How To Use UX As A Competitive Advantage (with Jared Spool)

The Product Manager

#Tech #Careers #Business #Podcasting Education #Hannah Clark - The Product Manager #Michael Luchen

42:18

“I used to be the largest dairy consumer on the planet. I used to eat so much dairy and meat. The more that I looked into the dairy industry, the more that I saw that it was the singular, most inhumane industry on the planet, that we've all been lied to, including myself, for years. I always believed that the picture on the milk carton, the cow standing next to her calf in the green field with the red barn in the back was true. It’s certainly the complete opposite.” – Richard (Kudo) Couto Richard (Kudo) Couto is the founder of Animal Recovery Mission (ARM), an organization solely dedicated to investigating extreme animal cruelty cases. ARM has led high-risk undercover operations that have resulted in the shutdown of illegal slaughterhouses, animal fighting rings, and horse meat trafficking networks. Recently, they released a damning investigation into two industrial dairy farms outside of Phoenix, Arizona supplying milk to Coca-Cola’s Fairlife brand. What they uncovered was systemic animal abuse, environmental violations, and a devastating betrayal of consumer trust. While Fairlife markets its products as being sourced "humanely," ARM’s footage tells a very different story—one of suffering, abuse, and corporate complicity. Despite the evidence, this story has been largely ignored by mainstream media—likely due to Coca-Cola’s massive influence and advertising dollars.…

about a year ago 37:47

MP3•Episode home

We’ve all experienced it: the frustration of a poorly designed product or service. But what sets apart the truly exceptional user experiences from the merely satisfactory ones?
In this episode, Hannah Clark is joined by Jared Spool—Maker of Awesomeness at Center Centre—to delve into the nuances of UX design, exploring the gap between meeting expectations and creating genuine delight.

Resources from this episode:

Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter
Connect with Jared on LinkedIn
Check out Leaders of Awesomeness - Center Centre

Chapters

1. How To Use UX As A Competitive Advantage (with Jared Spool) (00:00:00)

2. Meet Jared Spool (00:01:17)

3. The Impact of UX on Business Outcomes (00:02:32)

4. Hardware vs. Software Mismatch (00:08:39)

5. Common UX Mistakes in Tech Companies (00:16:46)

6. From Good to Great: Differentiating Exceptional UX (00:23:27)

7. The Importance of Deep Research in UX (00:30:22)

91 episodes

How To Use UX As A Competitive Advantage (with Jared Spool)

The Product Manager

12 subscribers

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter
Connect with Jared on LinkedIn
Check out Leaders of Awesomeness - Center Centre

Chapters

1. How To Use UX As A Competitive Advantage (with Jared Spool) (00:00:00)

2. Meet Jared Spool (00:01:17)

3. The Impact of UX on Business Outcomes (00:02:32)

4. Hardware vs. Software Mismatch (00:08:39)

5. Common UX Mistakes in Tech Companies (00:16:46)

6. From Good to Great: Differentiating Exceptional UX (00:23:27)

7. The Importance of Deep Research in UX (00:30:22)

91 episodes

#Tech #Careers #Business #Podcasting Education #Hannah Clark - The Product Manager #Michael Luchen

All episodes

The Product Manager

1
How Parenting Made Me a Better Product Leader (with Anuj Jhunjhunwala, Director of Product at Merge) 32:08

8 hours ago32:08

32:08

Becoming a parent profoundly changes how you approach product leadership, blending personal and professional challenges in unexpected ways. Anuj Jhunjhunwala, Director of Product at Merge, shares how parenting teaches lessons in influence without authority, clear communication, and time management that directly apply to leading products. Anuj offers candid insights on how managing toddlers parallels managing stakeholders, why career growth feels more like navigating a mountain than climbing a ladder, and the paradoxes that trip up many product managers today. This conversation reveals the surprising overlaps between parenting and product leadership, offering fresh perspectives for anyone balancing both worlds. Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Anuj on LinkedIn Check out Merge…

