Building One with Tomer Cohen: Episode 4 – More Questions with Alex Stried

Release Date: June 18, 2024

In the fourth episode of Building One, hosted by Tomer Cohen, LinkedIn's Chief Product Officer, listeners engage in a lively rapid-fire session with Alex Stried, Chief Product Officer at Cerebral. This episode delves deeper into Alex's experiences, insights, and advice in the realm of product development, offering valuable perspectives for aspiring and seasoned product leaders alike.

1. Celebrating Team Success and Mission-Driven Work

Alex begins by reflecting on the joy derived from leading a dedicated team within mission-driven organizations. He highlights the significance of internal recognition and external validation.

• Team Pride:
  “Whenever one of my team members is presenting something or presenting an idea or a project that they have worked so hard on, it gives me such joy when somebody else that's not in my department writes me and they're like, you know, your team is fantastic. This work is good.”
  (00:52)

• Mission-Driven Impact:
  Alex emphasizes the fulfillment that comes from contributing to companies with meaningful missions. At Cerebral, aiding over 500,000 individuals in accessing mental health care stands out as a pivotal achievement.
  “We have helped over 500,000 people get mental health care and essentially help them feel better.”
  (01:54)

Tomer echoes this sentiment, drawing parallels with LinkedIn's own sense of purpose.

2. Envisioning Ideal Products

Shifting gears, Tomer prompts Alex to imagine products that don't currently exist but could significantly impact daily life.

• Parenting Feedback App:
  Alex wistfully describes an app that provides daily feedback on parenting effectiveness, alleviating the anxiety of self-doubt over time.
  “I wish there was like some kind of parent meter that you just knew if you're doing a good job.”
  (02:18)

• Self-Cloning Technology:
  Humorously, Alex expresses a desire to clone himself to manage multiple simultaneous responsibilities, a relatable wish for many juggling personal and professional commitments.
  “I wish I could clone myself. Yesterday, I had to be in three locations at once.”
  (02:56)

Tomer appreciates the practicality and emotional resonance of the parenting app idea.

3. Influential Resources and Readings

Alex shares pivotal resources that have shaped his approach to product management and leadership.

• Books by Marty Cagan:
  Early in his career, Marty Cagan's teachings were instrumental for Alex. He specifically mentions "Empowered," which guides his team in effective product management.
  “My favorite is Empowered for sure, because it's teaching my directs, like how to be really good managers to their PMs.”
  (03:16)

• Sean Ellis's "Hacking Growth":
  Alex praises Sean Ellis's work for sparking creative ideas around organic growth and retention strategies, integral to Cerebral's approach in encouraging users to engage in therapy sessions.
  “Hacking Growth is fantastic. It really sparks some creative ideas of how you can bring in organic growth.”
  (04:02)

4. Navigating a Career in Product Management

Addressing the non-linear pathways into product roles, Alex offers comprehensive advice for those aspiring to excel in product management.

• Emotional Intelligence (EQ):
  Alex underscores the paramount importance of EQ over IQ, citing it as essential for understanding customers, stakeholders, and leading teams effectively.
  “Your EQ is something that you can change. And I think you have to have amazing using emotional intelligence to be a good PM.”
  (04:28)

• Leadership Skills:
  Leadership consistently emerges as the top trait in product managers, more so than analytical or creative skills. Alex insists that leadership is innate and must be developed to successfully guide product teams.
  “Leadership has always come up first. I feel like with the other two, we can help you, we can help you be creative, we can do brainstorms together, we can help you with analytics.”
  (05:12)

• Technical and Business Acumen:
  While not mandating coding skills, Alex recommends understanding the technical language of engineers and grasping basic business principles, such as how a P&L operates, to align product strategy with overarching business goals.
  “I would take a coding class, to be honest. I would try to learn to speak your engineer's language.”
  (05:45)

Tomer concurs, highlighting the necessity of a well-rounded skill set and a growth mindset in product roles.

5. Final Thoughts and Takeaways

As the conversation wraps up, both Tomer and Alex emphasize the continuous journey of personal and professional development in product management. Alex’s insights reinforce the critical balance between emotional intelligence, leadership, technical understanding, and business strategy in crafting successful products that genuinely impact users’ lives.

Looking Ahead:
Stay tuned for the next episode of Building One, featuring an interview with Dan Barber, the Michelin-starred chef behind Row Seven Seeds, set to explore culinary innovation and leadership in the culinary industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Team Excellence: Building and nurturing a talented team is a source of immense pride and joy.

• Mission Matters: Working towards a meaningful mission can significantly enhance job satisfaction and impact.

• Innovative Ideas: Envisioning products that address daily pain points can lead to groundbreaking solutions.

• Continuous Learning: Emphasizing EQ, leadership, technical understanding, and business acumen is vital for aspiring product managers.

• Influential Readings: Books like "Empowered" by Marty Cagan and "Hacking Growth" by Sean Ellis can profoundly influence product strategies and management styles.

By weaving together personal experiences, professional insights, and actionable advice, this episode of Building One offers a comprehensive look into the multifaceted role of a Chief Product Officer and the qualities that drive successful product development.