Join us as we chat with Ed Lin, former head of global product marketing for payments and point of sale at Square, to unearth the nuances of product marketing in the fast-paced world of FinTech. Listen in as Ed shares his unique journey from finance to tech leadership, providing an inside look at how product marketing serves as the critical link between customer insights and successful go-to-market strategies. Whether you're a budding marketer or an experienced leader, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge on how product marketing shapes the development, launch, and growth phases of a product, playing a pivotal role in customer acquisition and retention.

In our conversation with Ed, we uncover the key attributes that define a successful Product Marketing Manager (PMM), from customer empathy and strategic thinking to creativity and cross-functional collaboration. Ed emphasizes the importance of leveraging customer insights, market data, and competitive analysis to inform product strategies, and highlights the different skill sets needed at various product life stages. He also sheds light on the nuances of B2B versus B2C marketing, underscoring the need for human-centric messaging and empathy across all audiences. For anyone looking to master the art of product marketing, this episode is an invaluable resource filled with actionable insights.

Ed shares his perspective on the essential role of strategic prioritization for business leaders, the distinction between leaders and managers, and the often-misunderstood strategic involvement required in product marketing. Ed also touches on adapting leadership to remote work environments and the value of a mission-driven approach in FinTech. This episode is a treasure trove of advice for anyone aspiring to build a customer-centric company, adapt to leadership challenges, and navigate the complexities of the tech industry with strategic acumen.

(0:00:08) - Insights From a Product Marketer

Ed Lin's non-traditional journey to tech leadership, transition from finance to digital marketing, and insights on product marketing at Square.

(0:12:59) - Successful Product Marketing Manager Key Attributes

Successful PMMs need customer empathy, strategic thinking, and cross-functional skills to gather insights, drive growth, and adapt to B2B/B2C marketing.

(0:21:38) - Go-to-Market Strategy and Differentiation in Business

Positioning, pricing, and channel strategy are crucial for reaching and retaining customers within the Square ecosystem.

(0:26:55) - Advice for Building a Customer-Centric Company

Strategies for building a Voice of the Customer program, involving cross-functional teams, empowering PMMs, and effective leadership across both traditional and tech-focused companies.

(0:34:50) - Adapting Leadership in a Remote Environment

Leadership, team management, trust, delegation, minimal remarkable product, fintech, technology, financial access, underserved populations, incumbent banks.

(0:47:53) - The Importance of Strategic Product Marketing

Prioritization, leadership vs. management, career advice, debunked beliefs, and strategic involvement in product marketing.

(0:54:10) - Continuous Marketing for Team Success

Continuous marketing is crucial during economic downturns, emphasizing leadership, flexibility, and networking for professional development.

Book Recommendation: ‘Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals’ by Oliver Burkeman 

Content / Community Recommendation: Product Marketing Alliance

Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardlin-sf/ 

Wouldn't it be refreshing to discover a path to inner peace amidst the relentless pursuit of success? Join us as we explore this intriguing concept with our esteemed guest, Prakash Raman, a high-performance coach to Silicon Valley's top CEOs and executives. Prakash shares his unconventional journey into the realm of executive coaching, revealing how he guides his clients towards inner tranquility while fueling their ambition. Engage with us as we delve into the distinctions between a coach, mentor, and manager, crucial skills such as effective listening, and the profound impact of seeing the goodness in people.

As we navigate through this digitally dominated era, we examine the way this remote environment influences coaching sessions, and Prakash provides insight into the struggles of Zoom fatigue. We consider the pivotal qualities that make someone coachable, including an open mindset, an insatiable desire for personal growth, and a clear vision of one's values and goals. We also delve into the concept of life design and discuss how clarity, courage, and resilience can propel success in both personal and professional spheres.

In the latter part of our conversation, we discuss self-reflection and compassion, skills that bring us closer to understanding ourselves. Prakash offers exercises like loving-kindness meditations and simple strategies to nurture self-compassion. We also challenge the idea of blindly following passion in career choices, emphasizing the link between intrinsic motivation and external validation. Our conversation wraps up as we explore the notion of life design and how it relates to career success, the importance of intentional decision making, and the elements of successful leadership. So, immerse yourself in our thought-provoking discussion and uncover a whole new perspective on success, leadership, and personal growth.

