of leading an established, well-known company through a period of growth and innovation. This episode explores Michael's approach to his new role, his vision for the future of Leadpages, and the mindset shifts he's making as he moves from product leader to CEO.
Join us as we dive into Michael’s journey, the strategic decisions he's prioritizing, and his perspective on building a resilient product team. For product managers and product leaders alike, Michael’s story offers invaluable insights into leadership, adaptation, and growth. Whether you're a longtime fan of Rocketship.FM or new to the show, this episode is a must-listen for those curious about the path from product builder to company leader. -
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito sits down with Katie Trauth Taylor, Founder and CEO of Narratize, to explore the journey behind creating an AI-driven platform that's empowering enterprises to communicate complex ideas faster and more effectively. Katie shares the frustrations that led her to launch Narratize and how her personal background as an innovator influenced the development of the platform.
We dive into the hurdles she faced in the early days, how she secured enterprise clients like Boeing and Hearst, and what makes Narratize's AI capabilities uniquely suited for long-form, technical content. -
In this episode, Mike Belsito sits down with Dan Blumberg, founder of Modern Product Minds and former product leader at The New York Times, LinkedIn, and Citi, to explore how product discovery works in traditional enterprises. While we often hear stories from cutting-edge tech startups, most product managers work at "normal" companies dealing with legacy systems, regulatory constraints, and established brand expectations. Dan shares practical insights on running effective discovery programs in these environments, including how to test ideas without risking brand reputation, why real commitment beats hypothetical feedback, and how to bring stakeholders along on the journey. Whether you're working in finance, media, or any traditional industry, this episode offers actionable frameworks and strategies for effective product discovery in the real world.
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In this revealing episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito pulls back the curtain on a significant milestone: Product Collective's acquisition by Pendo. Mike shares the origin story of Product Collective, from its humble beginnings as a passion project to its growth into a cornerstone of the product community. He candidly discusses the challenges of running a bootstrapped company and the exciting possibilities that come with joining forces with a larger entity like Pendo.
The episode features an exclusive interview with Todd Olson, CEO of Pendo, who provides insights into the company's commitment to community building and its vision for the future of product management. Together, Mike and Todd explore how this acquisition will impact the broader product community, discussing plans for expanded events, increased resources, and a more connected global network of product professionals. This episode offers listeners a unique behind-the-scenes look at a major industry move and its potential to shape the future of product management education and community. -
In the fast-paced world of tech startups, product leadership is crucial—but when is the right time to bring on a full-time Chief Product Officer? This episode of Rocketship.FM explores the emerging role of the fractional CPO, a game-changing solution for early-stage companies seeking experienced product leadership without the full-time commitment or cost.
Join host Mike Belsito as he sits down with Nick McEvily, a seasoned fractional CPO, to discuss the benefits of this flexible approach to product leadership. Discover when it's appropriate to consider a fractional CPO, how they can impact your organization's culture and strategy, and what to look for when hiring one. Plus, get an exclusive checklist to help you determine if your startup is ready for fractional or full-time product leadership. Whether you're a founder navigating the early stages of growth or a product professional curious about fractional roles, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of product management. -
In this unique episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito explores the cutting-edge intersection of AI and product management. The show kicks off with an introduction to Google's Notebook LM, a groundbreaking AI research assistant. Then, in a twist, we present an AI-generated summary of the most recent edition of INDUSTRY: The Product Conference, showcasing key takeaways on team structures, customer focus, AI integration, and essential human skills in product development. This episode offers a unique blend of human insight and AI capabilities, providing listeners with a forward-looking perspective on the evolving landscape of product management.
Rocketship.FM is brought to you by Evergreen Podcasts. -
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito dives into the common mistakes product managers and leaders make when developing product strategies. Featuring expert insights from Roman Pichler, a renowned product management coach and author, the episode uncovers critical pitfalls to avoid and best practices to embrace in crafting effective product strategies.
From the importance of aligning with overall business goals to the necessity of evidence-based decision-making, Roman shares his wealth of experience to guide listeners through the intricacies of product strategy development. This episode is a must-listen for product professionals looking to refine their strategic approach, foster collaboration across teams, and create product strategies that drive success in today's fast-paced digital landscape.
This episode is sponsored by:
Virtual Edition of INDUSTRY: The Product Conference: Join hundreds of Product Managers and Product Leaders from all around the world for a day-long virtual conference experience -- including keynote sessions, interactive discussions, virtual networking and more. Purchase your pass before September 15th, and you can register for just $99 (saving 50% off of the day of show rate).
Wix Studio: Designed for agencies, freelancers and enterprises, Wix Studio lets professional web designers and developers unleash their creativity—faster and better than ever. You can create high-end sites at scale while harnessing the robust infrastructure and business solutions that already come with Wix.
