23 results found

1. From PM to Founder: Starting Your Own Business in the Age of AI

   Are you worried AI might soon replace your job? You're not alone—and you're not powerless. As AI lowers the barrier to launching products, more Product Managers are considering entrepreneurship as a way to future-proof their careers.

   But here's the truth: being a good PM isn't the same as being a successful founder.

   In this session, we'll dive into what it really takes to go from building someone else’s vision to launching your own. We’ll explore the transition from PM to entrepreneur—what skills transfer well, where the gaps are, and how to overcome common challenges.

   Whether you're dreaming about starting a SaaS platform, launching a hardware product, or even manufacturing keychains, the product principles remain the same—but the game changes completely.

   You’ll walk away with:

   Insights into how AI is reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape

   Lessons learned from building a company from scratch

   A practical look at the mindset shift from PM to founder

   Meet the Speaker:

   Arya Baybordi is a Product Manager at Capsa Healthcare, a leading U.S. healthcare company, and a Lead Instructor at BrainStation’s Product Management program. With over 6 years of experience in healthcare and robotics, Arya recently founded a new startup focused on virtual reality equipment and immersive technology. He brings a unique blend of enterprise PM expertise and fresh founder lessons.

   Are you worried AI might soon replace your job? You're not alone—and you're not powerless. As AI lowers the barrier to launching products, more Product Managers are considering entrepreneurship as a way to future-proof their careers.

   But here's the truth: being a good PM isn't the same as being a successful founder.

   In this session, we'll dive into what it really takes to go from building someone else’s vision to launching your own. We’ll explore the transition from PM to entrepreneur—what skills transfer well, where the gaps are, and how to overcome common challenges.

   Whether you're dreaming about starting a… more

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2. What is it that you think you’re doing over there?!

   Careers can last 40 or more years and span many industries, domains, and roles yet most people only think about their career when it’s time to find another job. Even worse, that’s the only time they invest in their career. What a great way to throw away millions of dollars in earnings and the equivalent in happiness!

   In this talk, we’ll take a look at how you can think more proactively about your career and life aspirations and take a systematic, informed, hypothesis driven approach to pursuing your dreams. I’ll challenge you to a reality check of where you are and where you want to go. Finally, you’ll learn how to get better feedback from your manager and peers, understand how recruiters and hiring managers look at you, and learn to leverage networking effectively.

   Eric Bin is a 20 year veteran of the tech space having cut his teeth at Amazon and eBay before taking on leadership roles at Clio, Thinkific, Article and Coconut Software. Today he coaches product managers and leaders on how to get more out of work and life.

   Careers can last 40 or more years and span many industries, domains, and roles yet most people only think about their career when it’s time to find another job. Even worse, that’s the only time they invest in their career. What a great way to throw away millions of dollars in earnings and the equivalent in happiness!

   In this talk, we’ll take a look at how you can think more proactively about your career and life aspirations and take a systematic, informed, hypothesis driven approach to pursuing your dreams. I’ll challenge you to a reality check of where you are… more

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3. From Junior PM to Trusted Voice: Building Influence Without Authority

   You've landed your first Product Manager role—congrats! Now comes the tricky part: getting people to take you seriously when you don’t yet have a track record, direct authority, or fancy title.

   Welcome to the invisible skill that defines great PMs: influence.

   This session is designed for newer PMs (or anyone feeling unheard in their org) who are navigating the messy middle between being “the new person” and becoming a trusted product voice. You’ll learn actionable strategies to gain credibility, drive alignment, and build the kind of trust that gets your ideas taken seriously—even when you’re the most junior person in the room.

   We’ll cover:

   Why title doesn’t equal influence—and what actually does

   Tactical ways to build trust with engineering, design, and stakeholders

   How to speak with clarity and confidence when you don’t have all the answers

   Quick wins to become the go-to person on your team

   Real scripts and reframes to manage up, down, and sideways

   This isn’t about faking it or posturing. It’s about developing authentic influence through mindset shifts, smart communication, and quiet leadership—so you can move your product (and your career) forward with intention.

   Meet the Speaker:
   Arya Baybordi is a Product Manager at Capsa Healthcare, a U.S. healthcare technology company, and a Lead Instructor at BrainStation’s Product Management course. With 6+ years of experience in PM roles across healthcare and robotics, Arya has helped mentor dozens of new product managers breaking into the field. His approach to influence combines first-principles thinking, practical frameworks, and storytelling that resonates with cross-functional teams.

   You've landed your first Product Manager role—congrats! Now comes the tricky part: getting people to take you seriously when you don’t yet have a track record, direct authority, or fancy title.

   Welcome to the invisible skill that defines great PMs: influence.