(0:00:08) - The Art of Leadership Coaching

Executive coach Prakash Raman discusses finding inner peace, defining success, and the impact of coaching on leadership and personal growth.

(0:07:06) - Remote Environment's Impact on Engagement

Zoom fatigue, coachability, life design, clarity, courage, and resilience are essential for success in coaching and personal growth.

(0:16:25) - Developing Self-Reflection and Compassion

Self-reflection, self-compassion, and exercises like loving-kindness meditations can bring clarity and growth in our lives.

(0:25:36) - Passion and Skills in Career Journey

Nature's role in career choices: understanding strengths, avoiding distractions, and focusing on intrinsic motivation and skill development.

(0:31:05) - Life Design and Success in Leadership

Life design is crucial for career success, considering all aspects of life, balancing goals, and cultivating habits for intentional and self-aware leadership.

(0:44:46) - Exploring Coaching and Leadership Concepts

Coaching and leadership benefits, qualities of a successful leader, managing emotions, and impact of AI.

(0:51:29) - Challenging Convention and Personal Growth

Challenging convention, defining success on own terms, networking hacks, recommended podcasts and books, and emphasizing personal and professional growth.

Podcast Recommendations: Andrew Huberman, Michael Lewis, Tim Ferriss 

Book Recommendations: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman, Anatomy of Peace by the Arbinger Institute 

Contact: www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-raman/ 

#executivecoaching #coaching #leadership #entrepreneurship #startups #management #careers #personaldevelopment #personalgrowth #innerpeace #businessadvice #companyculture #teambuilding #remotework #adventuresingrowth 

Can you imagine a world where every department in a company is seamlessly working together to drive revenue? This episode explores that fascinating possibility with our guest, RevOps expert Todd Rode, who reveals the crucial role of RevOps in unifying every aspect of the customer journey. Todd peels back the curtain on the intricate relationship between RevOps and traditional sales, and the potential future of corporate operations. He also shares insights on how RevOps leaders can cultivate operational efficiency and foster a culture of servant leadership.

Ever thought about treating your career like an athlete treats their sport? We take a deep dive into the realm of career development, where we explore this compelling concept. We discuss the necessity of setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance, especially in a remote work setting. We also challenge some common myths around sales, emphasizing the importance of deal velocity and the role of human psychology in closing deals. Whether you're looking to enhance your career trajectory or simply seeking to better understand your professional strengths, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Finally, we address the significance of process within both large corporations and small, agile startups. Drawing on personal experiences, we discuss how processes are critical to all organizations, debunking the myth that they're only necessary for larger entities. Winding down the conversation, we focus on authenticity, vulnerability, and empathy in the workplace, revealing a unique networking hack that could potentially unlock hidden job opportunities. Enlightening and engaging, this episode promises a wealth of knowledge that will inspire and inform your professional journey. So tune in, lean in, and get ready to revolutionize the way you see your career and work environment.

(00:07) Understanding RevOps and the Customer Journey

RevOps ties together customer journey, potential for corporate operations, optimizing journey, networking, authenticity, aligning metrics, and differences from traditional sales.

(07:05) The Importance of Specializing in RevOps

RevOps requires technical skills, project management, a service mentality, self-awareness, and assessments for career progression.

(13:25) Efficiency and Customer Insights Maximization

RevOps leader adds value through operational efficiency, servant leadership, and collaboration for success in an organization.

(23:32) Understanding Self, Finding Right Career Fit

Career development, networking, self-assessments, utilizing alumni connections, values and mission in a company, and career guidance.

(31:45) Treating Your Career Like an Athlete

Treating your career like an athlete: self-care, boundaries, exercise, rest, work-life balance, and prioritizing health for success.

(35:08) Sleep Hygiene and Challenging Sales Myths

Prioritizing sleep hygiene and challenging sales myths, while incorporating art and science, for a healthy workplace.

(44:30) Myths in Companies

Guest speaker shares experience in big and small companies, debunking myth that processes are only for big companies.

(47:26) Balancing Agility and Processes

Nature's processes are crucial for consistency and efficiency, market-based and product-based principles, scalability, and effective feedback utilization.

(55:59) Authenticity and Productivity in the Workplace

Evolution of leadership in corporate world, embracing vulnerability and authenticity, tapping into hidden job market, and recommended content.

(01:01:14) Sales and Consulting Recommendations and Tools

Experts in sales, revenue, and processes