6 results found

1. A Panel on Product Pivots with Probably Perspicacious People

   It’s a Ross Geller Classic: The Pivot!

   Product pivots are defining moments that separate market leaders from forgotten startups. That critical decision – when to hold firm to your vision versus when to evolve it – remains one of product management's most consequential challenges, yet few product leaders openly discuss their pivot experiences.

   This candid panel discussion hopes to bring together product leaders who have successfully navigated significant pivots to achieve product-market fit. Rather than theoretical frameworks, attendees will hear authentic stories of both successful and failed pivots, gaining practical insights for recognizing pivot signals, managing stakeholder expectations, and executing strategic product transformations that preserve team culture and momentum.

   Panel Moderator: Kelly Mekwunye | She/Her - Product Owner at MakerSights

   Panel Participants:

   Jeanine Longley (She/Her) - Director of Product, MakerSights: Jeanine and Kelly have worked together through two pivots at MakerSights. Jeanine has 8 years of Product experience across 4 organizations, including 0-to-1 experience and new vertical expansion.

   We’re still seeking product leaders who have gone through a pivot of the offering they are responsible for to sit on our panel talking about the process. Reach out to Kelly and/or Jeanine to discuss joining our panel!

   Panel Details:
   Our goal is to share raw, unfiltered stories on various pivot journeys – the why, how, and when – as well as any lessons that have been learned along the way.

   Key Topics
   ✅ Pivot Detection: How to identify early warning signals that your product needs a pivot – before it's too late
   ✅ Decision Frameworks: Practical methodologies for validating pivot directions and minimizing risk while maximizing opportunity
   ✅ Team Leadership: Strategies for maintaining team morale, stakeholder confidence, and executive buy-in during pivots
   ✅ Real-world Case Studies: Honest accounts of pivots that achieved remarkable product-market fit – and cautionary tales from those that didn't
   ✅ The Pivot Playbook: Common pivot pitfalls and how to avoid them in your product journey

   Who Should Attend?
   * Product Managers seeking to refine their market fit analysis skills
   * Startup Founders navigating early product decisions in uncertain markets
   * Product Leaders responsible for transforming underperforming product lines
   * Anyone interested in product strategy, market validation, and building business resilience

   Why this topic matters now
   In today's rapidly evolving market, the ability to pivot effectively has become a core competency for successful product teams. Yet most product conferences celebrate only initial visions and successful outcomes, glossing over the messy middle where real product mastery happens. This panel fills that gap by providing practical, experience-based guidance for one of product management's most challenging and consequential decisions – when and how to pivot your product to achieve true market fit.

   It’s a Ross Geller Classic: The Pivot!

   Product pivots are defining moments that separate market leaders from forgotten startups. That critical decision – when to hold firm to your vision versus when to evolve it – remains one of product management's most consequential challenges, yet few product leaders openly discuss their pivot experiences.

   This candid panel discussion hopes to bring together product leaders who have successfully navigated significant pivots to achieve product-market fit. Rather than theoretical frameworks, attendees will hear authentic stories of both successful and failed pivots, gaining practical insights for recognizing pivot signals, managing stakeholder expectations, and executing… more

   38 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   1 comment  ·  Panel discussion  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →

2. How can legacy industries adopt a product mindset to improve service delivery?

   Legacy industries like insurance, healthcare, banking, education are driven by domain expertise and contextual nuances with scope for major overhaul and service impact. Strong discovery and soft skills are required to identify and translate requirements. In such industries, there is an ample pool of internal subject matter experts due to their long tenure with such organizations. These experts help validate hypotheses and identify pain points early on due to their experience and proximity to users. In these industries, stakeholder relationships run deep and wide making it easier to recruit users for discovery, testing and gain evidence-based support. Word of mouth is a major advantage. User journeys and jobs-to-be-done workflows are so fragmented and nuanced that one needs to understand motivations and incentives on a granular level to identify opportunities to streamline user experiences. Legacy industries bring with them an untapped opportunity to improve service delivery by adopting a product mindset. What is holding legacy industries back from not only adopting this mindset but also recruiting and retaining top product talent? Learn more through this panel discussion!

   Legacy industries like insurance, healthcare, banking, education are driven by domain expertise and contextual nuances with scope for major overhaul and service impact. Strong discovery and soft skills are required to identify and translate requirements. In such industries, there is an ample pool of internal subject matter experts due to their long tenure with such organizations. These experts help validate hypotheses and identify pain points early on due to their experience and proximity to users. In these industries, stakeholder relationships run deep and wide making it easier to recruit users for discovery, testing and gain evidence-based support. Word of mouth… more

   29 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   0 comments  ·  Panel discussion  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →

3. The Fast Track: Thriving in Your Early Years as a Product Manager in 2025

   Whether it’s your first full-time role or a bold pivot from another field, the early years in product management bring unique challenges—especially in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing landscape. New grads and career-switchers alike face distinct hurdles as they learn to navigate ambiguity, build influence, and drive impact.

   Join four seasoned product leaders as they share battle-tested strategies for thriving in your first few years as a PM. This panel dives into how professionals at any career stage can overcome common early-career pitfalls, accelerate their growth, and make meaningful contributions from day one. Expect practical insights, real stories, and frameworks designed to support both fresh graduates and experienced professionals finding their footing in product.

