In this episode of The Product Podcast, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Tricia Maia, Head of Product at TED, the 40-year-old nonprofit organization renowned for its influential talks that have garnered billions of views since launching online in 2006.

As Head of Product at TED, Tricia leads the product organization overseeing ted.com, mobile apps, events products, and backend platforms. Her team manages a complex ecosystem that delivers TED's mission of spreading ideas across borders and languages, with content translated into over 100 languages and distributed across multiple platforms.

We explore how TED balances being both a legacy institution and a startup-like organization, diving deep into their approach to AI implementation, content distribution strategy, and measuring success in a mission-driven environment. We'll discuss how TED leverages technology to make its content more accessible globally while maintaining its high standards and editorial vision.

What you'll learn:
• What it’s like to be a product leader at a nonprofit with global digital reach
• How TED uses AI to improve accessibility—including voice-cloned dubbing and translation workflows
• How Tricia balances mission-driven goals with the need for sustainable revenue
• How TED is evolving content formats beyond the classic 18-minute talk
• How TED maintains high-quality content while scaling across platforms
• How data-driven personalization is blended with editorial curation
• The key metrics TED focuses on—including engagement, retention, and impact
• How Tricia structures her team and prioritizes projects to drive maximum impac

Key Takeaways 👇:
Tricia emphasizes how being mission-driven shapes every product decision while maintaining business sustainability. The organization's unique hybrid model demonstrates how to balance innovation with established brand value.
TED's careful implementation of AI technology, particularly in translation and dubbing, shows how to introduce innovative solutions while preserving valuable human contributions and maintaining quality standards.
The combination of traditional KPIs with mission impact metrics provides a comprehensive framework for measuring success in a mission-driven organization, balancing quantitative metrics with qualitative impact assessment.
TED's effective use of functional teams combined with squad-based execution demonstrates how to maintain expertise while enabling rapid project delivery and focused business objectives.

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Brought to you by:
This episode is brought to you by Persona, the adaptable identity platform that helps businesses fight fraud, meet compliance requirements, and build trust.
These days, it's easier than ever for fraudsters to steal voices, faces, and identities. That's where Persona comes in; helping leading companies to securely verify individuals and businesses worldwide, providing flexible building blocks to create tailored verification flows that maximize conversion while minimizing risks.
Whether you work at a startup or large enterprise, you can get started for free: withpersona.com/productschool

Credits:
Host: Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia
Guest: Tricia Maia

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Philipp Kandal, Chief Product Officer at Grab, Southeast Asia's leading super app serving over 40 million monthly active users across eight countries.

Originally launched as a taxi-hailing service in Malaysia, Grab has evolved into a comprehensive platform offering ride-hailing, food delivery, financial services, and more. After acquiring Uber's Southeast Asia operations in 2018, Grab went public in 2021 and is now valued at approximately $20 billion, generating $2.8 billion in revenue with 19% year-over-year growth.

We explore Grab's transformation from a single-service app to a super app powerhouse, diving into their hyperlocal approach to product development, organizational structure, and how they leverage technology to solve unique challenges in Southeast Asia.

What you'll learn:

• How Grab evolved from a taxi-hailing service to a super app by following user needs
• Strategies for competing with global players through hyperlocal solutions
• How to structure product teams for both platform and business innovation
• The role of user immersion in improving driver and consumer experiences
• Ways to balance growth with profitability in emerging markets

Episode Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction and Grab's Evolution
(10:00) Building Product Teams at Scale
(20:00) Hyperlocal Strategy in Southeast Asia
(30:00) Product Development Through User Understanding
(40:00) Balancing Growth and Profitability
(50:00) Technical Innovation and Challenges

Key Takeaways👇:

• Super App Evolution: Success came from following user needs rather than copying global models, expanding naturally from transport to food delivery to financial services
• Organizational Structure: "Tech families" structure splits teams between platform infrastructure and business verticals, enabling both innovation and efficiency
• Hyperlocal Focus: Custom solutions like GrabMaps and cash payment systems were developed specifically for Southeast Asian market needs
• User Understanding: Direct field experience through "shadow shifts" leads to better product decisions and feature development
• Technical Innovation: Built custom solutions to address unique challenges like multiple languages, poor connectivity, and diverse payment systems

