The Product Opscast Product Opscast Episode 11: Product Ops Q&A #1 with Antonia, Graham & Guest Thor Mitchell
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Dec 10, 2025 In a dynamic discussion, Thor Mitchell, CPO Exec-in-Residence at Balderton Capital and former VP of Product at Miro, shares his insights on the transformative role of Product Ops. He emphasizes the necessity of leadership support for success and how Product Ops can elevate team productivity. Thor reveals how strategic processes and autonomy can lead to better product development and influence organizational culture. He also highlights the critical balance between tactical fixes and long-term strategic initiatives for product management.
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Only Add Processes That Improve Product Work
- Ensure every introduced process helps build better products and decisions.
- Avoid process-for-process's-sake and prioritise flexibility for product work.
Diagnose Slowdown Causes First
- Diagnose whether perceived slowdowns stem from scaling, not blame product teams.
- Investigate structural causes before hiring product ops to 'fix' productivity.
Confirm Leadership’s Commitment To Change
- Evaluate leadership's real desire to change before deploying product ops.
- Avoid roles where leaders expect fixes without granting authority to change behaviours.