Successful product management isn’t just about training the product managers who work side by side with developers everyday to build better products. It’s about taking a step back, approaching the systems within organizations as a whole, and leveling up product leadership to improve these systems. This is the Product Thinking Podcast, where Melissa Perri will connect with industry leading experts in the product management space, AND answer your most pressing questions about everything produc ...
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Veterans know how to lead. The lessons we learned in the military form the foundation for bigger successes in business, entrepreneurship and community. Host John S Berry, CEO of Berry Law, served as an active-duty Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army, finishing his military career with two deployments and retiring as a Battalion Commander in the National Guard. Today, his veteran led team at Berry Law, helps their clients fight some of the most important battles of their lives. Leading successf ...
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Episode 177: The Evolution of User Research: A Conversation with Steve Portigal, Author of Interviewing Users
1:05:25
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In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, host Melissa Perri celebrates the updated ten-year anniversary edition of Interviewing Users with author Steve Portigal. Join them in this engaging episode as they discuss the importance of user research in product development. The pair also delve deeply into the changing landscape of user research, …
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Ultimate Fighter: Colton Smith’s Journey From Army to UFC
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How did an active duty soldier become the Ultimate Fighter? Joining us is Colton Smith, the United States Army’s first and only UFC fighter. Colton shares his remarkable journey of serving in the military, earning accolades such as Ranger Tab, Sapper Tab, CIB, EIB, Airborne, and Air Assault badges, while pursuing his UFC career. Smith reveals how t…
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Episode 176: Harnessing the Power of Product Principles: A Conversation with Debbie Widjaja of Zero Gravity
38:22
38:22
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In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, host Melissa Perri welcomes Debbie Widjaja, Chief Product Officer of Zero Gravity, as a guest. The pair discuss Debbie's career journey and how her perspective on product management has evolved over time. Debbie shares her focus on creating products that bring a positive impact to the world and the i…
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Transforming Service to Vets with Dr. Paul R. Lawrence
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45:49
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In this insightful episode of the Veteran Led podcast, Dr. Paul R. Lawrence, former Under Secretary for Benefits of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, shares his transformational leadership journey at the Veterans Benefits Administration. As a former Airborne Finance Officer turned business leader, Lawrence brought a fresh perspective to over…
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Episode 175: Evolution of Product Management and the Importance of Diverse Backgrounds with Ryan Johnson of CallRail
48:26
48:26
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In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, host Melissa Perri is joined by Ryan Johnson to enjoy a thorough exploration of product strategy, communication, and innovation within a company. The pair discuss the importance of transparency, collaboration, and the role of diverse backgrounds in product management. For Ryan, boardroom presentation…
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Leading with Purpose: Jamie Peer’s Approach to Life Coaching
1:15:13
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As Veterans, we all have the capability of leading with a purpose. However, there are additional coaching tools that will navigate you through life's challenges. Joining us in this episode is Jamie Peer, a retired Lieutenant Colonel turned life mastery coach. Jamie expertly applies her military HR experiences to civilian life coaching, highlighting…
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Episode 174: Integrating AI & Transforming Workflows with Anthony Maggio, VP & Head of Product at Airtable
43:05
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In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, host Melissa Perri is joined by Anthony Maggio, Head of Product and VP at Airtable. Join them as they discuss combating challenges within the digital supply chain, addressing strategy drift, and how Anthony is spearheading Airtable’s newest: Airtable AI. Anthony has worked at Airtable for three and a…
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Mission First, People Always: Lessons from Bunker Labs Founder, Todd Connor
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Where is your greatest opportunity? Many veterans venture into the private sector and find that there are bigger opportunities in the entrepreneurial world. In this episode, we welcome Navy veteran Todd Connor, founder of Bunker Labs and Veterans for All Voters. Todd is a prominent voice in veteran entrepreneurship and in this episode, he shares ho…
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Episode 173: Building a Healthy Failure Culture for Innovation and Learning with Amy Edmondson, Professor at Harvard
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In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, host Melissa Perri is joined by Amy Edmonson, professor at Harvard Business school and author of the new book: “Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.” Join them as they discuss the science of failing well, what is psychological safety and the distinction between leadership and leaders. Am…
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Veteran 2.0: Building Your A-Team with Freddie Kim
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Discover the power of leadership skills and Veteran 2.0 concepts in this episode with Freddie Kim, a U.S. Army Veteran, Airborne Ranger, and Special Forces Commander who is now the CEO of a successful military Veteran recruiting company, MilSpec Talent. Hear about Freddie's combat experience, ownership mindset, and team success strategies, like sup…
