In this week's podcast episode, we speak with Shannon Scott, SVP, Global Head of Product at Airwallex, who shares insights on product leadership, career paths, hiring strategies, and the challenges of building enterprise products.
Featured links: Follow Shannon on LinkedIn | Airwallex | Grow with, not through by Shannon
Chapters
- 00:00 Understanding Product Management and Career Paths
- 06:07 Evaluating Companies and Opportunities
- 12:01 Hiring Strategies and Team Dynamics
- 17:55 Challenges in Building Enterprise Products
- 21:46 Understanding Customer Complexity
- 24:06 Navigating System Versions and Customer Relationships
- 26:17 Predicting Market Trends vs. Quick Adaptation
- 30:05 Learning from Mistakes in Startups
- 35:53 Creating a Culture of Accountability and Learning
Key takeaways
- Understanding the product leads to better outcomes.
- Career decisions in startups are reversible.
- Belief in the product is crucial for success.
- Hiring requires a balance of experience and adaptability.
- Reference customers are vital for enterprise success.
- Product management skills can be applied in various roles.
- Evaluating a company's growth stage is essential before joining.
- Diversity in hiring brings different perspectives to the team.
- Critical thinking is key in product management roles.
- Building enterprise products requires understanding complex customer needs. Your customers expect it to be complex.
- Building a strong relationship with customers is crucial.
- Understanding the intricacies of your product is essential.
- Mistakes in startups can lead to valuable learning experiences.
- Creating a culture of accountability helps prevent repeated mistakes.
- It's important to adapt quickly to market changes.
- The best products come from deep understanding of customer needs.
- Utilizing infrastructure effectively can enhance customer experience.
- Communication with customers can lead to better product fit.
- A direct organizational culture fosters better outcomes.
