In this episode of Product Pals Podcast, Charlotte and Kiet sit down with Paru Madhavan, Product Coach at the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), wine nerd, and systems thinker.
Paru has led teams across travel, fintech, and media, and now focuses on creating environments where people thrive and customers’ problems actually get solved. Together, we unpack the craft and calling of product coaching — what it means, how it differs from managing, and why curiosity might be the most underrated skill in modern product teams.
🔑 What you’ll hear:
1️⃣ Curiosity beats certainty. If you only remember one question, make it “Why though?” It’s the fastest route to clarity and the cheapest form of user research.
2️⃣ Coaching and managing have a lot of similarities. Her MotoGP analogy nails it — a great coach is the crew chief, not the rider. They don’t steer the bike; they tune the system so others can win the race.
3️⃣ Balance the doing and the being. There’s no “perfect role.” If your day job doesn’t feed every part of you, side projects and creative hobbies can restore the spark. ( Love this advices!)And ,Why coaching can be a fulfilling path for PMs who want impact without people management
💭 A thoughtful, human conversation that reminds us good coaching isn’t about answers — it’s about asking better questions.
🍪 Knowledge Snacks (from the episode)
John Cutler – reflections on organisational learning and systems thinking (The Beautiful Mess)
Marty Cagan – writing on leadership and the role of product managers as coaches (svpg.com)
Lisa Adkins –Book<<Coaching Agile Teams>> and the “four stances” framework
Karen Hao – The Empire of AI (book) and Youtube interview
Akash Gupta – newsletter The Neuron (daily AI + PM updates)
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube — search Product Pals Podcast.
From public transport design to YouTube stardom, engineer-turned-creator Ting Ting Hu has built a one-person company of creativity, strategy, and heart.
In this episode, she joins Charlotte and Kiet to unpack what it means to treat your craft like a product — balancing art, analytics and authenticity.
🔑 What you’ll hear:
How Ting Ting plays three roles at once: CEO, PM and talent of her own brand
Her viral learning loop — what creators can teach PMs about feedback and product-market fit
Why she left “safe” public service to follow joy and meaning
The lesson behind huo ren gan (活人感) — the feeling of being alive — and why every product needs it
How AI quietly powers her reflection, resilience and creativity
💭 “You only create half of a product — the other half belongs to your audience.”
In this episode of the Product Pals Podcast, Charlotte and Kiet sit down with Cheryl Saw — Fractional Product Growth & GTM Strategist at Revvy, with over a decade of experience across SaaS (Adobe, Audible), FMCG (Kimberly-Clark), Health/Edu-Tech, and digital agencies.
Cheryl’s journey into growth wasn’t planned - it found her. Over the years, she’s built a career solving hard problems in consumer SaaS, from pricing strategy to retention to building product growth teams across Asia Pacific. In this conversation, she shares candid reflections on her path, leadership, and what it means to create sustainable growth.
🔑 What you’ll hear:
Why pricing isn’t the silver bullet for growth — and how to really test value
The psychology behind retention and why “cheaper” doesn’t always mean “stickier”
Lessons from growing products like Adobe Acrobat and Audible across APAC
Building and leading distributed growth teams from scratch
Why adaptability and curiosity fuel a lasting career in product and growth
💡 Cheryl also opens up about her personal journey — from starting in event management to mentoring women in tech and building CandidConvos, a community for meaningful conversations in tech.
In this episode of the Product Pals Podcast, Charlotte and Kiet sit down with Ryan Huynh — Product Manager and co-organiser of ProductTank Sydney.
Ryan’s career has spanned AI research, Big Four consulting, and product management. He shares how consulting gave him a toolkit of frameworks, delivery discipline, and stakeholder skills — and how those translate into product craft today.
🔑 What you’ll hear:
Ryan’s pivot from data & AI into PM, and the big lessons learned
Launching AQ Intelligence from 0→1 and finding product-market fit
Why he believes the heart of PM is making good decisions
Consulting skills that give PMs an edge in strategy and execution
How AI is shaping his workflow, learning, and view of PM’s future
His advice to his younger self: learn economics to understand decision-making
💡 Plus: Rapid-fire fun, contrarian takes, and a thought-provoking future-guest question:👉 “If product managers don’t exist anymore, what’s the biggest disaster you see?”