The Product Manager

1
The AI-Enhanced Team: A New Playbook for Product Leaders (with Andrew Saxe, VP of Product at Smartling) 27:10

7 days ago27:10

27:10

As we navigate the AI revolution, we’re collectively creating a new reality that’s far from utopian, and both leaders and individual contributors are struggling to find their way through the uncertainty. Questions around workplace ethics, output quality, and long-term impacts are top of mind for many, but this presents an opportunity to learn from each other’s breakthroughs and shape the future we want to see. Andrew Saxe, VP of Product at Smartling, shares his experience leading a company that has evolved from manual translation services to integrating AI-driven workflows. He discusses how to distinguish real AI value from hype, the ethical considerations leaders must consider, and the rapid shift in the skills that are in highest demand in today’s AI-driven landscape. Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn Check out Smartling…

The Product Manager

1
How to Be ‘Limitless’: The Mindset Shift That Opens Doors (with Uma Subramanian, Founder of Limitless Leaders) 32:46

14 days ago32:46

32:46

What's holding you back from reaching your next level? For many, the biggest obstacle is often a mental one, not a physical one. By shifting your perspective and zooming out, you can find pathways around the challenges that seem insurmountable. Uma Subramanian, founder of Limitless Leaders and former Microsoft leader, shares her journey of achieving extraordinary success by adopting a limitless mindset. Uma explains how she overcame limiting beliefs, reframed her mindset, and transformed her career, even in the early stages. Her story reveals the power of believing in yourself and tackling seemingly impossible constraints—spoiler alert, they’re usually not as impossible as they seem. Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Uma on LinkedIn Check out the Limitless Leaders…

The Product Manager

1
How to Use AI to Research Like a Researcher (with Cori Widen, User Research Lead at Photoroom) 23:59

21 days ago23:59

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Research has often suffered from shortcuts, assumptions, and poorly conducted user interviews, long before AI entered the picture. While there are concerns about AI exacerbating these issues, today we’re exploring how AI can actually improve research practices by standardizing and democratizing good research at scale. Cori Widen, User Research Lead at Photoroom, joins us to share how AI is being leveraged to transform research practices at her company. She discusses the cultural mindset that encourages innovation and provides practical insights on how teams can use AI to elevate the quality and impact of their research. Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Cori on LinkedIn Check out Photoroom…

The Product Manager

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The Nuances of Product Leadership No One Talks About (with Debbie McMahon, CPO at The Financial Times) 32:32

28 days ago32:32

32:32

A seedling and a tree may share the same DNA, but their roles in the ecosystem are vastly different—just like junior and executive product leaders. As leaders climb the ranks, their focus shifts from producing features to providing structure and support that allow teams to thrive. Debbie McMahon, Chief Product Officer at the Financial Times, reflects on this evolution and how her approach to leadership has matured over time. From managing complex internal and external relationships to knowing when not to follow popular advice, Debbie offers practical wisdom on staying grounded, building trust, and leading with intention at the executive level. Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Debbie on LinkedIn Check out The Financial Times…

The Product Manager

1
Zoom's CPO on Evolving Product Strategy in a Post-Pandemic Market (with Smita Hashim) 21:51

5 weeks ago21:51

21:51

Zoom’s journey from a popular video conferencing tool to a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic was followed by a wave of competition. But rather than being overwhelmed, Zoom has embraced new opportunities for innovation, especially with the rise of AI. Smita Hashim, Zoom's Chief Product Officer, shares insights into the company's response to the challenges of the pandemic and the rapid shifts in the tech landscape. Smita discusses her experience leading Zoom through this transformative period, highlighting the role of generative AI in shaping Zoom’s future. With bold strides in AI and an evolving product portfolio, Smita offers a glimpse into what’s next for the company as it adapts to a new era of growth and competition. Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Smita on LinkedIn…

The Product Manager

1
Do All Roads Lead to the Feature Factory? (with Aakash Gupta, Andrea Saez, and Pawel Huryn) 42:33

6 weeks ago42:33

42:33

In this episode, we dive into the phenomenon of the "feature factory," where companies focus more on releasing products and features rapidly rather than prioritizing quality or user needs. John Cutler coined the term, and it perfectly captures the feeling many teams face: launching features without a clear understanding of who they’re for or how they impact the business. If this resonates with you, keep listening as we explore how to break free from this cycle. In our panel discussion, we hear from three product leaders—Aakash Gupta, Andrea Saez, and Paweł Huryn—who share their insights on shifting from output-focused to outcome-driven product development. They offer actionable frameworks for maintaining strategic focus, addressing mid-market pressures, and fostering a culture that values meaningful outcomes over sheer feature volume. Whether you're scaling a business or trying to reignite your team’s creativity, this conversation offers practical advice for escaping the feature factory mindset. Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Aakash , Paweł , and Andrea on LinkedIn Check out The Product Growth Newsletter , The Product Compass Newsletter , and The Product Momentum Gap…

