Summary
Having grown her career from UX designer to Product Experience leader, Wendy Johansson has learned a thing or two about what it means to "be a product boss". Along the way she's had plenty of wins, more than her fair share of fails, and one or two moments when things completely blew up in her face. So, rest-assured, she'll be speaking truth in this presentation where she will share why, when, and how designers should level up their careers towards product bossdom! From understanding just what it is that product leaders do, to learning how you can incorporate product know-how into your design skills toolkit--Wendy will help you bring out your inner product boss for more effective communications and outcomes in all your organizational interactions - across engineering, product, sales, and even your own team! Be sure to join the live post-session Q+A with Wendy for the opportunity to share questions and relate your own experiences of being a product boss!
Key Insights
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Wendy's background as a UX designer provided her with diverse experiences across various departments, which shaped her approach to product leadership.
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Managing relationships with superiors, team members, peers, and clients is crucial for product leaders.
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Understanding the business value of design can help designers align their work with organizational goals.
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Effective communication and transparency are key to managing team dynamics, especially during strategic shifts.
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Wendy emphasizes that everyone in product development shares a common goal, regardless of their formal roles—creating value for users.
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Designers should not shy away from understanding and embracing the political dynamics in organizations.
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Building resilience in teams can involve allowing them to face challenges rather than sheltering them from difficulties.
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Customer feedback enables product leaders to prioritize features that address genuine needs, enriching the user experience.
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Collaboration and empathy are central to fostering productive relationships across diverse teams.
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Ultimately, product leadership is about people and how well you can navigate their needs and motivations.
Notable Quotes
"Product is designed as product and design is product. We're looking at the same ecosystem."
"The table of product strategy is built differently at every company, influenced by politics and experiences."
"To articulate the business value of design, you need to talk about performance, revenue, and costs."
"Managing up involves understanding your boss's motivations and helping them defend design."
"Managing down means subjecting your team to experiences that ensure they grow and learn from challenges."
"Managing sideways emphasizes knowing your colleagues and working collaboratively across disciplines."
"As product leaders, we need to manage outward to engage with our users and understand their true needs."
"There is no 'I' in product; it is about the team and the people we serve."
"Design values can guide how we communicate with teams and stakeholders, fostering curiosity and collaboration."
"Embrace the opportunities provided by the challenges of product leadership — they're essential for growth."
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