   This session is designed for newer PMs (or anyone feeling unheard in their org) who are navigating the messy middle between being “the new person” and becoming a trusted product voice. You’ll learn actionable strategies to gain credibility, drive alignment, and build the kind of trust that gets your ideas taken seriously—even when you’re the most junior person in… more

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4. Ten ways that excellent product managers set themselves apart

   Over the past 18 years, I've learned many lessons about product management that weren't taught in school. Building and leading multiple product teams from scratch to successful exits has given me a clear perspective on what really matters.

   Attend this session if you would like to learn more about the following:
   - What sets excellent product managers apart in the hiring process?
   - What are some of the hard truths about product management career paths that are not widely talked about?
   - What will and won't change as AI becomes more widely adopted in product management?
   - What types of practical knowledge and skills set excellent product managers apart?
   - What's the easiest way to gain respect as a junior product manager in a large organization?
   - How can you avoid falling into traps that will stall your career growth?

   Presenter Biography:
   Steve Jones has a degree in Engineering Physics and is a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder. He has spent his career in Vancouver building high performing product teams. Two of those companies were acquired and Steve joined the acquiring companies to integrate products and teams. Steve is currently CEO of VeilStream which helps companies to solve their database security challenges in an era of AI agents and globally distributed engineering teams.
   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonessteven/

   Over the past 18 years, I've learned many lessons about product management that weren't taught in school. Building and leading multiple product teams from scratch to successful exits has given me a clear perspective on what really matters.

   Attend this session if you would like to learn more about the following:
   - What sets excellent product managers apart in the hiring process?
   - What are some of the hard truths about product management career paths that are not widely talked about?
   - What will and won't change as AI becomes more widely adopted in product management?
   - What types of… more

   22 votes

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5. Balancing Roadmaps and Bedtime Stories – The Life of a Parent and Product Manager

   Product management is all about prioritization, stakeholder alignment, and navigating uncertainty—skills that feel strikingly familiar to anyone raising kids. As a parent and a product manager, I’ve found that the lessons from each role often apply to the other in surprising ways. In this talk, I’ll share how the frameworks we use to build great products can also help us manage the chaos of parenting—and vice versa. Whether it’s handling shifting priorities, leading with empathy, or embracing iterative learning, there’s a lot we can take from both worlds to be more effective and fulfilled in each. Let’s dive into the challenges, the wins, and the lessons learned from juggling product roadmaps and bedtime routines.

   Meet the Speaker: Jacky Cheung is a Senior PM-T at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and a Lead Instructor at BrainStation Vancouver's PM certificate course. He possesses over 10 years of product management experience across Amazon, Mastercard, Deloitte Digital, Trulioo and theScore Media. Jacky is also the father of a 2-year-old human child and a 6-year-old canine / fur child.

   Product management is all about prioritization, stakeholder alignment, and navigating uncertainty—skills that feel strikingly familiar to anyone raising kids. As a parent and a product manager, I’ve found that the lessons from each role often apply to the other in surprising ways. In this talk, I’ll share how the frameworks we use to build great products can also help us manage the chaos of parenting—and vice versa. Whether it’s handling shifting priorities, leading with empathy, or embracing iterative learning, there’s a lot we can take from both worlds to be more effective and fulfilled in each. Let’s dive into the… more

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6. Redefining Success, Confidence & the Future of Product: Because your title isn’t your legacy—your impact is.

   Looking for frameworks, metrics, ladders to climb? This is not that talk.

   This is a real, human story about navigating career reinvention, growing through discomfort, and learning to lead with confidence without needing to have it all figured out. It’s about showing up in the messiness of mid-career transitions, shifting industries, chasing curiosity, and choosing to build a career that actually brings you joy.

   You’ll hear how I embraced the unknown, stopped trying to “know it all,” and leaned into storytelling, community, and honesty to find clarity—without a linear path or a perfect plan.

   Along the way, we’ll explore:

   ✨ Confidence in Uncertainty – How to stop pretending you know everything and start trusting your instincts (and asking better questions).
   🧭 The Future of Product – Why the PM role is evolving—and how the next generation of product leaders will win with influence, storytelling, and human connection.
   💡 Reimagining Career Growth – What if “success” doesn’t mean climbing a ladder? What if you want something different—and that’s not only okay, it’s powerful?
   🎯 Doing It Your Way – Your job title isn’t your legacy—your impact is. The way you show up for others, the chances you take, and the community you build around you… that’s the real story.

   I’m not here because I’ve done everything perfectly, nor am I a CEO or Product VP—I’ve navigated the messy middle of growth, career transition and unknowns. With over 25 years of experience across product, customer experience, retail, operations, and strategic partnerships, I’ve built a career around connecting people, solving complex problems, and leading with empathy.

