On this episode, we try something a little different. ProdPad and Mind the Product co-founder Janna Bastow joins as guest host to interview me and Saeed Khan about our recently released research report "The State of B2B Product Management". We go deep on the key findings of the report and what to do about them.
Episode highlights
- The sales-led roadmap reality - In many B2B organisations, roadmap ownership effectively sits with sales, driven by short-term revenue pressures rather than long-term strategy
- Customers vs markets tension - Product teams often fail to shift from building for individual customers to designing for scalable market opportunities
- The leadership perception gap - A stark ~50-point disconnect exists between how leaders assess themselves and how their teams experience them, pointing to either deluded leaders, poor communication or unreasonable IC expectations
- Lack of strategic foundations - Weak or absent vision and objectives create a vacuum where every deal feels equally valid
- Product leaders as system designers - Leaders must take responsibility for shaping environments where good product work is actually possible
- Discovery isn't just external - Product teams neglect internal discovery, failing to understand stakeholders, sales processes, and organisational dynamics
- The cost of short-term thinking - Chasing large deals often creates hidden long-term costs that outweigh immediate revenue gains
- AI as efficiency, not transformation - Current AI usage is reported as largely tactical (summarisation, documentation), not fundamentally changing product outcomes
- Optimism despite dysfunction - Even with systemic issues, many product managers remain positive about the future of the discipline
... and much more.
Check out "The State of B2B Product Management" report
You can check the full report here - no email address required: https://b2bproduct.io/?okip
Check out ProdPad
Janna is the co-founder of ProdPad, a roadmap, idea management and feedback platform that brings clarity to your organisation. She was kind enough to step in as a guest host for the episode, so why not check what the platform can do for you? https://www.prodpad.com/
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