Summary

In 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.

Takeaways

• The 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 Links

Website: https://dan-olsen.com/

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danolsen98/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/danolsen

Lean 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

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Summary

In 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 Links

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsauers/

Royal Restrooms: https://royalrestroomsca.com/

Personal Website: https://www.davidsauers.com/

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Summary

In this episode we interview Aurora Winter. She’s the founder of Same Page Publishing, an innovative publishing company that helps you launch as a thought leader.

Aurora shares her journey from the film industry to becoming a successful author and publisher.

We discuss her early assumptions with helping authors through her 'Spoken Author Method' and her testing of new formats like video books.

The conversation highlights the importance of storytelling in business, problem-solving, and the value of micro-testing.

Guest Links

LinkedIn Profile: https://linkedin.com/in/AuroraWinter

Same Page Publishing: https://samepagepublishing.com/

Turn Words Into Wealth: https://turnwordsintowealth.com/

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Summary

In 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 Links

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mescottmcleod/
Website: https://www.residenthome.com/

Is your team guessing which experiments to run?

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In this episode we interview JL Heather. He’s the Manager Partner at Centered. Centered empowers organizations to innovate by fostering a culture of experimentation.

JL and I explore the intricacies of innovation, design sprints, and the importance of leadership in fostering a culture of creativity and experimentation.

We discuss the challenges of making innovation stick, the role of customer feedback, and the significance of using the right language to engage teams and leaders.

JL emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach to problem-solving and the value of involving customers in the design process.

Guest Links

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlheather/

Website: https://centered.work/

Is your team guessing which experiments to run?

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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 Links
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathynesbitt/

Is your team guessing which experiments to run?

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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/

Is your team guessing which experiments to run?

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With the Precoil Experiment Library, you’ll find the right experiment for every assumption.

👉 Explore the library at precoil.com/library

Summary

In 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 Links

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joaomoita/

Website: https://www.theproductweekend.com/

Is your team guessing which experiments to run?

Discover proven ways to test your ideas before you invest.

With the Precoil Experiment Library, you’ll find the right experiment for every assumption.

👉 Explore the library at precoil.com/library