- 16
- Episodes
- 1
- Ratings
- 2024
- First episode
About Product Game Plan
The Product Game Plan is a podcast for enterprise product managers. It’s about how to incorporate soft skill methods and data-forming activities into your existing professional operating model, so that you have consistent stakeholder alignment, and confident, informed decisions that render favorable outcomes. Join Heather J Smith each week, to learn valuable insights including how to gather customer insights to build or evolve your product , so that you solve your customer’s problems, why relationships matter for getting anything done, and what to pitch to secure product funding so that your customers have what they need to run their businesses. You can expect workshop-style episodes and interviews with experts to help you have prolific business results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
- Publisher
- Heather J Smith
- Category
- business · business · education
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 16 Sept 2024
- Latest episode
- 26 Mar 2025
Latest episodes
16 episodes in the feed.

26 Mar 2025
How are you crafting irresistible product pitches?
Securing funding for your product isn't just about having a great idea. It's about telling a compelling story that resonates with stakeholders and decision-makers. As product managers, we often get caught up in the technical details and forget the power of narrative. But here's the truth: a well-crafted story can make all the difference in getting your project green-lit. In my latest podcast episode, I break down the art of creating a persuasive business case. I share strategies for synthesizing customer feedback, market data, and revenue impact into a cohesive narrative that captures attention and drives action. Key takeaways include: How to structure your pitch for maximum impact The importance of quantifying problems and solutions Techniques for weaving in customer stories and contextual examples Ways to clearly communicate your resource needs and timeline Remember, your stakeholders weren't present for all those customer interviews and data analysis sessions. It's your job to bring that information to life and make a compelling case for investment. Does your funding pitch have stack-ranked user problems and aligned stakeholder solutions? If not, this episode will give you the tools to create one that does. VALUABLE RESOURCES My free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com (mailto:info@listen-evolve-inspire.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

13 Mar 2025
Does your team have efficient productivity touchpoint communication?
As product managers, we often focus on the technical aspects of our role, but it's the soft skills that can make or break our success. In this episode of Product Game Plan, I share a recent experience that highlights the critical importance of communication touchpoints for productivity in enterprise product management. I discuss how a simple check-in with a team member revealed a misalignment in expectations, leading to unnecessary stress and potential burnout. This situation underscores the value of open communication and the need for regular updates, especially in fast-paced environments where priorities can shift quickly. Key Insights on Communication and Productivity How to identify and address communication gaps that can impact team productivity The importance of resetting expectations across teams and stakeholders Strategies for maintaining open lines of communication in a busy work environment Ways to leverage modern communication tools for swift updates and realignment I discuss examples that illustrate how proactive communication can prevent misunderstandings, reduce stress, and improve overall team efficiency. By implementing these strategies, you can create a more balanced and productive work environment for your team. "Managing expectations should be carefully planned between business stakeholders and external customers and their users." VALUABLE RESOURCES My free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com (mailto:info@listen-evolve-inspire.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6 Mar 2025
The Power of Human Connection in Building Thriving Business Ecosystems
In this episode of the Product Game Plan, I share insights from my recent European event that highlight the importance of maintaining strong relationships with customers and partners. We'll explore how these connections can drive product quality, foster loyalty, and ultimately lead to business growth. Key Takeaways: Discover why product quality should be your top priority Learn the value of human loyalty in business relationships Understand the power of continuous engagement with users Explore strategies for creating effective customer and partner advisory forums Gain insights on building processes that support future strategies BEST MOMENTS When you scale up, practice will smooth the edges of your unpracticed self." "It is your commitment to the process that will determine your progress." "Goals win you the game, but systems keep you in the game. So fall in love with the cycle of continuous improvement." VALUABLE RESOURCES My free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com (mailto:info@listen-evolve-inspire.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