This episode is brought to you by Persona, the adaptable identity platform that helps businesses fight fraud, meet compliance requirements, and build trust.
These days, it's easier than ever for fraudsters to steal voices, faces, and identities. That's where Persona comes in; helping leading companies to securely verify individuals and businesses worldwide, providing flexible building blocks to create tailored verification flows that maximize conversion while minimizing risks.
Whether you work at a startup or large enterprise, you can get started for free here: withpersona.com/productschool

Social Links:
- Follow our Podcast on Tik Tok here
- Follow Product School on LinkedIn here
- Join Product School's free events here
- Find out more about Product School here

Credits:
Host: Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia
Guest: Philipp Kandal

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Vrushali Paunikar, Chief Product Officer at Carta—the company revolutionizing how private companies manage equity and capital. Originally starting as a cap table management solution, Carta now manages over $150 billion in assets and positions itself as the "Network ERP for Private Capital," supporting over 50,000 companies from early-stage startups to pre-IPO giants.
As CPO at Carta, Vrushali has been instrumental in driving the company's evolution from a single-product focus to a comprehensive platform serving various stakeholders in the private capital ecosystem. Her unique background, including experience at Rocket Lawyer and an interesting hobby as an amateur florist, brings a fresh perspective to product leadership in fintech.
In this episode, we'll explore Carta's transformation from a cap table management tool to a comprehensive platform for private capital, diving into organizational structure changes, international expansion strategies, and innovative approaches to product development.

What you'll learn:

• How Carta expanded from cap table management to fund administration by deeply understanding customer needs
• Strategies for restructuring product teams from a business unit model to a modular approach
• Insights into different approaches for international expansion (organic vs. acquisition)
• The role of micromanagement as a temporary coaching tool in product development
• How to balance platform ambitions with focused execution

Content:
(00:00) Introduction and Personal Background
(05:00) Carta's Evolution Story
(15:00) Organizational Transformation
(25:00) International Expansion Strategy
(35:00) Leadership Philosophy & Management Style
(45:00) Product Strategy & Market Positioning

Key Takeaways👇:

• Carta's shift from a business unit-based structure to a modular approach has enabled better scalability and reduced duplicate work across teams. This restructuring has been crucial for maintaining consistency while expanding product offerings.
• Starting with cap table management, Carta identified larger market opportunities through their existing customer base, leading to strategic expansion into fund administration and positioning as the "ERP of private capital."
• Different markets require different approaches—exemplified by Carta's organic expansion in Singapore versus acquisition-based entry into the UK/EU market, highlighting the importance of adaptable go-to-market strategies.
• Vrushali brings a unique perspective on micromanagement, viewing it as a potential coaching tool when used temporarily and situationally to help teams understand quality standards.

This episode is brought to you by Persona, the adaptable identity platform that helps businesses fight fraud, meet compliance requirements, and build trust.
These days, it's easier than ever for fraudsters to steal voices, faces, and identities. That's where Persona comes in; helping leading companies to securely verify individuals and businesses worldwide, providing flexible building blocks to create tailored verification flows that maximize conversion while minimizing risks.
Whether you work at a startup or large enterprise, you can get started for free here: withpersona.com/productschool

Social Links:
- Follow our Podcast on Tik Tok here
- Follow Product School on LinkedIn here
- Join Product School's free events here
- Find out more about Product School here

Credits:
Host: Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbr

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Ashok Bania, Senior Vice President of Product at SoundCloud.

SoundCloud is the original open platform that disrupted the music industry alongside Spotify, providing massive distribution to millions of artists, including superstars like Billie Eilish and Post Malone. It's a free music app available on web and mobile that connects DJs and singers with over 150 million fans worldwide. After a period of strategic shifts, SoundCloud became profitable for the first time in 16 years.

Ashok oversees product strategy, growth, and monetization at SoundCloud. He has a proven track record of building successful consumer subscription products and marketplaces at companies like Spotify, Lyft, Tumblr, and Headspace.

In this episode, we'll explore SoundCloud's turnaround from near collapse to profitability, specific AI use cases that enhance music discovery and community engagement, and Ashok's unique approach to product development and growth strategies.

