Ever wondered what it’s like to manage products in the world of open source software?

In this episode of Product Confidential, we dive deep into the fascinating journey of Karl, who transitioned from a Linux enthusiast in college to a product manager at Microsoft.

What You’ll Learn:

👉 The evolution of Microsoft’s relationship with open source.

👉 Challenges of collaboration in open source communities.

👉 Key differences between traditional and open source product management.

👉 How to monetise open source software without losing community trust.

👉 Practical advice for breaking into open source product management.

02:15 Understanding Open Source Development

08:41 The Evolution of Microsoft and Open Source

13:33 Challenges in Open Source Product Management

20:31 Influencing in Open Source Communities

29:03 Monetizing Open Source Software

38:03 Skills for Open Source Product Management

40:23 Conclusion and Future Plans

Don’t miss this candid conversation packed with actionable insights for anyone curious about the intersection of open source and product management.

See more from Karl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-abbott/

Subscribe to the Product Confidential podcast now and never miss an episode filled with industry secrets, expert interviews, and actionable advice!

Welcome back and happy 2025!

"This is a little kickstart to January."

We're kicking off with a solo episode from Evie as she dives into her extensive research on burnout in product management, sharing her personal story and insights.

It's going to be an interactive, reflective episode so you can make the changes that you want to action this year!

We're talking about what causes burnout, why it's so high in product, how to recognise your own stressors (and what actions to take to prevent them!)

If you're looking for the boost you need to help you set yourself up for success and break the burnout cycles, we've got you covered.

Spoiler: "You need to take full responsibility."

Key Takeaways

It's not just about how much you work, but how you feel about it.

92% of product professionals have experienced burnout or are on the verge.

You are responsible for your own well-being at work.

Implementing small changes can lead to significant improvements.

Mindset shifts are necessary to overcome burnout.

Burnout coaching link:

www.eviebrockwell.com/burnout-in-product

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Burnout in Product Management

16:05 Understanding Burnout: Definitions and Symptoms

28:34 Strategies for Overcoming Burnout

As ever, if you take loads of value from this episode then follow & rate the show so we can bring you even more content this year!

Burnout coaching link:

⁠www.eviebrockwell.com/burnout-in-product⁠

Ever felt swamped by the myriad frameworks in product management?

We get into all of the details on the pros, the cons (hello imposter syndrome), and how to use frameworks effectively.

Our guest is Ed Walsh. Ed is the Head of Product at Zapmap - the UK's leading EV charging platform shares all of his views in this episode.

Discover why frameworks aren't one-size-fits-all, when they're genuinely useful, and how they can sometimes hinder more than help. Ed spills the beans on his favourite tools like the Business Model Canvas and Jobs to be Done, and offers candid advice on avoiding common pitfalls. Whether you're a startup hustler or a corporate climber, this chat is packed with invaluable insights that'll help you lead your team more effectively. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:30 The Overwhelming World of Product Frameworks 01:51 The Role of Frameworks in Career Development 03:20 Advice for Using Frameworks Effectively 04:22 Understanding the Purpose of Frameworks 05:39 Identifying and Solving Problems with Frameworks 07:54 Transitioning Away from Framework Dependence 13:04 The Downsides of Over-Reliance on Frameworks 15:33 Principle-Based Leadership and Framework Flexibility 22:18 Favorite Frameworks and Their Applications 25:26 Frameworks in Startups vs. Big Corporates 27:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Ed is an incredible coach in the product world, if you'd love to see more of his views - you can connect with him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmund-walsh-61223a47/

Join us in this engaging episode as we sit down with Claire, the Director of Sustainable Business Consulting at Transform.

Claire shares her inspiring journey from her early passion for sustainability, her roles in digital product spaces, to her current position at Transform. She delves into the concept of digital sustainability, the environmental impact of digital products, and practical steps product managers can take to make more sustainable choices.

Through insightful discussions and real-world examples, Claire provides a roadmap for integrating sustainability into product design and business practices, emphasizing the interconnected benefits for the environment, society, and business prosperity. Tune in to discover how small changes can lead to significant positive impacts and how you can be a part of the solution.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:06 Claire's Journey into Digital Sustainability

02:38 Understanding Digital Sustainability

06:19 The Role of Product Managers in Sustainability

12:23 Practical Steps for Implementing Sustainability

16:05 Balancing Sustainability with Consumer Behavior

19:47 Overcoming Overwhelm in Sustainability Efforts

23:41 Positive News and Upcoming Events

24:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Links to events and thoughts from Claire

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/transformuk_sustainability-netzero-sustainabledesign-activity-7227324081518366724-YA5e

https://www.transformuk.com/pages/towards-a-sustainable-business-blueprint

Find Claire on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbolina/

Have you ever really thought about what it takes to become an insane product leader?

