Ever wondered what it’s really like to build cutting-edge AI products at Microsoft, while simultaneously growing a thriving community online?In this episode, we sit down with Aparajita Rana, a dynamic product manager at Microsoft, to unpack her journey from a non-traditional computer science student to launching next-gen Copilot+ PCs. Aparajita shares actionable career advice, the role of personal branding in big tech, and how embracing both vulnerability and authenticity can set you apart in a crowded field.Learn how to tackle imposter syndrome, leverage creativity for career growth, and navigate the challenges of working at the intersection of engineering, product, and manufacturing. Whether you’re a student, aspiring PM, or seasoned tech professional, this conversation will leave you inspired, energized, and ready to take your next bold step.Tune in for wisdom on:Breaking into product management without being “the perfect student”The power of personal branding and content creation in tech careersReal strategies for career growth, networking, and navigating big organizationsThe future of AI PCs and what it means for your careerWhy being uncopyable is your greatest asset

00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:22 - Guest Introduction00:00:46 - Workplace Wisdom00:01:38 - Importance of Diverse Skills00:02:43 - Content Creation Journey00:04:55 - Combining Personal and Professional Life00:05:13 - Personal Branding00:06:14 - Influence and Impact00:07:00 - Finding Purpose00:09:03 - Target Audience00:10:59 - Career Advice00:14:03 - Sticking to Values00:15:09 - Moral Stance and Influencer Bias00:16:12 - Positive Energy and Growth Mindset00:17:32 - Values and Principles00:17:48 - Job Hunting and Internship Experience00:20:25 - Crafting a Powerful Resume00:22:11 - Building a Personal Brand00:23:36 - Impression on Hiring Managers00:26:03 - Interview Preparation and Authenticity00:26:11 - Building a Brand for Recent Graduates00:28:06 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome00:28:22 - Leveraging AI for Career Growth00:29:56 - Interconnected Skills and Experiences00:30:30 - The Importance of Trying Different Things00:32:25 - Overcoming Shyness and Improving Public Speaking Skills00:33:41 - Challenges Faced as a Recent Graduate00:35:20 - Task Delegation and Utilizing Team Strengths00:38:01 - Role as a Product Manager at Microsoft00:40:39 - Daily Tasks and Responsibilities00:43:06 - Challenges Faced in Making AI Accessible00:44:25 - Validating and Testing New Ideas00:45:59 - Decision Making in Feature Implementation00:46:40 - Gathering and Prioritizing Feedback00:48:52 - Proud AI Product Launch00:50:26 - Perspective on AI's Role in Society00:52:28 - Staying Innovative and Uncopyable00:54:20 - Advice for Following a Similar Path00:55:19 - Closing Remarks

Jeroen Kraaijenbrink is an accomplished strategy and leadership expert. He provides leaders stability, concreteness and value in strategy planning and execution through a human-centric approach. He is also a speaker and the author of various books on strategy and consulting. His book The Strategic Leadership Playbook was rated one of the best books in 2022 on LinkedIn for Management, Leadership and Strategy Tools. Today, I am partnering with Bernie Maloney from Powered by Teams to interview Jeroen. Jeroen and his partner created a company Strategy Inc to help leaders improve how strategy is done across the world.In this episode, you’ll learn:1. What is Strategy2. What is the "One Hour" Strategy3. How to build strategy in organizations4. Understanding the 6M Model developed by Jeroen5. 5 key competencies for strategy6. Advice for improving Strategy

In the healthcare industry, how would you actually find out what are some problems that you need to solve? What are the customer pain points and what are the needs of the customer? Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Hannah Cali, a seasoned healthcare product manager with nearly 20 years of experience in the industry. Hannah began her career as a developer driven by curiosity about who would use the software she was building and why. This curiosity led her to explore consulting roles, where she provided recommendations to improve client systems. Her passion for understanding the problem and crafting solutions naturally transitioned her into product management, particularly in the healthcare sector. In this episode, Hannah shares valuable insights into the role of the product manager in this complex field. She discusses the key skills that aspiring healthcare product managers should develop, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs and pain points. Hannah also highlights the significance of digital tools in enhancing patient engagement and improving care management. From scheduling capabilities to medication adherence, she explains how product managers can leverage technology to address critical issues in healthcare. #productowner #podcast #businesstipsforsmallbusinessowners #scrummaster #projectmanagement #business #owner #productmanager 00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest Introduction00:00:00 - Customer Discovery and Research Techniques00:00:54 - Key Skills for Healthcare Product Managers00:01:28 - Understanding and Addressing Pain Points00:03:35 - Measuring Effectiveness and Metrics00:12:04 - Prioritization and Roadmap Development00:13:45 - Incorporating Feedback and Iteration00:14:56 - Managing Stakeholder Expectations00:15:52 - Handling Disagreements and Prioritization Challenges00:17:09 - Counterintuitive Lessons in Healthcare Product Management00:18:21 - Improving Healthcare Product Management Practices00:19:43 - Managing Burnout in Healthcare Product Teams00:20:52 - Essential Skills for Aspiring Healthcare Product Managers00:23:33 - Defining Product in the Healthcare Context00:25:22 - Scrum Alliance Certification and Agile Training

