Product Therapy

In this episode, Christian Idiodi sits down with SVPG partner Chris Jones to unpack some of the most misunderstood ideas in product. Learn how to move beyond surface-level thinking and refine the mindsets, dynamics, and team structures required for exceptional product work.

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Today’s discussion unpacks:

• Why the best product ideas often come from engineers

• What people get wrong about the role of design

• The hidden cost of hiring for d...

In this episode, Christian Idiodi sits down with author and leadership coach Kate Leto to explore the power of emotional intelligence (EQ) in product management. They break down the critical human skills that set great product practitioners apart, and share tactics and strategies to develop them.

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Today’s discussion unpacks:

• The four key competencies of EQ

• How high EQ accelerates a product career

• Signs of weak EQ

• The critical “inner...

In this episode, Christian Idiodi welcomes back Martina Lauchengco, partner at SVPG and author of “Loved”, to explore the realities of startups. They discuss common challenges and key lessons for startup founders, employees, and investors. Whether you're considering launching your own company or evaluating a job opportunity, this episode offers valuable guidance on understanding and navigating startups.

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Today’s discussion unpacks: 

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Lea Hickman, discuss remote collaboration. They deconstruct the challenges remote work poses and actionable advice for overcoming them.

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Today’s discussion unpacks:

• Why remote collaboration is hard

• Common anti-patterns within remote teams

• The value of debate

• Why you should turn “self-view” off on video calls

• How to prioritize proximity between teams

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References:

In this episode, Christian Idiodi sits down with SVPG founder Marty Cagan to discuss transformation politics. They break down the delicate organizational dynamics that emerge during product transformations, and practical strategies for navigating them.

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Today’s discussion unpacks:

• Common political dynamics within transformations

• The critical “results window”

• The role of champions and evangelists

• How to leverage pilot...

In this episode, Christian Idiodi swaps from interviewer to interviewee. He breaks down his approach to employee onboarding, prompted by fellow SVPG partner, Chris Jones. Learn about the hidden dynamics in every employee onboarding, and Christian’s day-by-day guide for navigating them. Whether you are actively onboarding talent or need to re-onboard existing staff, this episode will help you set your team up for success.

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Today’s ...

In this episode, Christian Idiodi sits down with SVPG founder Marty Cagan to discuss founder-style leadership. Building on themes from Paul Graham’s essay “Founder Mode,” Christian and Marty break down what effective product leadership looks like. Anyone can learn these skills through enough effort and care, whether they are a founder or not.

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Today’s discussion unpacks:

• Misconceptions about founder-style leadership

• Why yo...

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Chris Jones, discuss time management. Many people in product feel they work long hours yet can’t achieve their goals. They spend so much time in meetings and reacting to what is urgent that they struggle to make space for real product work. These problems can be rooted in team culture or individual skills and habits. Either way, with the right strategies, effective time man...

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Martina Lauchengco, discuss product marketing. Martina is a leading mind on the subject and the author of “Loved: How to Rethink Marketing for Tech Products.” Learn what product marketing is, how it fits with other functions, and why it ultimately matters.

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In this discussion we unpack:

• The fundamentals of product marketing

• Its interplay with product mana...

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Jon Moore, coach product career advice. In recent years, the level of interest, formality and resourcing around product careers has grown significantly. But there are still many misconceptions about the nature of the discipline, how to break into it, and how to progress in the field. Hear Christian and Jon’s candid thoughts on the different resources available, as well as p...

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner Lea Hickman go deep on stakeholder collaboration. They explain what a stakeholder is and exactly how to collaborate with them. Learn from real life examples and tactical advice for avoiding common pitfalls.

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In this discussion we unpack:

• A practical definition or “stakeholder”
• How they can be enablers rather than barriers
• The importance of being proactive
• Why one...

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Martina Lauchengco, go deep on all things feedback. They discuss why feedback matters, how to give and receive it well, and how best practices change at different levels of a team hierarchy. Hear real examples of feedback conversations and actionable frameworks, phrases and tactics that you can use today.

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In this discussion we unpack:

• How to give feedback to leaders
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In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Chris Jones, discuss imposter syndrome. They explain what imposter syndrome looks like, the different things it can signal, and how to coach yourself and others through it. Hear real stories about experiencing imposter syndrome and the proven tactics to help you overcome it. 

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In today’s discussion, we unpack:

• What imposter syndrome looks like
• Why it can be a useful...

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner, Jon Moore, discuss ethics. They explain why good ethics is good business, who owns ethics in a company, and how to escalate ethical concerns. Hear real stories about complex ethical scenarios and practical advice for navigating these challenges in the workplace.

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In today’s discussion, we unpack:

• The role of ethics in product development
• Who “owns” ethics at compani...

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG Partner, Lea Hickman delve into the critical role of trust in empowered teams. They discuss why it's essential in product work, the complex dimensions of trust, and how you can help build and maintain trust in your own organization. Hear real stories and examples of being vulnerable, investing in relationships, and building an environment that sets product teams up for success.

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In this episode, Marty and Christian discuss product sense. Product sense is one of the most valuable traits for anyone in product. It makes someone a prime candidate for promotion, and considerably improves job satisfaction. However, while many people recognize the value of product sense, too many uphold a misconception that it is a trait you have to be born with. In fact, product sense is something you can develop by embracing th...

In this episode, Marty and Christian discuss the mindset behind strong product teams. While there are plenty of resources around the skills used on such teams, there is a lack of resources around the attitudes underpinning their success. If you are “stuck in a feature team” these concepts will feel especially unfamiliar. However, SVPG has collected a series of case studies proving that these mindset shifts can drive outcomes across...

Welcome to SVPG's podcast! This podcast tackles challenges that aren’t discussed enough in the product world: the behavioral, cultural, and mindset issues holding most teams back. We unpack these topics through authentic conversations between SVPG partners based on real-world experience leading and coaching product companies.

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Our first episode is focused on coaching agency. Agency comes down to how strongly someone believes t...