23 Jan 2025
How to forge exceptional customer relationships
Building strong customer relationships is the cornerstone of any successful product strategy. As product managers, we often focus on features and functionality, but the real magic happens when we connect with our users on a deeper level. I've discovered that forging meaningful connections with customers falls into two distinct categories: those we're just getting to know and those we've built a rapport with over time. Let's explore strategies for both scenarios. KEY TAKEAWAYS Cultivating New Customer Relationships When approaching new customers or users, preparation is key. Before any interaction, I make it a priority to: Research their company, industry, and specific use cases Analyze their purchase history and support tickets Identify key stakeholders and decision-makers This groundwork allows me to enter conversations with context and demonstrate genuine interest in their business. The Power of Follow-Through Regardless of the relationship stage, following up on commitments is non-negotiable. After every meaningful interaction: Summarize key points and action items Set clear expectations for next steps Deliver on promises, no matter how small This consistency builds trust and shows customers that their input is valued and acted upon. DM me in my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed), ask me anything! BEST MOMENTS “Let them know that the evolution of your product relies on honest and constructive feedback from users like them.” “Building rich relationships with your various stakeholders, especially your users, will transform you into an expert, shape you into a trusted resource, and actuate the accuracy of your knowledge toward your business's objectives for your customers.” “If you listen to and solve problems for a broad base of your customers, your investments will become aligned with your business intentions.” “You may need to carry the conversation with some users. Remind them that you asked for the meeting so that you could listen to their experiences, even if the feedback is not favorable. VALUABLE RESOURCES My free customer baseline guide (https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1DkBV8uXrf8PkbRbPjy12NNZ4alfTIyWa) + bonuses My free tips (https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1DkBV8uXrf8PkbRbPjy12NNZ4alfTIyWa) for conducting customer feedback sessions Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

8 Jan 2025
3 Essentials for your funding pitch
Before I ever book a meeting with my management to ask for funding, lay out a strategy for my product's needs, or ask for sponsorship, I make sure what I'm asking for is grounded in reality. Therefore, you will need an accurate and believable pitch. Precise prioritization of what should be in your pitch requires real user data, which means you need a broad enough sampling of user feedback to prove out the story for your pitch. Anything less than hard facts will only embarrass you and risk your credibility. KEY TAKEAWAYS The first thing I always do is seek out enough information from end users. Here's a pro tip: I always ask my users to prioritize what's most important to them before concluding each feedback session. Doing so will reinforce the accuracy of your foundational data The second action I take is sharing the summarized, prioritized user feedback with my business peers The second action output will include summaries of prioritized user feedback and business priorities, which were mapped using user data. My third action is to share the business output with my stakeholders. This output is aimed at making informed decisions based on a combination of prioritized user and business needs. The stakeholder analysis's output should include details of resources, effort scoping, timelines, and budget requirements. I like to summarize these details into points within the overall product program pitch DM me in my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed), ask me anything! BEST MOMENTS “When I prepare for a pitch, I need to anticipate the questions and possible push-back moments from what I'm presenting. The pitch needs to make sense right away to the new listeners.” “The priorities of what I'm asking for must be rock-solid, or I won't get the business to invest in my strategy.” VALUABLE RESOURCES My free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com (mailto:info@listen-evolve-inspire.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

23 Dec 2024
5 reflective questions to set you on a productive path
As December comes to a close, I like to revisit my year. From a fiscal year perspective, I review the goals of my mid-year in-flight programs. Are your programs on track, and can you measure their trajectory? What must occur from January through June to accomplish your goals? Then, what strategic business outcomes can you plan for and fulfill to meet goals between July and December? KEY TAKEAWAYS Another way I reflect on my year is to assess if my work compelled me to evolve how I interacted with my customers, partners, peers, stakeholders, and management. Did I target and act on my professional development goals to level up my skills and add one new habit to my professional operating model, making my goals a reality? Did I receive or seek out feedback from others about how I can evolve my techniques for interacting with the teams I work with? Did I cultivate any new customers and partners into advisory roles this year? Looking beyond myself, who did I mentor or support with their role or career? DM me in my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed), ask me anything! BEST MOMENTS “As a professional, it’s essential to constantly assess what’s working and what’s not working so that you can evolve your next opportunity.” “Challenge yourself to mature a reputable operating model. Then, work it into your daily practice.” VALUABLE RESOURCES My free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com (mailto:info@listen-evolve-inspire.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3 Dec 2024
How to lead Product Insight Sprints
Heather expertly guides listeners through the methodology of Product Insight Sprints, emphasizing the importance of genuine user relationships and informed business decisions.

30 Nov 2024
Build Indispensable Stakeholder Partnerships
Heather, a seasoned product expert with 25+ years of experience, shares insights on building indispensable stakeholder partnerships and driving alignment through effective communication and vulnerability.

