Coaching Transformation: Inside Datasite's Radical Transformation to a Product Model Powerhouse
Christian sits down with Doug Cullen and Thomas Fredell to recount how the trio transformed Merrill Corporation into Datasite. Learn from the real stories, strategies, and tactics that turned a 50y/o company into a modern product model powerhouse.–Today’s discussion unpacks:The immense benefits of Datasite’s transformationThe kinds of challenges that arise in a transformation processHow to align stakeholders around a transformationThe all-important interpersonal side of successful transformationAdvice for anyone going through a transformation process–References:Changing How You Solve Problems: https://www.svpg.com/changing-how-you-solve-problems/Cloud Foundry: https://www.cloudfoundry.org/Datasite (Formerly known as Merrill Corporation): https://www.datasite.com/Digital Transformations: Datasite: https://www.svpg.com/podcasts/digital-transformations-datasite/?utm_source=chatgpt.comGood to Great by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996Microservices Architecture Style: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/architecture-styles/microservicesMongoDB: https://www.mongodb.com/SVPG’s Transformation Series: https://www.svpg.com/transformation-series/ Transformation Defined: https://www.svpg.com/transformation-defined/–Where to find SVPG:SVPG’s newest book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/–Where to find Christian Idiodi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/–Where to find Doug Cullen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/–Where to find Thomas Fredell:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredell/–Timestamps: (to be updated)(00:00) Intro (01:02) The results of this transformation (03:21) Why Doug and Thomas joined the company (07:07) The company before transformation (12:17) First steps on the transformation journey (15:11) Near misses on the road to success (16:37) How do you pitch transformation to a board? (18:56) Finding the courage to make difficult changes (20:24) Uniting teams around transformation (26:51) The importance of building trust(31:29) Roadbumps on the transformation journey (37:18) Transforming the tech foundations(41:01) The importance of real customer discovery (45:28) Shifting how choices are made (49:06) Merrill's key transformation outcomes (50:08) Closing advice for transformations–Disclaimer:While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/–Production:Production by supermix.io
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Welcome to Product Therapy
Where to find SVPG: SVPG’s new book, EMPOWERED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles Workshops: https://www.svpg.com Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos
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Coaching AI: The Impact on Product Managers
In this episode, Christian sits down with SVPG founder Marty Cagan to discuss how AI is changing product management. They lay out why the role is becoming more complicated and more important, and they share practical advice for preparing for that future. –Today’s discussion unpacks:Examples of AI making product management more complicated How AI impacts different types of product risk New dynamics between PM, design, and engineering What to do if you’re on a feature team or lack a strong product leader How to future-proof your PM role –Relevant SVPG Content on AI and Product: A Vision For Product Teams: https://www.svpg.com/a-vision-for-product-teams/AI Product Management 2 Years In: https://www.svpg.com/ai-product-management-2-years-in/Coaching AI – The Impact on Product Teams (podcast): https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SEoYfq6w2EbiQ9LUnNWSB?si=4ca3358af34a4c52Creating Intelligent Products: https://www.svpg.com/creating-intelligent-products/Disruption and Denial: https://www.svpg.com/disruption-and-denial/INSPIRED in the Generative AI Era: https://www.svpg.com/inspired-in-the-generative-ai-era/Product, Design and AI: https://www.svpg.com/product-design-and-ai/Team Autonomy and AI: https://www.svpg.com/team-autonomy-and-ai/The Era of the Product Creator: https://www.svpg.com/the-era-of-the-product-creator/–References:Coaching Product Sense (podcast): https://open.spotify.com/episode/7xBsFO7zrZPD4Cj0GdgDuA?si=4df04f177f0c4fe8The Four Big Risks by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/four-big-risks/Product Risk Taxonomy by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/product-risk-taxonomies/–Where to find SVPG:SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/–Where to find Christian Idiodi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/–Where to find Marty Cagan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cagan/–Timestamps: (00:00) Intro(00:35) Why AI makes PM more important and complicated(03:50) Feasibility risks in AI products(06:29) How collaboration with tech leads is changing(08:16) New dynamics between PM, design, and engineering (11:08) Emerging design patterns(13:08) Who owns trust in AI products?(14:14) Value risk and the AI label rush(17:26) How to win customers in a crowded market(20:21) Viability risks(22:26) Regulatory compliance challenges(26:00) The skill that future-proofs your PM role(28:01) How to build product sense without a strong product leader(29:36) What to do if you’re a PM within a feature team(31:05) Closing thoughts(31:44) Where to learn more from SVPG–Disclaimer:While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/–Production:Production by supermix.io
