All Things Product with Teresa and Petra

Product at Heart 2026

24 snips

Jan 20, 2026

Curating product conferences is becoming increasingly challenging due to the rapid evolution of AI. A shift to a single-track format emphasizes tighter curation, ensuring that each session is impactful. Key speakers include Christian Idiodi, who brings his storytelling expertise, and cyber-psychologist Elaine Kasket, who delves into digital afterlife concepts. Roundtables are gaining popularity as interactive alternatives to traditional talks. Teresa's workshops aim to equip attendees with practical AI workflows, fostering deeper connections in an expanded leadership retreat.

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ADVICE

Single Track Forces Stronger Curation

Run single-track events only if you tighten curation so every talk earns its place.
Expect harder programming choices and prioritize high-quality, broadly relevant sessions.

ANECDOTE

Meeting Elaine Kasket In Morocco

Petra met Elaine Kasket at House of Beautiful Business and later at the airport after a live performance.
Their long conversation led Petra to invite Elaine to speak about digital afterlife and AI replicas.

INSIGHT

Chatbots Erode The Persona They Mimic

AI replicas of deceased people change with every conversation and risk diluting the original personality.
Elaine's research highlights ethical and psychological complexities of cloning digital personas.

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What We Cover:

Why curating a product conference is getting trickier (hint: AI is moving fast)
The shift to a single-track conference for 2026—and what that means for attendees
Sneak peek at confirmed keynotes, including:

– Christian Idiodi (SVPG) and his storytelling magic
– Elaine Kasket, cyber-psychologist, exploring digital afterlife and AI replicas
– Teresa Torres, sharing what she’s learning about AI
How roundtables have become an attendee favorite and what’s changing this year
A preview of Teresa’s Maker Studio workshop and how participants will build personal AI workflows
Overview of additional workshops from Rich Mironov, Büşra Coşkuner, Marcus Castenfors, and Özlem Yüce.
The evolution of the Product Leadership Event into a 1.5-day retreat with workshops, excursions, and lots of space to connect

Key Takeaways:

No AI track—AI will show up everywhere, but not as a siloed topic. The team sees it as part of the everyday toolkit.
Single-track means tighter curation. Every talk needs to earn its place.
Roundtables are growing. They now act as an “alternative track,” giving people more ways to engage beyond stage talks.
Workshops go deep. There’s content for product managers, product leaders, and folks stepping into new roles.
Leadership retreat expands. More time, more interaction, more opportunities to learn from peers.

About the Product Leadership Retreat:

Now 1.5 days instead of a half day Includes:

– Talk sessions
– Small-group excursions (boat rides, improv, etc.)
– Dinners and networking
– Mini-workshops led by seasoned practitioners (including Petra)
Capped at 60 attendees (all in product leadership roles) to keep it intimate and useful

If You’re Attending Product at Heart:

Come say hi to Teresa and Petra—on stage, at a roundtable, or somewhere in the hallway conversations that make these events memorable.

Resources & Links:

Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org
Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com

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