13 Nov 2024
Customer Interview Tips
I recommend going into each interview with a mindset of accurately knowing what your users experience. When you ask 'why' questions amongst the scenarios a user shares with you, you will begin to peel back the onion of reality for each user. They will take note and feel heard. Even when you think you know the answer, ask your users why they do or say things. The answers will sometimes surprise you. Never say "usually" when asking a question. Instead, ask about a specific instance or occurrence, such as "tell me about the last time you. Another good practice to follow is to keep historical records about how you made decisions. What data patterns and use cases led you to make particular decisions? KEY TAKEAWAYS Pay attention to nonverbal cues. Be aware and capture when body language and emotions occur in the context of the conversation. And don't be afraid of silence. Interviewers often feel the need to ask another question when there is a pause. If you allow for silence, a person can reflect on what they've just said and may reveal a deeper insight, share an example, or tell a story. Gather facts, not opinions. Ask 'why' to get the juicy bits of what's really going on for your users. Don't ask 'Would you…?', Ask 'When was the last time you have…?'. Other good examples are: Ask: "Why do you need to____…?" Ask: why is ____ vital to you?'" Or, Ask: "why is ____ such a pain point…?’" Or ask, 'What are the most significant limitations you are struggling with?' BEST MOMENTS ‘‘Your goal is to listen and learn, not to inform, impress, or convince your customer of anything. Avoid wasting time talking about your own benefits because it will cost you time, which you can use to learn about your customer.’ ‘Clear communication can lead to good relationships and can show your leadership acumen. Follow-through reinforces that you are serious about your partnership and are a leader of your product and career.’ ‘After you and your users dig into each question, recap what you heard to verify you heard them accurately. Ask if there are next steps that are important to them. You may not satisfy the subsequent steps, so connect them with contacts who will follow through.’ VALUABLE RESOURCES My free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com (mailto:info@listen-evolve-inspire.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5 Nov 2024
Being intentional about change
Commitment to your professional evolution by developing a powerful operating model requires intent. How you change the interactions with your internal and external stakeholders influences the consistency in your achievements. I'll talk about how two specific books and their authors have helped me consider what to incorporate into my systems and why I would consider changing my operating model. KEY TAKEAWAYS Have you ever been so inspired by a book, podcast, or speaker because the topic resonated with who you are and want to be more of in the future that you began to act on that idea or feeling? You may have even begun taking action. Writing down critical points of what you heard and jotted down a list of ways to keep that feeling in motion and move in that direction of change. Dedication to follow through is the ultimate challenge, turning that inspired feeling into a habit long enough to become a practiced pattern, ultimately bringing the initial feeling full circle into a reality. BEST MOMENTS ‘I don't know about you, but I already have a life of habits that make up how I operate. If I want to add a new way of operating, I must first work out how to harness that feeling and turn it into an endured action.’ ‘Choosing to 10X yourself to that higher level of operating is how you unlock your next level of thinking and freedom.’ ‘Pay attention to what inspires you to be more of your authentic self.’ VALUABLE RESOURCES My free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

29 Oct 2024
Product experience and facilitation leadership
What does experience mean for users, employees, leaders, and companies? Some companies are beginning to think about the interconnectedness of business, users, and communities. What does that mean and how can businesses evolve to change their ecosystem and opportunities, to create a shift in how employees think about their role in an organization? VALUABLE RESOURCES Download my free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Andy Hagerman Pt 1 (https://open.spotify.com/episode/48QAFAM5gl1mI2ZN20mBPd?si=99d9d03f8ac947d1) ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT WITH ANDY Andy Hagerman's LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhagerman/) The Design Gym website (http://www.thedesigngym.com/) Free Download: TDG's Customer Discovery Toolkit (https://www.thedesigngym.com/resources/customer-discovery-toolkit/) Free Download: TDG's Innovating For Growth Facilitation Card Pack (https://www.thedesigngym.com/resources/innovating-for-growth/) Book mentioned: Unreasonable Hospitality, by Will Guidara (https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418573/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LWq_lwhxAYDoe9jVpbqe8J0F4f4uhpKD9cWRq0fKtja0NHIoFbK1a5LE_BCckWKHJPzS599RCkTPdhckunkQDyKK9dVrd6RfdlwTqaa_zTMkhu2iujMIKDhv58FKr8OOP2NQFK-v9WQy7h4-e3omR5rhYJbdStGg8k0QEGXChEjzkpyEWrizg3q-TB0vdIIkWk-ZNApzoIRuSie2PPmHerDSvjDeXGGSjoOQOY1Cgcs.mhoV8VU6eBtc_ka4_HEpGHW3VJjzUnssdOsPLKwPHfk&qid=1716302576&sr=8-1) Book mentioned: Setting the Table, by Danny Meyer (https://www.amazon.com/Setting-Table-Transforming-Hospitality-Business/dp/0060742755/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SVMUWqZ5aRF4vG8em855xwP9pqoRXu-Q67lKSfXJlDh5tJ9vbivv39VF80BkJw-AG_N-MlIpUMOJNeYEMq2Gb5nNp7KowS-xfub88B32TMRw_eNWzdpShuSIVnvQc5nvX0aYLyd0-3ykYHlyzSab1a_iZbzDkfWLReftQY17s00StmUf-87RFwg6nAG5HO3rssLh9iOAF5VFD1Qy_5fxCSfJkEZX7bDRFwLtuAnBSAQ.Ob4CIUp1us2z6yC-JOjoos6MSC4mImCvIIO_pbBYICU&qid=1716302610&sr=8-1) Visit my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com (mailto:info@listen-evolve-inspire.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