In this video I had the opportunity to speak with Tamara Copple, Product Owner Children's International. Unlike for-profit businesses that prioritize profit, nonprofits like Children International prioritize compassion and service. Tam explained how her team collaborates with stakeholders across various countries to ensure that the needs of the children and families they serve are met effectively. We discussed the importance of understanding the local context and how technology, including AI, is being leveraged to improve services and communication. Tam also emphasized the significance of building relationships and continuous learning in the nonprofit space. She provided valuable advice for aspiring product managers looking to make a difference in the nonprofit sector. If you're curious about how you can contribute to meaningful change and empower children in need, this episode is a must-listen. Join us as we explore the intersection of product management and humanitarian work, and discover how you can make a lasting impact in the lives of children around the world.#productowner #podcast #businesstipsforsmallbusinessowners #scrummaster

Shift your mindset from the how to the why. This is the key to unlocking your potential in product ownership. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mirna Aitani, a senior product owner with over 14 years of experience at BeSyncro. Mirna has successfully bridged the gap between technology and business, transforming complex operational challenges into streamlined digital solutions. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity, much like a child who constantly asks 'why.' This mindset shift is crucial for anyone looking to excel in product management

I speak to DevJit Basu Head of Product in Katapult on

- Transition from Architecture to Product Management - Difference Between Startups and Large Organizations- Serving the Underserved Population - Balancing Business Goals and Customer Needs - Product Transformation and Integration - Product Prioritization and Stakeholder Management - Influence of UX Design on Product Management - Managing Trade-off Between Complexity and Usability - Applying UX Principles in Product Management - Ensuring Consistency Across Different Products - Influence of AI and ML on Product Development - Emerging Technologies Impacting Financial Product Development00:42:18 - Building and Nurturing Effective Product Teams - Communicating Vision Across Different Organization Levels - Different Scales and Versions of Strategy - Balancing Directive and Empowering Leadership - Advice for Aspiring Product Managers- Resources for Product Development Learning

Jan Juhelka CEO of Komerční banka shares leadership lessons from leading a massive transformation at the bank🔥 Business challenge and motivation: Despite being a well-established bank (3rd largest in Czech Republic), they faced potential competitive threats from fintechs and non-banking institutions.🔥 Cultural transformation: Jan Recognized that their challenge was about organizational culture - how they react to market challenges, their speed of delivery, and technological capabilities.🔥 Agile implementation approach: Started with diagnosis, then found Agile as the mindset and used the Spotify frameworkAgile cannot be implemented on in IT aloneBegan with dismantling traditional silos (business people, IT people, project management)Created multidisciplinary teams (tribes)Significantly reduced management layersStarted with one "lighthouse tribe"🔥 Technology transformation: Upgraded from 1990s mainframe technologyImplemented a new core banking system (Temenos T24)Migrated clients in cohorts, learning and improving with each migrationMade the system 24/7 online vs. batch processing🔥 Measurable outcomes: Employee satisfaction improvementsNet Promoter Score (NPS) improvements (after initial decline)Reduction in physical branches from ~400 to 186Digital sales growth from 10-15% to over 60%Workforce reduction from 7,500 to 5,500ROE target of ~15%🔥 Lessons on leadership:Being authentic and transparentNot being afraid to make hard decisionsTreating people as people, not robotsLearning from mistakesLeading by example (the CEO gave up his large office for the first tribe)Regular communication with employees and collecting feedbackAcknowledgment of mistakes and learning from them