What you'll learn:
- Ashok's journey to becoming SVP of Product at SoundCloud and his insights on the platform's transformation.
- The challenges and strategies involved in revitalizing a global, open music platform.
- How to prioritize features and innovations in a fast-paced, creator-centric environment.
- The future of music technology, including AI-powered remixes and personalized discovery.

Key Takeaways👇:
- Creator-First Approach: Ashok emphasizes the importance of catering to both established and emerging artists through innovative tools and distribution methods.
- AI-Driven Music Experiences: SoundCloud is leveraging AI to enhance music discovery and enable community-driven remixes, generating over 1,400 submissions in recent contests.
- Mission-Based Team Structure: Ashok highlights the shift towards organizing teams around specific missions rather than traditional product divisions to solve core user needs.

Credits:
Host: Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia
Guest: Ashok Bania

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Chiara McPhee, Chief Product Officer at Postscript, a leader in SMS marketing for e-commerce. Postscript is revolutionizing how e-commerce brands engage with customers. With over $100 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and more than 20,000 Shopify merchants using their platform, Postscript has become a powerhouse in conversational commerce. Their SMS marketing tools have helped generate over $2 billion in e-commerce revenue for their customers annually, with open rates exceeding 90%, far outpacing traditional email marketing.

In this episode, Chiara shares her insights on:

* Leveraging generative AI to create personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue.
* How AI agents are outperforming human customer support in certain areas.
* Key revenue leading indicators in SMS marketing and setting up effective attribution models.
* Overcoming challenges in scaling infrastructure to achieve $100M in Annual Recurring Revenue.
* The benefits of focusing exclusively on Shopify.
* The "Horizon Strategy" approach to building teams tailored for Horizon 1 (cash cow), Horizon 2 (growth), and Horizon 3 (moonshots), balancing short-term wins with long-term ambitious goals in product development.

In this episode, we'll explore how Postscript is leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver personalized customer experiences, driving revenue and redefining e-commerce marketing. We'll discuss leveraging generative AI to create personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue, how AI agents are outperforming human customer support in certain areas, overcoming challenges in scaling infrastructure to achieve $100M in Annual Recurring Revenue, and the benefits of focusing exclusively on Shopify.

What you'll learn:
* Chiara's journey to becoming CPO at Postscript and her insights on the power of SMS marketing.
* How generative AI enables personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue.
* Key strategies for SMS marketing, including compliance, personalization, and integration with other channels.
* How to structure product teams using the "Horizon Strategy" to balance short-term wins with long-term innovation.

Key Takeaways:
*Personalized Conversations: Chiara emphasizes the importance of leveraging generative AI to create personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue.
*Focus on Shopify: Chiara highlights the company's strategic decision to focus exclusively on Shopify, and the impact it had on business outcomes.
*Horizon Strategy: Chiara shares the benefits of the "Horizon Strategy" approach to building product teams tailored for different stages of growth and innovation.

Credits:

Host: Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia
Guest: Chiara McPhee

In this episode, Carlos González interviews Tanya Cordrey, Chief Product Officer at Motorway, the UK's fastest-growing used car marketplace.

Motorway is revolutionizing the used car industry in the UK, with a gross market value of $2.5 billion per year and over half a million people selling their cars through their network. Founded recently, Motorway has quickly become a digital powerhouse, offering both sellers and dealers innovative ways to engage in the used car market.

Tanya leads product experience and strategy for Motorway's digital portfolio, including their marketplace platform that connects individual car sellers with professional car dealers. Prior to Motorway, Tanya held leadership positions at Instagram, eBay, and The Guardian, bringing a wealth of experience in scaling digital products and marketplaces.

In this episode, we'll explore the challenges of building a C2B marketplace, how Tanya and her team are leveraging technology to deliver excellent experiences for both sellers and dealers, and the future of automotive technology. We'll discuss features such as AI-assisted photo uploads, weather-based reminders, and end-to-end solutions for dealers, all designed to streamline the car selling and buying process.

What you'll learn:
- Tanya's journey to becoming CPO at Motorway and her insights on building global product teams.
- The challenges and strategies involved in creating a C2B marketplace in the used car industry.
- How to prioritize features and innovations in a fast-paced, two-sided marketplace environment.
- The future of automotive technology, including AI-assisted processes and marketplace efficiencies.