Have you been thinking that you might want to take this career path, but you're not sure how to make it happen?

These are all of the insights that we're sharing with you today.

From progressing my career to lead 5 teams worth $1 billion at the age of 27 & coaching over 20 product leaders, to Michael's current journey - you're in for some gems.

In this episode we cover:

• What it takes to be an effective product leader
• Our experiences with product leaders (the good and the bad)
• Looking after yourself when you hit the leadership spot
• The best strategies you can implement to grow your own career

You'll leave this episode reflecting on how you want to show up and lead, and with tangible take-aways to really grow your career.

If you want to become an unstoppable product leader, sign up to the waitlist here:

https://eviebrockwell.ck.page/e9e6c21769

If you want to see more from us:

⁠⁠⁠Follow the show on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Michael⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Evie⁠

Do subscribe & leave a review if you love this episode,

Evie & Michael

Have you ever found yourself feeling like you ‘need to do it all’ to be good at Product? Has it led you to feeling stressed and overwhelmed? If so, you’re not alone.

92% of product people have either been burnt out, or close to burnout.

We spent the last 6 months finding out exactly why this is happening, and what can be done about it.

In this bonus episode, I’m joined by Nick Jemetta, Evelina Dzimanaviciute and Graham Reed, who are all experts on wellbeing in the workplace. You’ll get to know:

• Exactly why working in Product is the perfect storm for burnout
• How to recognise the signs and symptoms of burnout
• What you can do to stay on top of this
• Why burnout is so high in Product Leadership
• How product leaders can support others, whilst taking care of themselves

If you’ve ever felt stressed, anxious or overworked in Product - then this episode is for you.

Burnout in Product workshop

This workshop will be covering everything you need to know to understand:

• Why you’ve experienced burnout
• The patterns that lead you down this path
• How to unpick the deep routed behaviours that contribute to burnout
• Your own personalised plan to continuously prevent burnout

Join us on the last week of June to create the plan that you need. Join the waitlist here:

https://eviebrockwell.ck.page/ea1bd26aaa

If you want to see more from us:

⁠⁠⁠Follow the show on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Michael⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Evie

⁠

Subscribe & leave a review if you love this episode,

Evie & Michael

Have you ever tried to use a Now, Next, Later roadmap - but your stakeholders still want exact dates?

Do you find yourself spending far too long planning, and want to spend more time delivering value?

If this sounds like you, we can relate.

We've all been on the journey to get our stakeholders brought into a better way of doing things. & we all want to spend less time planning, and more time thinking about the best thing to build.

If that sounds like you, you will love this chat.

We're joined by Janna Bastow, the creator of the Now, Next, Later roadmap.

Janna shares all of her insights:

⚡️ Should you use timelines in a Now, Next, Later roadmap?

⚡️ How can you bring stakeholders on board?

⚡️ Why roadmaps should be a strategic planning tool, not a project management tool

⚡️ How they can help you to cross-collaborate

⚡️ & the exciting part - how AI is saving PMs so much time, and optimising their thinking

You won't want to miss this one.

See more from Janna:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannabastow/

Find out more about Prodpad:

ProdPad sandbox

Ultimate Guide to Product Roadmaps

How to Move from Timeline to Agile Roadmapping Course Why Now-Next-Later is best

If you want to see more from us:

⁠⁠⁠Follow the show on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Michael⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Evie⁠

Do subscribe & leave a review if you love this episode,

Evie & Michael

Have you been trying to drive more impact in your product org, but it's just not working?

Maybe you don't have clear goals from your product organisation, you don't see how your work relates, or it's just too hard to get clear targets. Does that sound familiar?

We've all been there, but thankfully, we're joined by impact-guru Matt LeMay on today's episode.

Matt unpacks exactly what product organisations need to change to drive more impact, and why this is so important, & why it's not about having dead certainty on your goals.

He also throws in so many gems:

- What are soft skills in product, and why are they important

- How can you detach yourself from your work and stay sane

- Approaching conversations about the uncomfortable thing

If you're looking at how you can really step into the world of impact, then this episode is for you.

Where can you find more info about Matt and his latest book?

https://mattlemay.com/about-matt

Linkedin.com/in/mattlemay

If you want to see more from us:

⁠⁠Follow the show on LinkedIn⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Follow Michael⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Evie

Do subscribe & leave a review if you love this episode,

Evie & Michael