In this episode of Practical Product Management, Leah and Marilyn sit down with Jil Berning, founder of Femote, to discuss her journey from product manager to entrepreneur in healthcare tech. Jil dives into her motivations for creating a company focused on remote gynecological solutions and shares the challenges she’s encountered along the way. The conversation touches on building a supportive company culture, the role of vulnerability in leadership, and the importance of addressing the gender gap in healthcare. Together, they explore themes of resilience, the power of open communication, and why having a strong “why” is crucial for founders. Jil’s story offers valuable insights for anyone passionate about making a difference in tech and healthcare.

Key Takeaways

• From Product Manager to Purpose-Driven Founder: Jil's transition from product management to founding Femote showcases how PM skills like iteration, MVP thinking, and empathy apply in entrepreneurial roles.
• Vulnerability and Culture-Building: Open, honest conversations are essential in fostering a healthy team environment, particularly when navigating the pressures of a startup.
• Championing Women’s Health: Jil’s focus on femtech highlights the need for women’s health to be prioritized in healthcare and research, given longstanding gender biases.
• Embracing Discomfort as Growth: Jil emphasizes that courage in entrepreneurship means stepping into discomfort and valuing growth, even when outcomes are uncertain.

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In this episode of Practical Product Management, Leah and Marilyn sit down with Mirela Mus, founder of Product People, to unpack the unique world of interim product management. They discuss how interim roles differ from traditional product management, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, tactical execution, and navigating the challenges of temporary engagements. Mirela shares insights on balancing strategy with execution under time constraints and how market trends have reshaped the product management landscape. She offers a candid look at the evolving demands of the industry and her vision for a more resilient, business-integrated future for product management.

Key Takeaways

• Adaptability in Interim Roles: Interim product managers must quickly assess situations, identify priority tasks, and integrate into teams without the long onboarding period of in-house roles.
• Navigating Market Dynamics: As market trends shift, so do the opportunities and expectations for product managers, making resilience and flexibility essential traits in this evolving field.
• Building a Broad Skill Set: Interim roles provide PMs with exposure to diverse industries and challenges, building versatile, adaptable skill sets that are valuable in the changing product landscape.

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In this episode, Leah and Marilyn dive into the nuanced world of product management through the lens of team dynamics, particularly focusing on transitions when employees move on. They discuss the challenges leaders face emotionally and strategically during these transitions, highlighting the need for open communication and empathy. The conversation explores how leaders can balance the transactional nature of employment with a supportive work culture, advocating for a holistic approach that sees employees as whole individuals. Leah and Marilyn share practical strategies for product leaders to enhance team resilience, understand the impacts of performance evaluations, and encourage career growth within and beyond the team.

Key Takeaways

• Transitions as Growth Moments: Employee departures, while challenging, are opportunities for growth and evolution within the team and organization.
• Empathy-Driven Leadership: Empathetic leadership that sees employees as whole individuals fosters stronger team dynamics and open communication.
• Understanding the Employment Transaction: Recognizing the transactional nature of employment helps leaders stay grounded, manage transitions without taking them personally, and build supportive workplace relationships.

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