Supra Insider

Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with Sunil (Sunny) Chaudhary, a former product leader turned recruitment director at Riviera Partners, one of the top recruiting firms in tech. Sunny shares his journey from leading product teams to helping companies hire the right product leaders, offering a unique perspective from both sides of the hiring table.In this episode, Sunny also dives deep into how the product leadership market is evolving, from the rising demand for AI expertise to the increasing focus on doers over managers. He shares actionable advice for candidates on standing out in competitive hiring processes, breaking into AI roles, and navigating compensation trends for super senior ICs and managers.Whether you’re a product leader looking to land your next role or a founder hiring for a critical product position, Sunny’s insights into market trends, recruiter dynamics, and interview best practices are invaluable.All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇In this episode, we covered the following topics:* How hiring priorities are changing and the rise of specialized product roles* What companies are looking for in AI product leaders and how candidates without AI experience can position themselves* Key strategies and traits of the top 1% of candidates in product leadership* How senior IC roles are catching up with or surpassing managerial positions in pay and equity* The current state of workplace flexibility and its impact on hiring* And more!If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:Links:* Sunil (Sunny) Chaudhary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilchaudhary/* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:And here are some less recent favorites: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit suprainsider.substack.com

Gibson Biddle, former VP of Product at Netflix and Chief Product Officer at Chegg, shares insights on transitioning from full-time roles to fractional leadership. He discusses redefining success and his innovative approach to balancing impact and flexibility. Biddle highlights the importance of structured feedback and his strategies for engaging audiences effectively. He also dives into building community through workshops and storytelling, emphasizing personal growth and continuous learning in the dynamic landscape of product leadership.

In a captivating discussion, salary negotiation coach Josh Doody shares his expertise on securing fair compensation. He advocates for changing jobs every few years to boost earnings and reveals the pitfalls of prematurely disclosing salary expectations. Doody emphasizes the art of negotiating both within a current company and for new roles, ensuring listeners understand market dynamics. Highlighting strategies like leveraging competing offers, he inspires confidence in tackling salary discussions, making this a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their career.

John Cutler, a product management expert and writer, teams up with Joshua Herzig-Marx, a seasoned product leader, to delve into the challenging job market for product leaders. They explore the factors behind prolonged job searches, including the flattening of product organizations and the rise of super IC PMs. The conversation highlights how AI is reshaping product leadership dynamics and offers valuable advice for those navigating career transitions. Together, they predict significant changes in the landscape of product management over the next decade.

Ben Sprecher, CPO at bookend.ai and a veteran in the AI field, shares insights from his 24-year journey, including founding a company acquired by Google. He discusses his early bets on AI's potential and highlights the 'AI demo trap'—a common pitfall where companies rush to showcase products without substance. Ben offers frameworks for assessing AI projects, shifting from defensive to offensive strategies, and turning AI concepts into real customer value, making it essential listening for founders and product managers.

Alexander Hanthorn, Staff Product Manager at Drift, shares his wealth of user research knowledge from his time at companies like Taco Bell and TripleByte. He discusses scrappy research methods for startups and the need to look beyond surface-level feedback to understand true user motivations. The conversation delves into the role of AI in enhancing user research and the importance of teamwork among product teams. Alex emphasizes balancing intuition with data and practical strategies for effective research, making this a treasure trove of insights for product managers and founders.

Varun Puri, CEO and co-founder of Yoodli, delves into his remarkable journey from working with Sergey Brin at Google X to launching a platform dedicated to enhancing public speaking. He discusses the challenges and personal sacrifices of entrepreneurship, alongside the rewarding moments of making an impact. The conversation highlights the innovative features of Yoodli that help users improve their communication skills and shares invaluable advice for aspiring founders navigating the startup landscape.

Melissa Chi, COO at Pathpoint and former Head of Product, shares insights on her career transition and the challenges of leading operations in a remote setting. She emphasizes the importance of user empathy and effective coaching within teams. The discussion highlights strategies for managing time, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and building strong communication. Melissa also touches on the evolving nature of leadership roles in tech and the need for transparency and adaptability in fast-paced environments.

Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with longtime friends and co-founders, Joshua Herzig-Marx and Ben Sprecher, to explore their journey from childhood friendship to building a company that was acquired by Google. In this candid conversation, Joshua and Ben share their co-founder origin story, the challenges they faced scaling a startup, and how they managed their relationship through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. They also dive into the crucial lessons learned from hiring a CEO, pivoting their business model, and making tough decisions to ensure a successful exit. This episode is packed with invaluable insights for anyone thinking about finding a co-founder or navigating the early stages of a startup.All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇In this episode, we covered the following topics:* Josh and Ben’s co-founder origin story, from childhood friends to business partners* The importance of trust and intellectual respect between co-founders* Why finding a co-founder with complementary skill sets can save a startup from failure* The decision to hire a CEO and how it shaped their company’s trajectory* Navigating the emotional challenges of running a startup and maintaining a strong co-founder relationship* The pivotal moments that led to their startup being acquired by Google* Lessons learned from balancing long-term vision with short-term opportunities* And more!If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:Links:* Joshua Herzig-Marx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaherzigmarx/* Josh’s site: https://joshua.herzig-marx.com/* Ben Sprecher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bensprecher/* Josh’s wife Carla Naumberg’s new book, How to Stop Freaking Out: https://www.carlanaumburg.com/books/how-to-stop-freaking-out/* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:And here are some less recent favorites: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit suprainsider.substack.com

Welcome to another episode of the Supra Insider. This time, Ben and Marc are joined by Katie Kent, who shares her unique experience transitioning from a product leadership role back to an individual contributor (IC) as a staff PM at Semgrep. Katie talks about how her background in leadership has sharpened her skills as an IC, the lessons she’s learned from the security industry, and why she believes in staying hands-on with product work. The conversation explores the value of remote and hybrid work, the evolving role of tools like FigJam in fostering collaboration, and what it means to bring joy and delight into B2B products. Whether you’re a PM considering a career shift or looking to deepen your strategic thinking, this episode offers a wealth of insights.All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇In this episode, we covered the following topics:* Katie's decision to move from a leadership role back to being an IC and how it's impacted her approach to product management* Her journey into the security industry and what makes security a compelling space for product managers* The benefits of hybrid versus remote work and how the return to office is reshaping PM roles* How collaboration tools like FigJam are changing the dynamics between product managers, designers, and engineers* The future of leadership in tech and the potential career paths for PMs* Insights on staying connected to the craft of product management and maintaining creativity and impact over the long term* And more!If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:Links:* Katie Kent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiekent/* Katie’s X: https://twitter.com/k80kent* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:And here are some less recent favorites: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit suprainsider.substack.com