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“If you have a body, you are an athlete.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris speaks with Tobie Hatfield, Senior Director of Athlete* Innovation at Nike, about the philosophy and practice of building inclusive, high-performance products. From his early days as a pole vaulter and coach to more than 35 years of innovation at Nike, Tobie shares how his athletic background and curiosity shaped his approach to product development. He unpacks Nike’s guiding principle—innovate for the athlete*, with an asterisk meaning all bodies count—and explains how this vision fuels breakthrough products. From designing performance shoes for athletes with cerebral palsy that can be put on hands-free, to pioneering new “precovery” technology in collaboration with Hyperice, Tobie illustrates how authentic inclusivity drives performance for everyone. Listeners will hear how Nike prototypes fast, embraces “fail forward” experimentation, and measures innovation through real athlete outcomes. Tobie also underscores that innovatio

“How do you keep human connection at the center of hybrid collaboration?” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Norma Løvhaugen, VP of Strategy and Initiatives at Neat, to explore the future of video conferencing and the product strategies shaping it. With more than 20 years in the industry, including leadership roles at Cisco, Norma brings deep expertise in designing solutions that make meetings more authentic, seamless, and human. She shares Neat’s unique approach to building both hardware and software for hybrid meetings, emphasizing how cross-functional collaboration between engineers and designers drives innovation. Norma highlights how AI and machine learning are integrated into Neat’s systems to adapt dynamically to user needs, ensuring meetings are engaging whether participants are in-room, remote, or a mix of both. Listeners will gain insight into why prioritizing problems over solutions creates stronger products, how curiosity and close customer feedback loops fuel innovation, and

“Innovation thrives where creativity meets execution.” In this episode, we sit down with Luke Des Cotes, leader of Metalab—the renowned product agency behind work for organizations like Uber and Midjourney. Luke shares how his creative roots shaped his entrepreneurial approach, and how Metalab turns bold ideas into market-ready products by blending research, design, engineering, and flawless execution. From guiding startups to helping global enterprises uncover new opportunity spaces, Luke reveals how an outsider’s perspective can spark innovation, challenge entrenched thinking, and accelerate discovery. He also discusses the traits of successful founders, the importance of passion and persistence, and why product managers should look outside their categories for inspiration. If you’re ready to sharpen your challenger mindset, drive innovation, and take ideas from concept to market with confidence, this episode delivers the insights you need. For show notes and more resources, visit: pragmaticinstitute.com/r

“Agile isn’t about following the rules. It’s about delivering real value together.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris speaks with Jenny Martin, seasoned facilitator, coach, and creator of the OOPSI framework. While Agile has transformed software development over the past two decades, many organizations struggle to scale it effectively or to see the benefits they were promised. Jenny explains why so many teams fall into the trap of focusing on ceremonies and tools instead of the principles that actually drive results, like collaboration, value delivery, and rapid feedback. She introduces OOPSI—short for Outcomes, Outputs, Process, Scenarios, Inputs—a lightweight, non-prescriptive framework that helps teams break down complex problems, align on value, and accelerate delivery. Jenny shares how OOPSI can resolve common Agile pitfalls like “water-scrum-fall,” where work still flows through waterfall-style handoffs despite sprint-based development. If your teams don’t understand user stories, are unclear on

“If you don’t own your pricing strategy, you’re leaving money – and customers – on the table.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Marcos Rivera, founder of Pricing IO and author of Street Pricing, to unpack one of the most overlooked opportunities in SaaS: building a pricing strategy that matches the value your product delivers. A former product leader turned pricing expert, Marcos shares the most common pricing mistakes SaaS companies make, from lazy segmentation and low-value framing to treating pricing as an afterthought. He outlines a better path forward: one rooted in deep customer understanding, thoughtful packaging, and continuous alignment between price and perceived value. If you’ve ever launched a great product only to watch it struggle to sell, or you’ve relied on guesswork when it came time to price, it’s time to stop winging it. This episode will show you how. For show notes and more resources, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the

“AI agents aren’t replacing humans—they’re freeing us to do more human work.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Dan Corbin, longtime Pragmatic instructor and AI course creator, to demystify one of the fastest-emerging technologies in product management: AI agents. Dan explains what makes agents different from other tools like ChatGPT, why they matter, and how product and marketing teams can begin using them today. Together, they explore practical use cases across the product lifecycle, including how AI agents can automate repetitive work, analyze support tickets, and even assist in discovery and prioritization. Dan also shares advice on how to structure your AI efforts: starting small, centralizing development, and always keeping humans in the loop. If you’re curious about where AI agents fit into your strategy (and how to avoid the hype), this episode is your roadmap. For show notes and more resources, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the glob

