Episode Overview: In this episode, the Tern team dives straight into a packed agenda fresh off the user conference. David Shull (CEO and co-founder), Brad Turner (Head of Design), and Molly Johnson (Head of Product) break down major feature launches and the behind-the-scenes process that brought them to life. From the highly requested dashboard to next-level reporting, a redesigned mobile app, and a complete payments overhaul, the team shares how feedback and beta testing shaped the latest updates. Plus, an inside look at the first-ever “Shipathon” hackathon at sea and what’s next for Tern’s community.
Episode Topics: (01:38) Dashboard Launch Molly and Brad walk through the long-awaited dashboard, its design process, and how it has quickly evolved with user feedback.
(08:27) Reporting Reimagined Brad and Molly explain the move to a new reporting infrastructure, the challenges of handling complex data, and the roadmap for additional analytics.
(15:41) Mobile App Upgrades The team reveals the surprise mobile advisor login, early tester reactions, and the importance of phased rollouts.
(22:05) Payments Overhaul Brad and Molly discuss the complete rearchitecture of payments and authorizations, why it was necessary, and how migration for older trips will work.
(28:26) Shipathon at the User Conference Molly, Brad, and David recount the whirlwind live hackathon on Virgin Voyages, including chaotic behind-the-scenes stories and the big feature wins.
(33:32) Hackathon Highlights From automated trip cancellations to bulk messaging, the team highlights features built in just three days at sea.
(39:46) Looking Ahead: User Conference 2026 David shares details on the next Tern user conference, moving to New Orleans with a more accessible format and pricing.
Show Highlights: