How I Tested That

SummaryIn this episode I’m joined by Dr. Akvile Ignotaite, a data scientist and founder building AI-powered skin health technology used by more than 800,000 people around the world.We explore how her team combines data science, health tech, and creative marketing to rethink skincare for Gen Z and Gen Alpha. From building a vast skin care dataset to launching a TikTok influencer pimple called Pimsy that has almost 40k followers, Akvile shares how cultural insights and small tests drive their product strategy.We also get into the challenges of building health technology for younger audiences, how to test ideas across different global markets, and why treating skin as a health problem, changes how you design products and measure success.If you’re interested in experimentation and AI in health you’ll enjoy my chat with Akvile.TakeawaysStart small and imperfect to learn faster. The team prioritizes quick MVPs, sometimes built in days, to test ideas before investing heavily in development, branding, or marketing.Customer language and psychology matter. The original millennial-focused “compliance app” failed because it sounded too technical; shifting to Gen Z language, emojis, and storytelling dramatically improved adoption.Meet users where they already are. Channels like TikTok became critical for reaching younger audiences, even though the team initially resisted the platform.Creative experimentation can unlock growth. The “Pimsy” influencer pimple character started as a small test and quickly grew to tens of thousands of followers, proving unconventional ideas can resonate strongly with audiences.Micro-learning can drive high engagement. A simple, quickly built “myths vs. facts” quiz feature created massive engagement and generated valuable behavioral data about user beliefs.User feedback is a competitive advantage. Hiring a developer who criticized the Android experience highlighted the importance of listening closely to real user complaints and improving where customers actually are.Cultural assumptions can mislead founders. Expanding into India revealed how preconceived ideas about markets, healthcare practices, and culture can be wrong, reinforcing the need for curiosity and humility.Structured programs don’t always fit real user behavior. Highly designed 6- or 8-week skincare programs failed because users resisted rigid routines, showing how human behavior often breaks logical product design.Gen Z and Gen Alpha are forming a global digital culture. The app’s success without localization suggests younger generations increasingly share common digital behaviors and language across regions.Guest LinksSystem Akvile: https://systemakvile.com/LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-akvile-ignotaite/Pimsy TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@i.am.pimsy If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

In this episode I’m joined by Jim Morris.  We chat about the wake-up call that pushed him from building first to testing first. Jim and I discuss loyalty programs no one wanted, roadmaps filled with sequenced risk, AI prototypes that hallucinate and the uncomfortable reality that confidence often replaces evidence.We also dig into something deeper: why smart teams ignore data, why leaders fall in love once an idea hits the roadmap, and why testing isn’t about better UX,  it’s about real value.Jim shares how he even tests his own teaching process for students at Berkeley.Because as he puts it:“We can build stuff. But if people don’t use it, we’re just creating product debt.”Enjoy my conversation with Jim Morris.TakeawaysTesting is crucial to ensure product effectiveness and user engagement.Data analysis can reveal the true usage of product features.Mindset plays a significant role in how product ideas are perceived and developed.Not all ideas will succeed; testing helps identify the viable ones.User motivation is key to the success of features and programs.Prototyping tools can enhance the testing process but require careful implementation.Learning from failures in testing is essential for growth and improvement.Roadmaps should be flexible to adapt to changing priorities and evidence.It's important to focus on the core value proposition of a product.Continuous experimentation and adaptation are vital in product management.Guest LinksWebsite: https://productdiscoverygroup.com/LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmorrisstanford/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

SummaryIn this conversation, David J Bland and Dan Olsen discuss the evolution of product management, the impact of vibe coding, and the importance of cross-functional collaboration. They explore the challenges of prototyping, user research, and the role of AI in product development. The discussion emphasizes the need for strong product management fundamentals and the future of product management in a rapidly changing landscape.TakeawaysThe awareness of product management has significantly increased over the years.Vibe coding allows for rapid prototyping and testing without heavy technical resources.Cross-functional collaboration is essential for successful product development.User research is becoming more valued in product management.Prototyping should focus on learning rather than just building.AI can assist in generating ideas but lacks judgment in prioritization.The pace of innovation in product tools is accelerating rapidly.Understanding customer problems is crucial for product success.Rushing to high fidelity prototypes can lead to missed opportunities in the problem space.Product management fundamentals will be key in differentiating successful products.Guest LinksWebsite: https://dan-olsen.com/LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danolsen98/YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/danolsenLean Product Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/lean-product/ Vibe Coding Product Brief: https://dan-olsen.com/vibe-coding/Vibe Coding Spectrum: https://dan-olsen.com/vibe-coding/The Lean Product Playbook: https://amzn.to/1EYCUdP If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

SummaryIn this episode we interview David Sauers. He’s the founder of Royal Restrooms, a company that’s redefining what a portable restroom can be. What started with a frustrating moment at a festival turned into David challenging a fundamental assumption: How can we elevate one of the most overlooked parts of any event?He walks us through why weddings became their breakthrough customer segment and how adapting designs for different event types unlocked growth.This isn’t just about restrooms,  it’s about challenging stigma, listening closely to customer signals, and innovating in overlooked spaces. David explains how they are testing their way into showers, beverage trailers, and beyond.Guest LinksLinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsauers/Royal Restrooms: https://royalrestroomsca.com/Personal Website: https://www.davidsauers.com/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

Aurora Winter, founder of Same Page Publishing and an expert in helping entrepreneurs publish their books, shares her transition from film to the publishing world. She discusses using storytelling structures from cinema to enhance writing, and how books can serve as proof of concept for bigger media adaptations. Notably, she shares her success with a $5 book tactic that yielded $250K in 90 days, and her innovative Spoken Author Method that accelerates the writing process. Aurora also dives into micro-testing ideas and the power of leveraging platforms like YouTube and ChatGPT.

SummaryIn this episode we interview Scott McLeod. Scott is the Chief Brand Officer of Resident, a direct-to-consumer company that designs and sells home furnishings such as mattresses and bedding. They were acquired by Ashley in 2024 for $1 billion.Scott and I chat about his background in design thinking and how it has fueled his passion for experimentation, whether it’s building scrappy MVPs with minimal investment or creating environments where failure is not just accepted, but expected as part of innovation. He shares how he’s helped scale teams while preserving that test-and-learn mindset, why setting clear success criteria is crucial and how to gracefully let go of ideas that don’t deliver.We also dive into the unique challenges of experimenting with physical products versus digital ones, the role of customer feedback in shaping subjective experiences like comfort, and his optimism for how AI and data-driven decision-making will transform the future of product experimentation.I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with Scott since our days back at Neo together, and I’m confident you’ll learn a lot from our conversation in this episode. Guest LinksLinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mescottmcleod/Website: https://www.residenthome.com/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

JL Heather, Managing Partner at Centered, dives deep into fostering a culture of innovation. He discusses the challenges of making innovation stick, emphasizing the importance of leadership and the right language. JL shares insights on the significance of customer feedback, exploring how to keep the momentum alive post-design sprints. He highlights the value of low-fidelity experiments and the necessity of involving customers in the design process to unlock hidden creativity. Ultimately, he underscores the need for a collaborative approach to problem-solving.

In this episode we interview Cathy Nesbitt. She is the Founder of Cathy’s Crawly Composters, a worm composting business focused on sustainability. Cathy shares her journey into the world of worms, detailing how her business was born when the local landfill was shut down and the city began exporting all of their waste. We discuss the challenges she faced in testing her business and how she eventually pivoted her approach to education through workshops in schools. As Cathy reflects on her experiences, she emphasizes the importance of awareness in driving action and the impact her work has had on the community. Guest LinksLinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathynesbitt/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

In this episode we interview Michael Leung.  Michael, is the CEO and founder of the Flo Group. He’s built his company around a simple mission, which is making hearing solutions accessible, affordable, and life-changing for people of all ages.We discuss how his own personal experiences have shaped his approach to product development and testing. Specifically we dive into how he tested his new, open-ear bone conduction headphones with amplification, before bringing them to market.Michael and I chat about how to test hardware products and the need for affordable and effective hearing solutions.LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-leung-462547298/Website: https://www.theinnerflo.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theflogroup/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

SummaryIn this episode we interview Moita, the Founder and CEO of Product Weekend. He shares his journey from studying aerospace engineering to becoming a product manager and eventually creating what is now called Product Weekend. It is a community of Product Management enthusiasts who share their experiences and take their careers to the next level. I first learned about it on LinkedIn through Melissa Perri and Rich Mironov and have been curiously watching them test it from the outside. I’m super excited to get some of the inside story on how Moita is testing out its unique format. Specifically how they are designing events that foster these deeper conversations. We chat about the need for testing and validating ideas, as well as Moita’s future plans for scaling the events while maintaining their core values.Guest LinksLinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joaomoita/Website: https://www.theproductweekend.com/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.