“Value isn’t what you do. It’s what the customer gets.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris speaks with Mike Wilkinson, Value Sales Expert and Director at Axia Value Solutions, about what it really means to understand and communicate value in sales and why it’s essential for product managers, marketers, and sales teams to align around a customer-first mindset. Mike introduces the “value triad”—revenue gain, cost reduction, and emotional connection—as a practical framework for crafting value propositions that resonate. He also explores the cost of inaction, the role of curiosity in sales conversations, and how product teams can support sales with more relevant, outcome-driven tools and messaging. Whether you're building the next great product or trying to get it sold, this episode delivers insights on defining value from the buyer’s perspective and why that makes all the difference. For show notes and more resources, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global

“Value only exists in the customer’s mind.” In this episode we speak with Mark Boundy, founder of Boundy Consulting and author of Radical Value, about the single most important, but often misunderstood, concept in business: perceived customer value. Mark lays out a compelling argument that businesses must deliver outcomes customers care about and that true pricing power comes from helping customers quantify the results they’ll achieve. They explore how most companies still struggle to align internally around a clear definition of value, why nearly all B2B marketing still centers on the vendor (instead of the customer), and how product teams can use value conversations to guide innovation, pricing, and positioning. If you’ve ever wondered how to justify price premiums, this episode is the one. For show notes and more resources, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professiona

What if the key to great product management wasn’t certainty but your ability to navigate without it? In this episode we sit down with Anuj Jhunjhunwala, Director of Product Management at Merge, to explore the often-overlooked realities of product leadership. From his early days in finance to shaping integration strategies at a fast-growing B2B startup, Anuj shares insights on thriving amid ambiguity, aligning roadmaps with reality, and making your “no” just as powerful as your “yes.” Anuj explains why product managers must go beyond data dashboards and embrace storytelling, stakeholder empathy, and rapid learning. He also offers candid reflections on how to design meetings, docs, and team communication to actually work in fast-paced environments. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstit

How do you set the right price when AI is changing everything, except your customer’s expectations of value? In this episode we are joined by Mark Stiving, pricing strategist, host of the Impact Pricing podcast, and original designer of Pragmatic Institute’s Price course. Mark shares how understanding customer value and willingness to pay can guide smarter product decisions and unlock revenue, whether you’re pricing traditional software or AI-powered innovations. Mark explains why pricing isn't just a number. It’s a reflection of how well you understand your customer. He also unpacks how product teams can use AI to uncover buyer insights, refine segmentation, and align pricing with outcomes, not just features. And for those building AI products, he dives into emerging best practices, from outcome-based pricing models to choosing the right metrics that reflect delivered value. Whether you own pricing or just influence it, this episode is a masterclass in connecting what you build to what people will pay for.

What does it take to build AI-powered products that scale? In this episode, we are joined by Jonathan Evens, Product Lead at Google DeepMind, to explore the evolving role of product management in the AI era. Jonathan draws from experience across startups and Big Tech, ranging from smart grid systems to LLM-powered search, to reveal how high-impact AI products come to life. He breaks down DeepMind’s journey launching “AI Overviews” in Search, from beta testing in May 2023 to worldwide rollout just six months later. Jonathan also shares frameworks for balancing problem-led versus technology-led thinking, future-proofing AI roadmaps, and making intelligent experiences (not just features) the north star. He’s here to help product teams demystify LLMs and launch bold AI functionality with nimble development cycles. Tune in to gain practical advice for integrating AI thoughtfully, iterating quickly, and delivering real value.

How have product teams transformed over the past 15 years and where are they headed next? In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Saxe, VP of Product at Smartling, to explore the evolution of product leadership, AI integration, and the growing expectations of today’s enterprise customers. With three decades of experience, Andrew shares practical lessons from building smarter teams, scaling development, and making AI actually work for users. You’ll hear how Smartling reimagined the translation experience using AI, how product now touches every part of the customer journey, and what it takes to stay competitive in a faster, more complex market. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