🎧 Link in first comment Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your pods.
🍪 Knowledge Snacks (from the episode)
🍿Economics Explained (Youtube channel) https://www.youtube.com/@EconomicsExplained (Kiet’s recommendation)
🍊Freakonomics Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt (book) https://amzn.to/466fSIt (Charlotte’s recommendation)
Welcome to the very first PM Spotlight — a special series from Product Pals celebrating the real stories behind product management.
In this debut episode, we sit down with Larry Lai, whose career spans continents and industries: from game design and livestreaming in China, to product roles at tech giants like Tencent and Huya, and now leading SMB livestream products at TikTok Sydney.
Larry shares candid reflections on:
🎮 The many “flavours” of product management, and how roles shift across industries and cultures
🧩 The overlap between Product Management and Design — and why it matters more than we think
👥 The leap from individual contributor to product leader — and the challenges of leading with purpose
🤖 How AI is reshaping product work, and why it could unlock the rise of one-person companies
🔮 His optimistic vision for the future of product management
This is an honest, inspiring conversation on leadership, design, and staying curious in an AI-driven world.
👉 Tune in and celebrate Larry’s journey behind the PM title.
📚 The Design of Everyday Things — Don Norman (Larry’s recommendation)
🎧 Gamecraft Podcast — Listen here (Kiet’s recommendation)
🍪 Knowledge Snacks (from the episode)
Thank you for tuning into this special bonus episode of Product Pals!
After our original chat with Will during Men’s Health Month, we were overwhelmed by the heartfelt responses from our listeners.
In this short follow-up, Will shares the incredible feedback he received, and we dig a little deeper into why these conversations on men’s mental health are so important.
We also touch on topics like:
Societal expectations and generational shifts in emotional awareness
AI tools as unconventional support for reflection and self-growth
How to prioritise emotional fitness like physical health
💙 Helpful Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Australia’s Mental Health Treatment Plan Access up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions annually through Medicare with a referral from your GP. 🔗 Learn more here
Gotcha4Life Mental Fitness Gym App Build your mental fitness with daily emotional check-ins and easy-to-use resources. 🔗 Explore the app here Note: Product Pals is not affiliated with this app—we just think it’s a great tool worth sharing.
ChatGPT Reflective Prompt Will mentioned during the podcast (for personal insight and growth):
Disclaimer: This is not a substitute for professional mental health support.
Act like an analytical and executive psychologist, knowing me well through my behavior, way of thinking, and how I perform.
Dive into my personality through five lenses:
(1) Actual strengths
(2) Deepest weaknesses
(3) Recurring patterns of failure
(4) Areas I avoid
(5) Skills and opportunities I neglect even though they could change my life.
Don’t flatter me at all. Use a serious and stern tone, as if my professional future depends on this analysis.
After the analysis, present me with a three-stage development plan:
(1) What to stop immediately
(2) What to start immediately
(3) What to rebuild from scratch.
Portable Bathtub link Charlotte mentioned (not sponsored links):
📬 Connect with our guest and Product Pals
Want to reach out to Will directly? He reads every message—just reference this episode!
Instagram: @hello_willly
LinkedIn: William Ly
💌 You can also contact us via LinkedIn or at productpalspodcast@gmail.com.
Let’s keep the conversation going 💬
In this episode of Product Pals, Charlotte and Kiet sit down with their good friend William Ly for a casual chat on mental health—just in time for men’s health month in Australia.
This isn’t a professional how-to guide, but rather a vulnerable conversation about recognising our own struggles, knowing when to ask for help, pondering the pros and cons of AI-powered therapy, and practical ways to support loved ones when we spot the warning signs.
Tune in for real stories, honest reflections and friendly banter, as we shine a light on why mental wellbeing matters.
Some helpful links:
In this episode of Product Pals, Charlotte and Kiet return to the heart of product management — product thinking — and unpack how it connects with the broader Influence-Dynamics Map (IDM). They dive into the real differences between product and systems thinking, demystify how to craft vision without the corporate fluff, and break down why execution and operations deserve their own spotlight (even if they often get lumped together).