22 Oct 2024
Implementing co-creation & co-design into your operating model to deliver customer value, with Guest Andy Hagerman
Andy Hagerman and Heather talk about how powerful the business and user outcomes are when co-creation and co-design are implemented into an organization. You can expect to learn how important debriefs are after each customer conversation and how they can inform next-level decisions, and alignment with stakeholders. VALUABLE RESOURCES Download my free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

15 Oct 2024
What no one tells you about stakeholder alignment
Lack of stakeholder alignment and commitment are the 1 and 2 reasons why programs delay, break down before reaching the desired achievements, or fail altogether. Your internal stakeholders can assist with your success when you build partnerships with them and include them as part of your extended team. When I look back on the products I was building, I always had a smoother experience getting my product built or orchestrating a pivot when I kept my stakeholders in the loop from the beginning. KEY TAKEAWAYS Are you getting your stakeholders involved from the beginning of your project and keeping them socialized about what you are doing? Or do you throw requests 'over the wall,' asking for their commitment and alignment? Do they fully appreciate why you are asking for their alignment and commitment? Do they understand the value you are creating for customers and their business? Why should they commit to you and your program? VALUABLE RESOURCES Download my free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Episode 04 - Coming soon! Guest Andy Hagerman: A conversation about implementing co-creation and co-design into your operating model to deliver customer value. ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Join the community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com (mailto:info@listen-evolve-inspire.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

15 Oct 2024
Why customer profiles matter
This episode is about building customer trust and knowing what information you should collect so that your customers feel that you understand them well when you meet with them for specific results Doing your homework to create a profile of each customer's relationship with your company means you need a 360 view of each customer. Listen to this episode for my tips. KEY TAKEAWAYS By running this activity with 15+ customers, you will begin to see data patterns. That data can help you determine if your roadmap has user-centric decisions about what to fix, potential new additions to your product to stay relevant, or what to retire that will surprise and satisfy your customers. The ripple effect is that your business will grow in the right direction, as forecasted, or even exceed your expectations. VALUABLE RESOURCES Download my free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs and workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/) EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Check out Episode 03 - What no one tells you about stakeholder alignment ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com (mailto:info@listen-evolve-inspire.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

15 Oct 2024
Would your customers organically recommend your product?
I'll dissect what you can do now to begin forming a profile of your product. Including where to gather indirect and direct information about what your users think of your product, and why both perspectives are powerful. Then I’ll get into what’s essential when building relationships, who can round out the profile of your product, how to know when to engage with your various stakeholders, and why any of those activities are worth performing. KEY TAKEAWAYS Know how to build a profile of your product Use my go-to methods for engaging with sale teams and customers Learn how to turn customer feedback sessions into useful data Formulate a pitch that is grounded on solving user-centric needs VALUABLE RESOURCES Download my free guide (https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true) Check out my programs & workshops (http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com) EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Check out Episode 02 - Why customer profiles matter ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Join the community on Mighty Networks (https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed) Find me on Linked In (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/) Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com (mailto:info@listen-evolve-inspire.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

16 Sept 2024
Product Game Plan
Welcome to The Product Game Plan – a podcast for enterprise product managers. You’ll learn how adopting soft skill methods can expand your existing professional operating model. In order to have a consistent data-driven roadmap, stakeholder alignment and commitment, and knowledge of your funding priorities. You'll discover how to gather customer insights to build or evolve your product to solve customer problems, why relationships matter for getting anything done, and finally, what to pitch to secure product funding so that your customers have what they need to run their businesses. I'm your host, Heather J Smith, with over 30 years of experience innovating start-up and fortune 500 companies as a product manager and leader. I'll bring on guests who actively use these techniques to share why their methods work to make their businesses prolific and inspiring. I'll also deliver some workshop-style episodes to give you my proven techniques, habits, and tips for modernizing your professional work so that you can accomplish more with less friction. Follow The Product Game Plan on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 5.0 / 5
- 1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100
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- Quality
- 79
- Social presence
- 0
- YouTube
- 0
- Engagement
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