Rocketship.FM is brought to you by Evergreen Podcasts. -
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we dive deep into the world of evidence-based product development with Connor Joyce, author of "Bridging Intention to Impact." Connor challenges the common assumption that high usage metrics automatically equate to product success. Instead, he introduces a comprehensive framework for measuring genuine impact on user outcomes and business goals.
Connor shares insights from his experience at Microsoft and various startups, explaining how product teams can move beyond surface-level metrics to truly understand if their features are solving customer problems. He introduces key concepts like the user outcome connection, feature impact analysis, and the insights hub - all aimed at creating a culture of evidence-based decision making in product development. Whether you're a seasoned product leader or an individual contributor looking to drive change, this episode offers practical strategies for ensuring your products don't just get used, but actually work.
This episode is sponsored by:
Virtual Edition of INDUSTRY: The Product Conference: Join hundreds of Product Managers and Product Leaders from all around the world for a day-long virtual conference experience -- including keynote sessions, interactive discussions, virtual networking and more. Purchase your pass before September 15th, and you can register for just $99 (saving 50% off of the day of show rate).
Wix Studio: Designed for agencies, freelancers and enterprises, Wix Studio lets professional web designers and developers unleash their creativity—faster and better than ever. You can create high-end sites at scale while harnessing the robust infrastructure and business solutions that already come with Wix.
Rocketship.FM is brought to you by Evergreen Podcasts. -
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we dive into an often overlooked but crucial aspect of product management: working effectively with internal partners and stakeholders. Join host Mike Belsito as he interviews John Haggerty, a seasoned product leader and coach, who shares insights on how product managers can build stronger relationships within their organizations.
Learn why treating internal collaboration like a product itself can lead to better outcomes, and discover practical strategies for:
Conducting "internal partner discovery"
Segmenting and customizing communication with different stakeholders
Measuring the success of your internal partnerships
Avoiding common pitfalls in stakeholder management
Whether you're a new product manager or a seasoned leader, this episode will equip you with valuable tools to enhance your influence and effectiveness across your organization. Don't miss this opportunity to level up your internal partnership skills and drive better product outcomes.
This episode is sponsored by:
Virtual Edition of INDUSTRY: The Product Conference: Join hundreds of Product Managers and Product Leaders from all around the world for a day-long virtual conference experience -- including keynote sessions, interactive discussions, virtual networking and more. Purchase your pass before September 15th, and you can register for just $99 (saving 50% off of the day of show rate).
Wix Studio: Designed for agencies, freelancers and enterprises, Wix Studio lets professional web designers and developers unleash their creativity—faster and better than ever. You can create high-end sites at scale while harnessing the robust infrastructure and business solutions that already come with Wix.
Rocketship.FM is brought to you by Evergreen Podcasts. -
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we dive deep into the inspiring story of Findaway, a Cleveland-based tech company that went from a small startup to a $123 million acquisition by Spotify. Host Mike Belsito, one of Findaway's early employees, sits down with Mitch Kroll, co-founder and longtime CEO, to discuss the company's 18-year journey through various phases of growth and innovation.
Kroll shares valuable insights on entrepreneurship, product evolution, and building a successful tech company outside of traditional tech hubs. He discusses Findaway's pivots from retail to institutional markets, its expansion into digital distribution, and the development of a strategically integrated business model that ultimately attracted Spotify's interest. This episode offers a wealth of lessons for product managers and leaders on resilience, adaptability, and the importance of focusing on the journey rather than just the destination.
This episode is sponsored by:
Virtual Edition of INDUSTRY: The Product Conference: Join hundreds of Product Managers and Product Leaders from all around the world for a day-long virtual conference experience -- including keynote sessions, interactive discussions, virtual networking and more. Purchase your pass before September 15th, and you can register for just $99 (saving 50% off of the day of show rate).
Wix Studio: Designed for agencies, freelancers and enterprises, Wix Studio lets professional web designers and developers unleash their creativity—faster and better than ever. You can create high-end sites at scale while harnessing the robust infrastructure and business solutions that already come with Wix.
Rocketship.FM is brought to you by Evergreen Podcasts. -
In this captivating episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito sits down with Rahul Vohra, founder and CEO of Superhuman, to explore the company's groundbreaking journey into AI-powered email. Vohra shares insights on how Superhuman recognized the potential of AI early on and made the bold decision to pivot their entire product strategy. He details the challenges of integrating AI features, from assembling the right team to developing a new "theta mode" of operation that accelerated their innovation process.
