In this episode of Product Unfiltered, we had the privilege of hosting Abhishek Tiwari, Chief Product Officer at Wiser, a company offering B2B SaaS products to brands and retailers, focusing on understanding the consumer purchase journey and optimizing it for growth and success. His primary focus includes:
Shaping the strategy and vision for Wiser's future.
Enhancing functional maturity in product and design teams to ensure continuous improvement.
Driving growth awareness to align business goals and product outcomes.
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Product Unfiltered: How to Build Products That Solve Problems | Abhishek Tiwari, Chief Product Officer at Wiser
In this latest episode of Product Unfiltered, Abhishek Tiwari, the Chief Product Officer at Wiser shares invaluable insights into his journey, the evolution of product management, and his approach to building impactful products and teams. Here are the key takeaways from this episode:
Key Takeaways from the Podcast
1. Abhishek’s Journey into Product Management
Engineering Origins: Abhishek began as an engineer and worked on groundbreaking products like the camera phone and MMS.
Curiosity as a Catalyst: His interest in business and user behavior naturally led him to product management.
Early Days of Product Management: Back then, PMs were primarily technically oriented, often transitioning from engineering. Today, the role is much more problem- and user-focused.
2. The Evolution of Product Management
From Technical to User-Centric: Over time, the role of PMs shifted from technical expertise to understanding user problems and business goals.
Problem-First Mindset: Modern PMs need to focus on being experts of the problem rather than jumping to solutions.
Collaboration Over Command: Successful PMs work as a glue between teams, influencing rather than commanding.
3. Navigating B2B and B2C Product Management
Differences in Discovery:
B2B: Often involves high-touch sales processes and complex stakeholder networks.
B2C: Requires data-driven experimentation to understand user behavior at scale.
Product-Led Organizations: Companies with a clear product ownership structure (reporting to a CPO) offer more autonomy for PMs, but Abhishek emphasizes that any team can drive product maturity with the right approach.
4. Advice for Aspiring PMs
Be Curious: Dive deep into user problems, understand business operations, and explore new technologies.
Take Ownership: Develop a mindset of accountability for outcomes, not just features.
Master Influence: Hone your skills in influencing and aligning diverse teams toward shared goals.
Ground Yourself in the Problem: Especially in the AI era, focus on solving real problems rather than chasing flashy solutions.
5. AI in Product Management
AI as a Tool, Not a Trend: Avoid the trap of "solution-first" thinking. Instead, understand how AI can enhance problem-solving.
Stay Ahead of the Curve: PMs should familiarize themselves with AI tools and trends to stay competitive and lead innovation.
6. Building Teams and Hiring Early-Career PMs
Abhishek looks for passion, ownership, and data-driven thinking in early-career PMs.
He emphasizes the leader’s responsibility to coach and mentor new hires, ensuring they have the support to grow and succeed.
The Product Operating System
Abhishek introduces the Product Operating System, a comprehensive framework of best practices for product management. We're working with Abhishek to get the "playbook" that includes:
Discovery: Problem and solution discovery processes to ground teams in user needs.
Roadmapping: Outcome-driven roadmaps to align with business goals.
Collaboration: Tools to foster cross-functional communication and trust among stakeholders.
Execution: Guidelines for story writing, design processes, and delivering value.
We’re excited to bring Abhishek back for a Part 2 to dive deeper into the Product Operating System and his experiences in building high-performing teams.
Product Unfiltered is a platform dedicated to fostering insightful conversations with industry experts, thought leaders, and innovators in the realm of product management. Our podcast aims to provide a space for sharing diverse perspectives, best practices, and emerging trends that shape the ever-evolving field of product management. Join us as we delve into the minds of those driving innovation and creating impactful products across industries.
