George interviews Sean Steppe, senior manager of Restaurant Systems at Hawaiian Bros Island Grill. Hawaiian Bros is a breakout restaurant that is expanding across the country, using technology to create a better end-user experience, not only for ordering and checkout processes but also in the kitchen and on the backside of their organization. Hawaiian Bros uses technology and data to help make decisions and provide better service to their customers as they scale up. With the freedom to test...

It's good to recognize what AI is and what it is not. In this episode, George Brooks is joined by Michelle Frost to de-bunk myths & misconceptions about what AI can mean for processes in the workplace. Learn about the necessary steps to train a model, from collecting and preparing data to testing and evaluating the model. Plus, the importance of ML Ops and the impact of using third-party libraries and packages.

George interviews Gharib Gharibi, the Director of Applied Research and Head of AI at TripleBlind, a startup based in Kansas City that has now expanded globally. TripleBlind enables data-driven innovation while preserving privacy, allowing for the training of fair and generalizable models with diverse data from multiple institutions. In this episode, they discuss the need for collaboration between academia, industry, researchers, and policymakers to shape the future of AI and build responsible...

In this episode of People of Product, George Brooks speaks with Carmel Wynkoop, a partner at Armanino, a Top 25 CPA and consulting firm. Carmel leads the business analytics and automation practice at Armanino, providing data-driven practice improvements and automation for international clients in various industries. They discuss the potential of AI and how organizations can start small to achieve small wins that create momentum toward realizing the full potential of AI, machine learning, and...

AI is becoming more complex as it begins to touch multiple facets of our everyday lives -- including business. In this week's episode, George and Dan discuss what AI could mean for the future, from the way we work to the products we create.

The bi-weekly Sprint is at the heart of the Agile methodology. In this episode, we discuss why Sprints are structured the way that they are and tips for making them successful. Why is a sprint typically 2 weeks? What are the traditional activities that happen over that period of time? Plus expert tips for how to set clear goals and stay aligned for cross-functional teams.

Stop using hour-based estimation for your work. There’s a better way! Whether it's a project as a whole or just a Sprint, Story Points and Velocity are key tools in trying to predict the future and make the most of your team's time and effort. In this episode, Dan & George talk about how Story Points offer a means of estimation that is relative to a particular frame of reference, enabling you to get a more accurate understanding of your true Velocity.

George and Dan delve into the world of epics and stories, both in literature and in the tech industry. Learn how epics and stories in the digital product world can be deconstructed into smaller, more manageable chunks in order to achieve success.

Having a roadmap is important, even in an Agile environment, because it provides a shared understanding of where a project is headed. In this week's episode, Dan and George discuss the process of creating a roadmap, including the timeline and the stages involved, such as planning, prototyping, and user engagement. They also touch on the benefit of being agile and making adjustments as necessary, while still maintaining the overall direction towards the project's north star.

The best products are built by creative individuals working together towards a common goal. However, with the diversity of skillsets, experience levels, and influences present in a team, achieving alignment can be a challenge. George and Dan discuss how to overcome obstacles and maintain a productive and aligned product team in this week's episode of People of Product.

The idea of starting a custom software initiative within your company is a daunting one. From gathering buy-in from leadership to conducting user interviews, in this week's episode, we'll break down some of the best ways to tackle the overwhelming beginnings of a custom software initiative.

After 100+ episodes and talking with listeners, we realized that one of the biggest challenges is simply getting back to the basics of product work. In this episode, we want to define a term we often use: digital product. What is a digital product, and what is it not? Who creates digital products and why?

We're taking a break to reset and consider different formats and pacing for People of Product. We'll be back in the fall with more amazing episodes about people doing the best work of their lives!

In the post-pandemic era, people are burnt out. We’re searching for ways to have better human connection and productivity at work. But those things can only happen in spaces with psychological safety. The challenge is that it takes even MORE intentionality to foster. In this episode, Dr. Tharaka Gunarathne (psychiatrist & consultant with FORM) shares his methods for how to foster high levels of trust at work while avoiding further burnout.

The job market in tech is volatile. But there are factors within your control to land the gig you’re looking for. In this episode, Sarah Doody - Founder & CEO of Career Strategy Lab - shares advice from years of talking with candidates, hiring managers, and UX teams. Hear what you can do to escape the all-too-common journey of 100 plus failed applications.

Inspiration is everywhere! In the workplace, it can be especially powerful when turned into action. With an abundance of things to latch onto, it’s helpful to know where the best inspiration comes from. In this episode, Dan & George share how to better tune into sources of inspiration and apply the strongest motivations in a meaningful way.

From instant messaging to video conferencing tools, there are scores of new products for highly collaborative teams to sift through. But how do you pick the best for your needs? In this episode, we share the tools we use today at Crema and the potential challenges of using each.

Jen Choi is Senior Director of Innovation & Impact at the Atlanta Hawks. She leads their first-ever Innovation Lab that doesn’t stop at creating great fan experiences. They’re dreaming beyond with new ways to support and engage the greater community, from public voting booths to sports NFTs. Hear some of the challenges, experiments, and solutions this future-setting incubator is dealing with today.

Building a great product is only half the battle. Strong product marketing helps direct how the product gets to market and tells a compelling story about why people need it now. It’s a unique discipline that sits at the intersection of pure marketing and product, and it’s helping break down silos between the two. Martina Lauchengo from the Silicon Valley Group, and author of “Loved”, is on the show to talk about the fundamentals of product marketing and how to apply them.

Let’s face it. There’s a natural barrier to communication in remote work. When the luxury of proximity is gone, velocity and trust can dwindle. In this episode, Dan & George break down the different types of isolation, the consequences, and ways to overcome silos.

Winning experienced candidates out of the small technical talent pool is TOUGH. Increased demand and salary inflation has made hiring a real challenge in the age of digital transformation. In this episode, we share how we've been successful in hiring the most highly sought-after roles on the job market (without a recruiter).

We’ve all seen the increasing dissatisfaction in the workforce and the “great resignation” take its toll. Today teams have to be constantly assessing the collective “agreements” made about how work gets done or people will check out. Aaron Dignan - founder of The Ready and author of Brave New Work - is back on the show. In this episode, Aaron & George discuss how teams create consensus and clarity around their norms and policies and Murmur’s newest digital tool that is facilitating this...

Beyond their strong technical knowledge, great developers bring “big picture perspective” and get wildly creative. If you can broaden your scope beyond your own discipline, then you can guide your team to make intentional decisions that solve even greater problems during ideation. In this episode, Creative Technologist & “Exploratory Team” member CK Hicks shares how developers provide perspective for both technical feasibility and innovative possibility.

Great designers have a deep focus on understanding the user and getting close to their needs. This is why having an experienced designer involved from the earliest stages of research and ideation is so powerful. In this episode, Product Designer Aubrey Schmidt describes her role in the early innovation space.

Many have gone through “workshops” that are more like glorified business improv sessions. But high-impact facilitated sessions dedicated to unearthing the real problem can help teams get aligned on the best possible solution. In this episode, expert facilitator Justin Mertes describes the outcomes of early-stage tech exploration and the real consequences of jumping into the work without a deep understanding of the context.