   This panel is designed for:
   ⭐ Professionals at any career stage with 0-5 years of product management experience
   ⭐ Career-changers who bring valuable previous experience but are new to product roles
   ⭐ Mid to senior-level professionals who recently transitioned into product management
   ⭐ Junior PMs looking to accelerate their growth and avoid common pitfalls
   ⭐ Individuals who recently moved from adjacent roles (design, engineering, marketing) into product management

   We'll explore topics such as:
   🎤 Leveraging Transferable Skills: How to apply your existing professional expertise to product management
   🎤 Building Your Product Toolkit: Essential frameworks for PM success in 2025, regardless of prior experience
   🎤 Stakeholder Management: Establishing credibility and influence as a newer PM
   🎤 Finding Your Product Voice: Developing confidence in product decisions when you're new to the discipline
   🎤 AI Collaboration: Using AI tools to accelerate your learning curve and amplify your impact
   🎤 Career Navigation: Charting your unique path forward in product management

   Panelists:

   👨🏻 Timothy Yeung (he/him): Director of Product at Hootsuite & Lead PM Instructor at UBC
   Background: Accounting & Finance 🧮
   With experience teaching, coaching and mentoring product professionals from diverse backgrounds through ProductBC and UBC Sauder, Timothy brings valuable insights on successfully transitioning into and growing within product management.

   👨🏼 Jason Ropchan (he/him): Director of Enterprise Products at TELUS
   Background: Entrepreneurship 💡
   Jason will share perspectives on how professionals at different career stages can navigate enterprise environments and leverage their unique backgrounds to drive product impact.

   👩🏻 Ti Wu (she/her) - Lead Product Manager at CoPilot AI
   Background: Cognitive Systems 📚
   Ti brings experience from the AI startup world and can speak to how professionals transitioning into product roles can thrive in fast-paced, innovation-driven environments.

   👨🏻 Jacky Cheung (he/him) - Senior Product Manager at AWS
   Background: Consulting 💼
   Jacky offers insights on excelling in technically complex environments and how PMs from different backgrounds can develop the essential cross-functional skills needed for success.

   Whether it’s your first full-time role or a bold pivot from another field, the early years in product management bring unique challenges—especially in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing landscape. New grads and career-switchers alike face distinct hurdles as they learn to navigate ambiguity, build influence, and drive impact.

   Join four seasoned product leaders as they share battle-tested strategies for thriving in your first few years as a PM. This panel dives into how professionals at any career stage can overcome common early-career pitfalls, accelerate their growth, and make meaningful contributions from day one. Expect practical insights, real stories, and frameworks designed to… more

   23 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   0 comments  ·  Panel discussion  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →

4. Mindset for Success – Thriving, Adapting & Succeeding in Product Development

   Success in product development isn’t just about skills—it’s about mindset. In a fast-moving, high-pressure environment, how you think, adapt, and respond to challenges can make all the difference. Whether you’re shifting roles, navigating career transitions, or facing uncertainty in product innovation, developing the right mindset is crucial.

   Join our expert panel as we dive into mindset strategies to help you thrive, overcome challenges, and create success in your career and work. We’ll explore how people working in product can build mental fitness, reframe setbacks, and proactively shape their future—whether as individual contributors, team leaders, or career changers.

   Panelists
   Filip Machat (Microsoft, Amazon)
   Wendy Lawson (WL Career Consulting, SFU Beedie - Career Strategist, Coach and Consultant)
   Adil Lahrizi (Boeing, VCH and McKesson/CHC)
   Gregg Taylor (Mental Fitness Coach, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, UBC Continuing Studies)

   Success in product development isn’t just about skills—it’s about mindset. In a fast-moving, high-pressure environment, how you think, adapt, and respond to challenges can make all the difference. Whether you’re shifting roles, navigating career transitions, or facing uncertainty in product innovation, developing the right mindset is crucial.

   Join our expert panel as we dive into mindset strategies to help you thrive, overcome challenges, and create success in your career and work. We’ll explore how people working in product can build mental fitness, reframe setbacks, and proactively shape their future—whether as individual contributors, team leaders, or career changers.

   Panelists
   Filip Machat… more

   8 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   0 comments  ·  Panel discussion  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →

5. AI-Powered Product Management: Hype or the Future?

   AI is shaking up product management—some say it’s just another tool, others believe it’s the future. This panel will explore how AI is reshaping product strategy, decision-making, and the PM role itself. We’ll discuss whether AI is an enhancement or a threat, real-world applications, and how PMs can stay ahead in an AI-driven era

   3 votes

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   0 comments  ·  Panel discussion  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →

6. What Product Opportunities will Open Banking bring to Canada?

   A key principle of Open Banking is to drive Innovation across the market. As Banking, Health and other forms of data become "open", how might we all consider embedding these into new use cases within our portfolio of products?

   1 vote

   Vote Vote Vote

   We're glad you're here

   Please sign in to leave feedback

   Signed in as (Sign out)

   Close

   Close

   Vote

   We’ll send you updates on this idea

   0 comments  ·  Panel discussion  ·  Edit…  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →