In this episode, we’re joined by Ninika Nanda, a visionary leader with an impressive track record. Over the past two decades, she has seamlessly navigated product and engineering roles, showcasing a deep understanding of both domains. Join her conversation today to learn how she spanned various sectors, including banking, financial services, and retail e-commerce, all of which have made her a better product leader.

Dig into her story to see how Ninika embraced entrepreneurship, serving as a founder and contributing to the inception of impactful ventures. Throughout her roles, Ninika has consistently demonstrated proficiency in leadership strategy, adept team building, and fostering vibrant communities. Ninika teaches people how to foster collaborative environments that encourage creativity and productivity. A testament to her diverse skill set, this podcast is for anyone looking to enhance their product leadership.

Key talking points

• Product leadership focus: Explore the passion and practice of product leadership, unraveling the head and heart behind product-led growth.

• Cultural integration and diversity: Insights into Ninika’s journey, relocating to the UK, fostering a rich understanding of inclusivity, diversity, and cultural integration.

• Seeking fulfillment: Ninika's professional journey is marked by a search for fulfillment, where she recognized her passion for solving customer and business problems, leading her to transition from engineering to product roles.

• Mentorship and community building: Understand dedication to mentorship and community building, emphasizing knowledge-sharing and fostering growth within the product field.

• Engaging with industry leaders: Learn how to create meaningful discussions with seasoned CTOs, heads of product, visionary founders, and investors, providing valuable insights and stories. 

• Women in leadership roles in product: Ninika speaks on her presence as a woman leader in the product space, highlighting the significance of her perspective on women-related leadership.

• Embracing change and challenges: Ninika emphasizes the importance of being open to change, welcoming challenges, and not being afraid of failure. Her willingness to experiment and face the unknown has played a crucial role in shaping her career and life.

A little about the guest

Ninika initially started as an engineer and later transitioned to product roles due to a quest for fulfillment and a desire to solve customer and business problems. Following her MBA, Ninika transitioned to a fulfilling role as a business analyst, focusing on building business case strategies and commercializing products. She developed leadership skills, led small and large teams, and gained confidence in utilizing her leadership. 

Ninika faced another turning point when she joined her husband in the UK. This involved leaving a senior position and a fantastic team to adapt to a new culture and environment. The move brought a mixture of excitement and nervousness, highlighting the challenges of relocating and experiencing a new culture. 

In this episode, we’re joined by Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia, CEO of Product School, a global leader in product management training with a community of over 1 million product enthusiasts. 

Carlos explores key aspects of the product management landscape, including finding the right community for your product, why hands-on learning is the best way to jump into the PLG world and the challenges entrepreneurs face. With his storied career and tons of experience to share, don't miss this opportunity to learn from an industry expert and expand your product management knowledge.

Key talking points 

• The importance of building a community 
• The format of Product School's courses, which are designed to be flexible for students and instructors
• How to master soft skills in product management, including communication, empathy, and collaboration
• The significance of hands-on and observational learning in developing soft skills and product management expertise.
• The challenges and sacrifices involved in starting and running a successful company
• How to carefully select the right investor or partner when raising capital

In this episode, we’re joined by Arvind Dutta as he reflects on his multifaceted career in product management, emphasizing the customer-centric nature of the role. Listen to how he faces the challenges of fostering collaboration within teams and shares the vital role Microsoft Teams played during the pandemic. Arvind also discusses the product manager's unique position as an influencer and the emotional pendulum experienced in the role, advising a balanced perspective. 

Arvind explores the evolving impact of AI, the need to customize frameworks, and the critical role of storytelling in product management, underlining its power to convey concepts effectively. This insightful podcast sheds light on the dynamic and emotional aspects of the product management profession while offering valuable insights for navigating its complexities.

Key talking points

• Arvind’s enticing career journey
• Challenges of collaboration
• Impact of Microsoft Teams during the pandemic
• Emotional pendulum in product management
• The role of AI in product 
• Customization of frameworks
• Importance of storytelling

In this episode, we’re joined by Liam Young, founder of Harper, a technology startup that helps retailers deliver in-store experiences to their online customers. Listen as Liam explores the origin of his company and the hurdles he faced during COVID-19, a tiring time for any business.

But there’s triumph despite the challenges, and Liam expands on how he pivoted from a marketplace to adding value to merchandisers and retailers as a B2B2C company during the pandemic.

Key talking points

• Liam’s career background 
• How he effectively sold his product to merchants
• What’s next for Harper from a growth perspective
• His plans for expanding Harper to additional markets
• What advice he’d give to people looking to get investments in their company
• Harper’s target personas and how they influence product decisions