Charting your own course: launching visionary products without buy-in
This will be an interactive conversation between Ivana Ciric (Director of Product @ Thoughtworks), Jose Platero (Air Canada), and attendees.
In organizations where innovative ideas often face skepticism or outright resistance, how do you turn your vision into reality against the odds? We'll delve into the challenges and strategies of launching products that may not initially have the full support of stakeholders. We share our journey creating 'Trojan Horse' products at Air Canada to achieve innovation across company silos and reporting lines. Through real-world examples and practical insights, learn how to sell the problem, strategically assemble a lean team, and achieve meta-wins that go beyond product success to transform organizational culture and capabilities.
- Sell the problem: Learn how to effectively navigate executive and team conversations around new initiatives
- Dream team: How to strategically assemble a lean team to prove out your product hypothesis
- Meta-wins: How innovative products contribute to org and team culture, team capabilities, and collaboration
About Jose:
Jose Platero is a digital product design and delivery leader who helps startups, scale ups and enterprises to define and scale their product management, product design and product delivery practices so they deliver better products faster.
Currently, he leads digital product and design initiatives for Aeroplan and Air Canada, including the evolution of Aeroplan’s member experience, Air Canada’s home experience, and the development of a new design system for all digital products.
Outside of product development, Jose is dedicated to helping individuals break into the field of product management through content creation, coaching, and mentoring. He currently serves as an Industry Advisor for Queen’s University's Master of Digital Product Management program.
About Ivana:
Ivana is a Product Practice Director at Thoughtworks where she builds award-winning 0-1 software products including ML platforms, messaging, and immersive retail experiences. She is passionate about advancing Product practice through mentorship, thought leadership, and by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and learning. Ivana is committed to creating safe and inclusive teams and empowering others to become exceptional product builders and innovators.