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Episode 172: The Power of Culture: Unlocking High Performance in Your Company with Mark McNally, Chief Nobody at Nobody Studios
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46:37
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In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, host Melissa Perri is joined by Mark McNally, a venture innovator who founded Nobody Studios, a startup incubator on the path to creating 100 compelling companies in the next 5 years. Join them as they discuss the fundamentals of building successful companies, the importance of culture, and the role …
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From Marine Machine Gunner to Corporate Executive with Tony Goins
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34:28
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Tony Goins, a former Marine Sergeant, corporate executive, entrepreneur, and public servant, shares his journey from being a security guard at American Express to becoming a successful leader in the corporate world. He emphasizes the importance of opportunities, preparation, and leading by example. Tony also discusses the significance of relationsh…
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Episode 171: Applying Military Tactics to Strategy Execution with Author Stephen Bungay
1:02:11
1:02:11
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In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, host Melissa Perri is joined by Stephen Bungay, author of The Art of Action and former Director of the Ashridge Strategic Management Centre. Join them as they explore Stephen’s approach to strategy execution. They discuss the common struggles in strategy execution and how to overcome them in your pro…
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True Grit: BoodleBox.ai CEO & Founder France Hoang
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France Hoang’s journey to entrepreneurial success is one of true grit. Prior to his current role as Co-Founder and CEO of boodleAI, a tech company that built the collaborative GenAI platform BoodleBox, France went from army officer to White House Counsel then back to the army as the XO of a U.S. Army Special Forces Company in Afghanistan. A Vietnam…
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Episode 170: Unlocking the Future with the Power of Alignment with Margaret Jastrebski, SVP of Product at Tegus
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In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, host Melissa Perri is joined by Margaret Jastrebski, the SVP of Product at Tegus. Join them as they explore what it means to be a leader today. They discuss Margaret’s role at Tegus, the power of alignment within an organization, understanding sales and marketing, and the importance of a vision for e…
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From Apache Pilot in Command to Commander in Cheese: The Story of Andrew Arbogast
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Andrew Arbogast, a combat veteran Apache pilot turned CEO of Arbo’s Cheese Dip, reflects on his entrepreneurial journey in this episode of Veteran Led. Listen in as Andrew openly shares the challenges he faces, such as the fear of failure and the pressure of being the sole employee of his company, and how he overcomes these obstacles by recognizing…
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Episode 169: How Balancing Vulnerability with Ability is the Secret to Great Leadership with Author, Jacob Morgan
42:32
42:32
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In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, host Melissa Perri is joined by Jacob Morgan, author of “Leading with Vulnerability.” Join them as they explore what it means to be a leader today. They discuss Jacob’s personal journey to vulnerability, balancing vulnerability and competency, the importance of being self aware and many actionables t…
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Spirit of America: Building a Bourbon Brand with Scott Neil
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The resilience and strategic mindset honed on the battlefield can be your secret weapon in the business world. Scott Neil, retired Master Sergeant Army Green Beret turned entrepreneur, applies the lessons of leadership, discipline, and tactical patience learned during his time in service and shares his story on this episode of Veteran Led. Scott…
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Episode 168: Cutting the Fat after a Crisis with Alex Wattrelos, Previous CPO of Sunday
44:56
44:56
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In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, host Melissa Perri is joined by Alex Wettrelos Chief Product Officer at Sunday. Join them as they explore the challenges of rapid scaling and then descaling during the 2022 tech-crisis. They discuss how Sunday, a fin-tech company innovating payment methods across the hospitality industry, went from a…
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Choosing Your Battles: Balancing Family & Service with Irene Glaeser
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59:55
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In this episode of Veteran Led, Col. (Retired) and CEO of Spahr Solutions Group Irene Vaishvila Glaeser shares her journey from the military to leading an IT services company providing communication solutions for Federal and DoD agencies. Having started her career during the Cold War era, Irene brings a unique blend of humor, authenticity, and earn…
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Episode 167: How to Use More Than 10% of Your Company's Brain with Aaron Smith, Chief Product Officer
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45:29
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In this episode of Product Thinking, Aaron Smith joins Melissa Perri. Together, they discuss Aaron’s best practices he learned from his time at Amazon, key leadership principles, creating a culture of accountability, and the destiny creator mindset. Aaron is the Chief Product Officer of Pattern in Salt Lake City. He joined Pattern back in 2020, bri…
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Never Surrender: Service Above Self with John Wayne Troxell
1:10:23