What if your meetings could go from frustrating to high-functioning? In this episode, we sit down with Douglas Ferguson, president of Voltage Control and author of The Magical Meeting, to explore why facilitation is an essential, and often underdeveloped, skill for product managers. Douglas shares how intentional meeting design, inclusive practices, and purpose-driven structure can turn routine meetings into game-changing moments of alignment and insight. You’ll learn key facilitation techniques like “work alone together,” how to navigate the dual role of product manager and facilitator, and ways to measure meeting success. Whether you’re running sprints or cross-functional check-ins, this episode will help you stop dreading meetings and start leading them better. For additional resources, visit: www.voltagecontrol.com and www.facilitationlab.com More at: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts

What happens when a great engineer becomes the boss? In this episode, we sit down with Pete Steege, B2B growth strategist and founder of B2B Clarity, about the unique challenges faced by “accidental CEOs” – technical experts who find themselves in leadership roles without a roadmap. Drawing parallels to product managers (many of whom also come from technical backgrounds), Pete explores how engineering minds can shift from designing systems to building businesses. You’ll learn how to define your “true story,” align around a bullseye market, and foster a culture of clarity and accountability. Plus, Pete shares tools you can use to eliminate friction and scale smart. For takeaways, tools, and a free assessment, visit: b2b-clarity.com/chat Learn more at: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts

How do you go from strategy to better sales without getting stuck in planning mode? In this episode, we sit down with Simon Severino, CEO of Strategy Sprints and a sales strategist who’s helped clients generate over $2 billion in revenue. Drawing from his background in psychology and two decades of experience, Simone shares his sprint-based framework that brings together product, marketing, and sales to make fast, high-impact decisions every week. From leveraging community as a marketing engine to turning experiments into long-term wins, Simon offers practical tools to help teams collaborate better, measure progress, and create what he calls a high "Return on Luck." Visit strategysprints.com for free downloadable tools and templates. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

What if you could predict consumer behavior—without running a single survey or focus group?  In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Avi Yashchin, founder and CEO of Subconscious AI, to explore how synthetic respondents and causal AI are transforming the world of market research.   Avi shares how his background in high-frequency trading, behavioral economics, and product management at IBM Watson and Two Sigma led him to reimagine how businesses gain customer insights.  Subconscious AI’s platform delivers what Avi calls “SimCity for Market Research”—a behavioral simulation that replaces traditional research with faster, more ethical, and scientifically grounded modeling. From shrinking the say-do gap to exploring causation (not just correlation), Avi outlines a powerful vision for the next era of insight.  For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts  Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certific

What does it take to move from product management into the CEO seat and thrive once you get there? In this episode, we are joined by Marc Rubner, CEO of Building Intelligence, to trace his journey from marketing analyst to B2B product leader at American Express to top executive. Marc shares how product thinking gave him a head start in executive decision-making and prioritization but also where PMs often hit blind spots when transitioning into broader leadership. He dives into how successful go-to-market strategies require true collaboration between product, marketing, and sales – and why alignment, accountability, and repeatable processes are essential for growth. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

What’s the secret to getting your product not just built—but sold, used, and loved? In this episode, we sit down with Ciara Peter, SVP of Product at Robin, to explore the full lifecycle of product success from early design decisions to sales enablement and in-app education. With nearly two decades of experience at companies like Salesforce, Box, and Medallia, Ciara shares tactical strategies for making your product easy to sell and adopt. She emphasizes the product manager’s role in business outcomes, detailing how to align with sales, enable customer-facing teams, and build onboarding experiences that actually drive engagement. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

What makes product management in startups so different—and what lessons can translate back to enterprise? In this episode, we welcome Arturo Piña, founder of The Startup Agency, angel investor, and President of ProductCamp Austin. Arturo shares insights from his work offering fractional product management and strategy services for early-stage startups, and compares those experiences with his time in larger enterprise environments. From hands-on execution and GTM hustle to building alignment through a strong North Star metric, Arturo outlines the unique role of product managers in startups and the key takeaways enterprise teams can adopt to stay nimble, focused, and customer-connected. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on structure, speed, stakeholder dynamics, and how product leaders can thrive at any company stage. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certificati

How can vulnerability, mentorship, and purpose reshape a career—and a company culture? In this episode of the Product Chats, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Steve Chambers, a seasoned tech executive, educator, and advocate, for a powerful conversation on identity, leadership, and transformation. From his early days in acting to executive roles in AI and robotics, Steve shares the deeply personal experiences—coming out in the workplace, surviving leukemia, and pivoting to educational technology—that have shaped his approach to business and life. Steve opens up about building inclusive workplaces, creating psychological safety, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to lead with more empathy, clarity, and authenticity. For show notes and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at ww