Expect practical frameworks, honest reflections, and relatable stories from the product trenches — all aimed at helping you think more clearly, act more strategically, and lead with more intention.
📚 If you’re keen to dig deeper, we’ve gathered some of our favourite reads and resources below. A few links are affiliate ones — so if you do click and buy, you might be funding a future Product Pals coffee (or at least part of my flat white). No pressure, just pals supporting pals.
🔗 Further Reading & Resources
Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman → amzn.to/4mE2Byn
Start With Why – Simon Sinek → amzn.to/4kJUxdF
Playing to Win – A.G. Lafley & Roger Martin → amzn.to/3GYtpc6
Escaping the Build Trap – Melissa Perri → amzn.to/45eO4CE
In this short bonus episode, Charlotte and Kiet reflect on our first-ever Product Pals live event at the Atlassian office in Sydney. From energising conversations to some truly thoughtful feedback, we’re taking it all on board as we evolve the Influence Dynamic Map model and future episodes. It’s a quick debrief filled with gratitude and next steps – tune in!
Product managers are often pressured to make quick decisions—but what if taking a systems thinking approach led to better, more strategic solutions?
In this episode of Product Pals, Charlotte and Kiet uncover how systems thinking helps PMs step back, assess the bigger picture, and make smarter decisions. We discuss:
🔹 The importance of System Thinking and how does it different from default mental model
🔹 how to leverage our Product Pals’ original Dynamics-Influence Model - Systems Thinking for PMs to discover and explore different dynamic across all layers that influence your decisions
🔹 Practical tools and advices to enhance your strategic thinking and decision-making skills
If you want to go beyond short-term solutions and develop a strategic mindset for long-term impact, this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen now and elevate your approach to problem-solving!
Failure is tough to face, but it’s also one of the most powerful tools for growth.In this episode of Product Pals, Charlotte and Kiet share candid reflections on their biggest failures and how these experiences have shaped their approach to work and collaboration.
From early career missteps to hard-earned lessons, they dive into the uncomfortable but necessary practice of embracing failure as a learning opportunity.
Discover how fostering a culture of openness and trust can help teams turn mistakes into innovation and create an environment where everyone thrives. If you’ve ever struggled with setbacks or want to explore how failure can fuel your growth, this episode is for you.
🎧 Tune in now and join the conversation!
In this episode of Product Pals, Charlotte and Kiet tackle the often-overlooked connection between product management and finance. From Charlotte's personal journey of rediscovering her relationship with money to Kiet’s experiences with financial modelling, they dive into how understanding the numbers can transform your product strategy. They share practical tips for building financial knowledge, including how to tackle the vulnerability of discussing money, the importance of mentorship, and the power of financial models in decision-making. Whether you're new to product management or a seasoned pro, join us for insights on how finance can help you make better, more confident product decisions and drive real business impact!
In this episode of Product Pals, we dive into continuous learning and growth as product managers.
From structured courses to on-the-job learning, Charlotte and Kiet share their favourite approaches and challenges in keeping their knowledge up to date, including how to seek and keep our motivation, what are the more accessible channels of learning in a budget and time constrained environment and how to prioritise your learning backlog . We explore the Shu Ha Ri model of mastery, the "zone of genius," and finding purpose in work.
If you’re navigating your own growth as a PM, tune in for insights on curiosity, purpose, and career alignment.
How do you bring your thinking model and skills to life during a case study interview? Feeling a bit overwhelmed while preparing? We've been there.
In this episode of Product Pals, we challenge ourselves with a live case study simulation focused on AI-driven job displacement. We walk through our thinking models, share different strategies, and provide practical advice for navigating frameworks and solving complex problems.
With insights and tips throughout, we hope you'll feel more prepared to confidently showcase your PM skills in your next case study interview!
In this first episode of Product Pals, we’re diving into the real talk on what it’s like to be a product manager. From balancing customer needs with business goals to navigating roadblocks and celebrating small wins, we share the unfiltered ups and downs of the Product Manager role.
Discover why understanding your customer isn’t just a textbook exercise, the battles worth fighting, and the unexpected joys that make it all worthwhile.
Whether you’re new to product management or just curious about the journey, join us for a candid conversation about the moments that matter most.
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Productpals/comments/1e7eaaw/welcome_to_product_pals/