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Coaching Product Myths (Part 2)
In this episode, Christian continues his conversation with SVPG partner Chris Jones about widespread product myths. They explain the flawed assumptions behind 5 common myths, and share what effective teams understand and do differently. –Today’s discussion unpacks:How process-driven discovery can become a crutchCommon mistakes when structuring product teamsThe limits of iterationWhy great product teams don’t treat go-to-market as someone else’s jobThe truth (and myth) behind the phrase “PMs are the CEO of their product”–Part 1 of this conversation: Coaching Product Myths (Part 1): https://youtu.be/ICpaylkLH1k–References:CEO of the Product Revisited by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/ceo-product-revisited/Discovery – Judgement by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/discovery-judgement/Planning Product Discovery by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/planning-product-discovery/The Four Big Risks by Marty Cagan: https://www.svpg.com/four-big-risks/–Where to find SVPG:SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/–Where to find Christian Idiodi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/–Where to find Chris Jones:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjonessvpg/–Timestamps (will be updated) (00:00) Intro(00:35) Myth #1: Product discovery will give us the answer(08:13) Myth #2: We need to iterate solutions until they succeed(10:17) Myth #3: Product managers need product owner(17:40) Myth #4: If you build it they will come(22:06) Myth #5 PMs are the CEO of their product(26:05) Where to learn more from SVPG–Disclaimer:While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/–Production:Production by supermix.io
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Coaching Psychological Safety
Christian Idiodi sits down with executive coach and author Kate Leto to discuss how psychological safety drives high-performing product teams. Through concrete examples, they demystify the concept and show how deliberate acts of trust, candor, and shared accountability unlock real-world results.–Today’s discussion unpacks:What psychological safety is and why it mattersSigns your team does or does not have psychological safetyThe relationship between psychological safety, trust, and accountabilityCommon misconceptions around this topicTactical advice for leaders and team members–References:Emotional Self Control Probably Doesn’t Mean What You Think: https://www.kateleto.com/articles/emotional-self-control-probably-doesnt-mean-what-you-think-but-its-an-essential-skill-for-leadersGoogle’s Project Aristotle: https://psychsafety.com/googles-project-aristotle/Hiring Product Managers: Using Product EQ to Go Beyond Culture and Skills: https://www.amazon.com/Hiring-Product-Managers-beyond-culture/dp/B09RFYCGL9Self-Awareness Revisited: https://www.kateleto.com/articles/what-the-heck-is-self-awareness-and-why-should-you-care-part-2What is Self-Awareness and Why Should You Care? https://www.kateleto.com/articles/what-is-self-awarenessWhat People Get Wrong About Psychological Safety: https://hbr.org/2025/05/what-people-get-wrong-about-psychological-safety–Where to find SVPG:SVPG’s new book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/–Where to find Christian Idiodi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/–Where to find Kate Leto:Books and insights: https://www.kateleto.com/books-and-insightsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateleto/Website: https://www.kateleto.com/–Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:42) What is psychological safety(02:11) Why psychological safety matters in work environments(03:16) How psychological safety enables diverse perspectives(05:12) Google's research on high-performing teams(06:13) Differentiating trust from psychological safety(08:04) Diagnosing the root cause of low psychological safety(10:48) How leaders can create psychological safety(13:04) Overcoming the hero complex as a leader(16:23) How leaders can share ideas without creating directive(17:31) Achieving psychological safety and accountability(19:22) Can you have too much psychological safety?(23:29) How teams can create psychological safety(27:00) Modeling vulnerability authentically as a leader(29:27) Closing thoughts and key takeaways–Disclaimer:While this podcast is named “Product Therapy,” it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/–Production:Production by supermix.io
Christian Idiodi goes behind the craft of great product work, to the topics that usually aren’t talked about. He discusses behavioral, mindset, and cultural issues with fellow SVPG partners.
Australia