Key Takeaways:
- Marketplace Efficiency: Tanya emphasizes the importance of understanding and optimizing both sides of the marketplace to create value for sellers and dealers.
- Innovative User Experiences: Motorway is pushing boundaries with features like AI Image Assist and weather-based reminders to reduce friction in the car selling process.
- Data-Driven Product Development: Tanya highlights the use of specific KPIs and user behavior analysis to guide product decisions and improvements, focusing on key moments in the user journey.

Social Links:
- Follow our Podcast on Tik Tok here
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- Join Product School's free events here
- Find out more about Product School here

Credits:
Host: Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia
Guest: Tanya Cordrey

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Karen Ng, Senior Vice President of Product and Partnerships at HubSpot.

HubSpot is a leading software platform empowering over 184,000 businesses across 120 countries to manage their sales, marketing, and customer support teams. In 2024, HubSpot generated over $2.5 billion in revenue, driven by significant investments in Artificial Intelligence.

Karen oversees critical products like Smart CRM, Operations Hub, and Ecosystem, while driving strategic partnerships and business development. Her technical expertise is notable, with three patents. She has also published research in stress detection, interactive health assessments, and robotic expressivity when she worked as a Machine Learning Researcher at MIT.

In this episode, we'll explore Karen's approach to deploying AI Agents across HubSpot's product portfolio, her decision-making process for when to Build, Buy, or Partner, and her innovative approach to product org design. We'll discuss how product teams can leverage AI Agents to augment their impact and automate workflows, and how product leaders can elevate their roles as key drivers of revenue.

What you'll learn:

• Karen's journey to becoming SVP of Product and Partnerships at HubSpot and her insights on the company's AI transformation.
• The challenges and strategies involved in creating a global, multi-product platform for businesses.
• How to prioritize features and innovations in a fast-paced, customer-centric environment.
• The future of business technology, including AI-powered tools and self-service products.

Key Takeaways👇:

• AI-Driven Product Development: Karen emphasizes the importance of integrating AI across HubSpot's product suite to enhance customer value and streamline operations.
• Innovative Organizational Structure: HubSpot is pushing boundaries with a hybrid approach to product teams, combining functional structures and pod-based teams for agility and ownership.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Karen highlights the use of OGPs (Objectives, Goals, and Plays) and customer feedback to guide product decisions and improvements.

Social Links:
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- Find out more about Product School here

Credits:
Host: Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia
Guest: Karen Ng

In this episode, we host Cem Kansu, Vice President of Product at Duolingo, the world’s leading language-learning platform.
Duolingo has experienced tremendous growth, transforming from a free translation app in 2011 to a public company valued at over $15 billion, with annual revenues exceeding $700 million. The platform now offers courses in 43 languages, boasts over 113 million monthly active users, and has expanded into math and music education.

Cem has been instrumental to Duolingo's success over the past nine years, leading all core product, growth, and monetization efforts.

In this episode, we'll explore Duolingo’s product and market expansion strategy, how the company introduces gamification to drive engagement, and the key leading indicators used to increase monetization while staying true to its mission of free education. We'll also delve into how Duolingo runs concurrent experiments at scale and the role of voice AI in personalizing the learning experience, including innovative features like the "Video Call with Lily."

What you'll learn:
- Cem's journey in leading product at Duolingo and his insights on balancing growth with educational accessibility.
- Strategies for building a successful freemium model in the education technology space.
- How Duolingo leverages A/B testing and data-driven decision-making.
- The role of AI and gamification in creating engaging learning experiences.

Key Takeaways 👇:
- Freemium Monetization: Duolingo has found a successful balance between offering free education and generating revenue through premium features.
- Data-Driven Innovation: The company's commitment to A/B testing and analytics informs its product roadmap and ensures continuous improvement.
- Engaging User Experience: Duolingo leverages gamification and AI to make learning fun and effective, competing for user attention in a crowded digital landscape.

Social Links:
- Follow our Podcast on Tik Tok here
- Follow Product School on LinkedIn here
- Join Product School's free events here
- Find out more about Product School here

Credits:
Host: Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia
Guest: Cem Kansu