1:10:23
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In this episode, John is joined by Army Command Sergeant Major (Retired) John Wayne Troxell, former third Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC) and author of "Surrender or Die." From his initiation as a dedicated enlisted soldier to attaining one of the highest ranks in the DoD, Troxell shares his 38-year commi…
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Episode 166: Building Products and Riding the Wave of Cutting Edge AI with Darren Wilson, CPO of Soul Machines
41:12
41:12
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In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, host Melissa Perri is joined by Darren Wilson, Chief Product Officer of Soul Machines. Join them as they explore Darren’s journey to CPO of Soul Machines, a company that produces digital humanoids. They discuss the challenges of building digital avatars, keeping up with AI technology, and leveraging …
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HEROSTOCK: Uniting Veterans Through Music with Jason Steiner
26:48
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In this episode Veteran Led, joining John in the studio is Jason Steiner, a Marine Corps Veteran turned innovative community organizer and founder of HeroStock. HeroStock brings together Veteran performers and nonprofits, creating a space where stories of heroism, sacrifice, and resilience are shared and celebrated. Hear firsthand accounts of the i…
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Episode 165: The Story of SpotHero & Breaking into Product Management with Matt DiBari, Chief Product Officer
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In this episode of Product Thinking, Matt DiBari joins Melissa Perri to discover the secrets of product management in high growth companies. Together, they discuss effective user research, the different mindsets in B2B & B2C, essential skills in high growth companies, and breaking into product management. Matt DiBari is Chief Product Officer at Spo…
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Unbreakable Leadership: Insights from Navy SEAL Thom Shea
52:26
52:26
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Thom Shea, retired Navy SEAL and author of "Unbreakable: A Navy SEAL's Way of Life" and "Three Simple Things," joins John on this episode of the Veteran Led podcast. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the essence of resilience, partnership, and growth. Through personal anecdotes and valuable insights, they highlight the importance of equ…
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Episode 164: Positioning Yourself for a Chief Product Officer Role with the CEO & Co-Founder at Artico Search
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In this episode of Product Thinking, Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Artico Search, joins Melissa Perri. Together, they discuss navigating the hiring landscape for Chief Product Officers, the importance of technical expertise and commercial acumen in today's market, and what the difference is between a Head of Pro…
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From Military Service to Media Mastery with Mike'l Severe
1:06:28
1:06:28
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Join us for an insightful episode of Veteran Led, as John sits down with Army veteran and media master, Mike’l Severe. From his successful career in journalism to his impactful work with the Jet Award Foundation, Mike’l shares valuable insights on how leaders can improve their media skills. Tune in as we discuss stories of resilience, skill adaptat…
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Episode 163: A Mold-Breaking IPO and the Power to Redefine CPO & CTO's Role with Tim Armandpour at PagerDuty
46:41
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In this episode of Product Thinking, Tim Armandpour, Chief Technology Officer at PagerDuty, joins Melissa Perri to explore leadership qualities, product & technology roles, their challenges, and the importance of an overarching company vision. They discuss user-centricity, product-market fit, and aligning teams. Tim is almost in his ninth year at P…
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Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship with Victoria Collier
44:32
44:32
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Joining John on this episode of the Veteran Led Podcast is Victoria Collier, an Air Force carpenter who went on to build her own law firm and consulting business. Driven by her passion for seniors and helping people have a better quality of life during their later years, Victoria's keen ability to plan for the future and anticipate potential obstac…
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Episode 162: Product Roadmap: Building a Platform for the Next Decade with Craig Saldanha, Chief Product Officer at Yelp
41:17
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In this episode of Product Thinking, Craig Saldanha, Chief Product Officer at Yelp, joins Melissa Perri to explore user research, two-sided marketplaces, and the concept of the flywheel. They discuss future-proofing the business, building customer trust, and Yelp’s importance as a platform for reviews and recommendations. Craig has over twelve year…
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Credibility and Core Values: the Journey from Marine to Millionaire with Rudy Cazares
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In this episode of Veteran Led, John talks with former Marine infantry officer turned thriving civilian logistician, Rudy Cazares. Rudy shares how staying connected to his fellow Marines opened doors on his journey to building multi-million dollar businesses, stressing the value of the strong military bonds and core values that equip Veterans to th…
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Episode 161: Nurturing a Successful Startup Accelerator with Paolo Lombardi, Founder of Techpeaks
1:02:19
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In this episode of Product Thinking, Paolo Lombardi joins Melissa Perri to explore founding the TechPeaks startup accelerator—they discuss the unique aspects of the program, including its focus on attracting international entrepreneurs and promoting collaboration, and the importance of planning and preparation. Paolo has over 24 years experience in…
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