Product managers and leaders will gain valuable lessons on prioritizing emerging technologies, balancing existing product roadmaps with disruptive innovation, and measuring the success of AI features. Vohra's candid discussion about Superhuman's three-phase approach to AI implementation - from on-demand features to always-on capabilities and agentic AI - provides a roadmap for product teams looking to harness the power of artificial intelligence in their own offerings. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of AI and product development in the fast-paced world of tech.
This episode is sponsored by:
Virtual Edition of INDUSTRY: The Product Conference: Join hundreds of Product Managers and Product Leaders from all around the world for a day-long virtual conference experience -- including keynote sessions, interactive discussions, virtual networking and more. Purchase your pass before September 15th, and you can register for just $99 (saving 50% off of the day of show rate).
Wix Studio: Designed for agencies, freelancers and enterprises, Wix Studio lets professional web designers and developers unleash their creativity—faster and better than ever. You can create high-end sites at scale while harnessing the robust infrastructure and business solutions that already come with Wix.
Rocketship.FM is brought to you by Evergreen Podcasts. -
In this episode of Rocketship.fm, host Mike Belsito dives deep into the challenging world of tech job hunting with Phyl Terry, author of "Never Search Alone: The Job Seeker's Playbook." With nearly half of US tech workers looking for new roles in 2024, this timely discussion offers invaluable insights for navigating the current job market. Phyl shares the three big ideas behind the book and "Never Search Alone" movement: understanding your candidate market fit, the power of job search councils, and mastering collaborative interviewing and negotiation.
Listeners will gain practical advice on how to approach their job search strategically, from forming support groups to negotiating beyond just salary. The episode concludes with ten actionable steps listeners can take immediately to enhance their job search, making it a must-listen for anyone in tech considering their next career move. Whether you're a product manager facing unexpected layoffs or simply looking for a change, this episode provides the tools and mindset needed to tackle the job market with confidence.
This episode is sponsored by:
Virtual Edition of INDUSTRY: The Product Conference: Join hundreds of Product Managers and Product Leaders from all around the world for a day-long virtual conference experience -- including keynote sessions, interactive discussions, virtual networking and more. Purchase your pass before September 15th, and you can register for just $99 (saving 50% off of the day of show rate).
Wix Studio: Designed for agencies, freelancers and enterprises, Wix Studio lets professional web designers and developers unleash their creativity—faster and better than ever. You can create high-end sites at scale while harnessing the robust infrastructure and business solutions that already come with Wix.
Rocketship.FM is brought to you by Evergreen Podcasts. -
In this insightful episode of Rocketship.fm, host Mike Belsito sits down with Bruce McCarthy and Melissa Appel, co-authors of "Aligned: Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders." The conversation delves into the often challenging world of stakeholder management, offering practical advice for product managers and leaders looking to navigate complex organizational dynamics.
Throughout the episode, McCarthy and Appel share valuable strategies from their book, covering topics such as understanding organizational structures, building rapport with stakeholders, and managing roadmap changes. They emphasize the importance of treating stakeholders as individuals, aligning goals, and fostering trust through effective communication and collaboration. This episode provides listeners with actionable insights to enhance their stakeholder management skills and drive product success.
This episode is sponsored by:
Virtual Edition of INDUSTRY: The Product Conference: Join hundreds of Product Managers and Product Leaders from all around the world for a day-long virtual conference experience -- including keynote sessions, interactive discussions, virtual networking and more. Purchase your pass before September 15th, and you can register for just $99 (saving 50% off of the day of show rate).
Gigantic: Upskill your team with real-world, practical video-based training on topics like Product Strategy, Product Leadership, AI for Product Managers, and more.
Rocketship.FM is brought to you by Evergreen Podcasts. -
In this episode, host Mike Belsito sits down with Elliott Poppel, a product leader who's experienced both sides of the tech world - from managing products at Meta (formerly Facebook) to founding his own startup, General Collaboration. Elliott shares his journey, highlighting the stark contrasts in resources, decision-making processes, and product development approaches between tech giants and startups.
Listeners will gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities each environment presents for product managers. Elliott discusses how his experiences at Meta shaped his approach to founding General Collaboration, particularly in areas like user research and making calculated bets on product features. Whether you're considering a move from a big tech company to a startup (or vice versa), or simply curious about the differences, this episode offers a wealth of practical advice and real-world perspectives on navigating product management across diverse tech landscapes.
INDUSTRY: The Product Conference: Join hundreds of Product Managers and Product Leaders this September 23-25, 2024 for INDUSTRY. Save $100 when you use the code Rocketship. Or, use the code RocketshipVIP before August 1st -- and double your discount (and receive more bonuses!)
Gigantic: Upskill your team with real-world, practical video-based training on topics like Product Strategy, Product Leadership, AI for Product Managers, and more.
Rocketship.FM is brought to you by Evergreen Podcasts. - Show more