The Product Manager

1
How to Break Into Product Management in 2025 (with Mariana Antaya, Product Manager at Microsoft) 20:47

7 weeks ago20:47

20:47

In this episode, we catch up with Mariana Antaya, Product Manager at Microsoft, who first joined the show in February 2024. Since then, AI has gone mainstream, the tech job market has shifted, and her career has evolved significantly. Last time, Mariana shared practical advice for aspiring PMs, which became our most downloaded episode ever, and now we’re diving into what’s changed and what aspiring PMs need to succeed in 2025. Host Hannah Clark reconnects with Mariana to reflect on the rapid developments in AI and the evolving landscape of the tech industry. They discuss how aspiring product managers can adapt and thrive in this new environment, with insights that will help listeners stay ahead of the curve. Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Mariana on LinkedIn , Instagram , and TikTok Check out Microsoft…

The Product Manager

1
The Enterprise CPO’s Guide for Winning at AI (with Randhir Vieira, Chief Product Officer at Omada Health) 23:34

8 weeks ago23:34

23:34

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The Product Manager

1
How to Choose Tools Your Product Team Will Actually Use (with Moshe Mikanovsky) 21:08

9 weeks ago21:08

21:08

How many logins do you use at work each week? If you’re not sure, you’re not alone. A 2024 report found that the average employee uses 36 cloud-based services daily—engineering teams use twice as many! Yet, over half of SaaS licenses go unused, wasting valuable resources. In this episode, host Hannah Clark sits down with Moshe Mikanovsky, founder of Products for Good and co-host of the Product for Product podcast. Moshe shares his framework for selecting the right tools, helping organizations boost adoption, productivity, and cost efficiency. Tune in to learn how to make smarter software choices! Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Moshe on LinkedIn Check out Products for Good and Product for Product podcast Moshe’s frameworks…

The Product Manager

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How Did This CPO Pull Off 350% Growth in Two Years?! (with Benjamin Berry) 27:52

10 weeks ago27:52

27:52

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The Product Manager

1
Product Leaders Share Their Team Priorities for 2025 (with Melika Hope and Ken Romano) 45:03

11 weeks ago45:03

45:03

The product industry is constantly evolving, and navigating silos—both across departments and between leadership levels—can make career growth feel like a challenge. Without alignment, collaboration suffers, progress stalls, and figuring out how to advance becomes even harder. In this special panel episode, host Hannah Clark is joined by Melika Hope (Director of Product Management at Spotify) and Ken Romano (VP of Product at Stacker) to discuss what product leaders truly value in 2025. They dive into the skills, strategies, and mindset shifts that can help you make a real impact on your product, team, and career this year. Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Melika and Ken on LinkedIn Check out Spotify and Stacker…

The Product Manager

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The New Exec Playbook: Your Most Important First Moves in Your First Executive Role (with Yue Zhao) 33:31

12 weeks ago33:31

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Starting a new job is tough—but stepping into an executive role is a whole different challenge. With high stakes, unrealistic expectations, and all eyes on you, how do you navigate this transition successfully? In this episode, Hannah talks with Yue Zhao, executive coach and founder of The Uncommon Executive, about the realities of executive life, adapting to new dynamics, and essential steps beyond the typical 90-day plan. Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Yue on LinkedIn Check out The Uncommon Executive…

The Product Manager

1
Lessons from the Dot-Com Bubble: How Product Leaders Should Think About AI (with Greg Petroff) 31:29

13 weeks ago31:29

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The times are changing, and AI is driving a major shift in how we approach product and leadership. It’s exciting, unpredictable, and inevitable—but how do we navigate this change? Hannah Clark sits down with Greg Petroff, a design thought leader and seasoned executive, to discuss the tools, organizational shifts, and strategies that leaders need to adopt in this fast-paced era. Tune in to hear Greg’s insights on adapting to change and staying ahead in the AI-driven world. Resources from this episode: Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter Connect with Greg on LinkedIn Check out Greg’s Substack: Improbable Futures…

The Product Manager

1
How to Use UX Research to Delight Your Users (with Laura Klein, Steve Portigal, and Thomas Stokes) 45:26

14 weeks ago45:26