Building One with Tomer Cohen - Episode 3: More Questions with Smita Hashim

Release Date: May 21, 2024

In the third episode of Building One, hosted by LinkedIn's Chief Product Officer, Tomer Cohen, the focus shifts to a succinct yet insightful segment titled "More Questions with Smita Hashim." This episode delves into the personal and professional perspectives of Smita Hashim, the Chief Product Officer of Zoom, offering valuable career advice and glimpses into her worldview.

1. Career Advice for Aspiring Product Leaders

Timestamp: [01:32]

Smita Hashim emphasizes the importance of education for those aiming to excel in product management. She advocates for pursuing formal education as a foundation for a successful career in the field.

Smita Hashim: "I do think you should go to school and you should maximize your education... I feel like four year degree and you get a great education. I feel like everyone should do it and it's a way to really get some good ROI from it as well."
[01:53]

Smita underscores that a degree, particularly in engineering, equips individuals with essential skills and knowledge, providing a substantial return on investment. She also highlights the significance of balancing technical education with emotional intelligence (EQ) and liberal arts to foster well-rounded product leaders.

2. The Balance of Technical and Soft Skills

Timestamp: [02:33]

Beyond formal education, Smita points out that often, traditional academic paths may overlook crucial aspects such as emotional intelligence and creative thinking.

Smita Hashim: "Some of the things which sometimes we miss out on is the EQ part or liberal arts or learning for philosophers, thinkers, artists. So I think going to places where you can find some balance of that is helpful."
[02:33]

This insight emphasizes the necessity for aspiring product managers to cultivate both their technical prowess and their ability to connect with teams and understand user needs deeply.

3. Envisioning a Parallel Universe

Timestamp: [02:42]

In a lighter vein, the conversation transitions to a playful exploration of what Smita might choose to be in a parallel universe. This reveals her intrinsic motivation and personal values.

Smita Hashim: "I love people and love community and you love connecting... I would do something with local communities where I could be hands on. I love the idea of community and physical connections so I would love to do that."
[02:42]

Smita’s vision in a parallel universe mirrors her professional focus on building collaborative tools and fostering human connections, highlighting her passion for community and interactive engagement.

4. Integrating Personal Values into Professional Life

Timestamp: [03:04]

The interviewer ties Smita’s personal interests back to her professional role, illustrating how her love for community and connection influences her work at Zoom.

Interviewer: "Everything from your superpower to you working on collaboration tools to empower people to come together to even your parallel universe. So it's shining through."
[03:04]

This alignment between personal values and professional responsibilities underscores the authenticity and dedication Smita brings to her role, driving the success of Zoom's collaborative products.

5. Closing Thoughts

Timestamp: [03:17]

The episode concludes with heartfelt appreciation for Smita Hashim’s insights and a teaser for the next episode featuring Noah Weiss, the former CPO of Slack.

Smita Hashim: "Thank you. My pleasure. Tune in next week for our interview with Noah Weiss, the former CPO of Slack."
[03:28]

Key Takeaways

• Value of Formal Education: Smita advocates for obtaining a four-year degree to build a strong foundation in product management, emphasizing the return on investment such education provides.

• Holistic Skill Development: Beyond academics, developing emotional intelligence and creative thinking is crucial for effective product leadership.

• Community and Connection: Smita’s passion for community and human interaction significantly influences her approach to building collaborative tools at Zoom.

• Alignment of Personal and Professional Goals: Integrating personal interests with professional roles can lead to more authentic and impactful leadership.

This episode, though brief, offers meaningful reflections from Smita Hashim on education, skill development, and the importance of community in product leadership. Her insights serve as valuable guidance for listeners aspiring to thrive in the dynamic field of product development.