   I’ve worked in high-growth startups and scaling teams at companies like Best Buy Canada, Thinkific, and Jobber, shifting industries, roles, and perspectives along the way. I've tried to go it on my own and then come back to business management. I’ve upskilled, managed transformations, built cross-functional teams, and learned (sometimes the hard way) how to grow through change—even when it’s uncomfortable.

   This talk is for anyone wondering: Am I doing this right?

   Spoiler alert: there is no “right”—only what’s right for you.

   Looking for frameworks, metrics, ladders to climb? This is not that talk.

   This is a real, human story about navigating career reinvention, growing through discomfort, and learning to lead with confidence without needing to have it all figured out. It’s about showing up in the messiness of mid-career transitions, shifting industries, chasing curiosity, and choosing to build a career that actually brings you joy.

   You’ll hear how I embraced the unknown, stopped trying to “know it all,” and leaned into storytelling, community, and honesty to find clarity—without a linear path or a perfect plan.

   Along the way, we’ll explore:

   ✨… more

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7. AI Meets Empathy: How to Build Products That Customers Love in the AI Era

   Sanchi is a Product Leader at Atlassian, specializing in AI-driven developer tools that enhance productivity and streamline workflows. With over a decade of experience in product management, she has worked on scaling global technology products, driving AI adoption, and enhancing developer experiences.

   Passionate about the intersection of AI, product strategy, and user experience, she believes that while AI enables smarter decision-making, true product success lies in balancing automation with human empathy. In this session, she will explore how product managers can leverage AI to drive customer engagement while ensuring trust, delight, and usability remain at the core of product experiences.

   Abstract:
   AI is transforming product development, enabling personalization, automation, and data-driven insights at an unprecedented scale. However, while AI can optimize and enhance user experiences, it often lacks the human touch that fosters genuine customer love and loyalty.

   This session will explore how AI and user-centric approach can coexist to create products that not only perform efficiently but also resonate deeply with users. Attendees will gain actionable insights into harnessing AI without sacrificing the user trust and experience that define great products.

   Key Takeaways:
   ✅ How AI enhances (but doesn’t replace) user-centric design.
   ✅ Practical ways to use AI to anticipate customer needs and reduce friction.
   ✅ When to trust AI-generated insights vs. when user intuition should take over.
   ✅ Real-world examples of AI-driven features that improve customer trust, engagement, and retention.
   ✅ Ethical challenges: How to ensure AI empowers rather than alienates users.

   Who Should Attend?
   Product Managers & UX Designers looking to leverage AI while keeping products user-centric.
   Startup Founders & Innovators building AI-driven products.
   Anyone interested in AI ethics, customer experience, and product success.

   Why this topic?
   As AI continues to reshape product management, PMs must learn to balance technological advancements with user-centric design. This session will provide a practical, forward-thinking approach to building AI-powered products that users truly love.

   Sanchi is a Product Leader at Atlassian, specializing in AI-driven developer tools that enhance productivity and streamline workflows. With over a decade of experience in product management, she has worked on scaling global technology products, driving AI adoption, and enhancing developer experiences.

   Passionate about the intersection of AI, product strategy, and user experience, she believes that while AI enables smarter decision-making, true product success lies in balancing automation with human empathy. In this session, she will explore how product managers can leverage AI to drive customer engagement while ensuring trust, delight, and usability remain at the core of product experiences.

   … more

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8. Ace Your Product Manager Interview: Strategies from Both Sides of the Table

   Carrie Chatelain (Coconut, Article) and Filip Machat (Microsoft, Amazon) have navigated both sides of the PM hiring process—applying, interviewing, and selecting top candidates. With hundreds of interviews under their belts (on both sides of the table), they know exactly what makes candidates stand out.

   In this interactive session, Carrie and Filip will demystify the PM interview process at any level, from aspiring APMs to senior product leaders. You'll leave with insider strategies to tackle even the trickiest interview questions with confidence.

   Topics include:
   ✔ How to walk into your interview prepared and ready to impress
   ✔ What questions to expect—and how to craft strong answers
   ✔ Mastering behavioral questions (STAR method done right)
   ✔ Crushing product sense and case study questions
   ✔ Common pitfalls that even experienced candidates make—and how to avoid them

   Carrie Chatelain (Coconut, Article) and Filip Machat (Microsoft, Amazon) have navigated both sides of the PM hiring process—applying, interviewing, and selecting top candidates. With hundreds of interviews under their belts (on both sides of the table), they know exactly what makes candidates stand out.

   In this interactive session, Carrie and Filip will demystify the PM interview process at any level, from aspiring APMs to senior product leaders. You'll leave with insider strategies to tackle even the trickiest interview questions with confidence.

   Topics include:
   ✔ How to walk into your interview prepared and ready to impress
   ✔ What questions to expect—and… more

   19 votes

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9. The End of Product Managers (As We Know Them)

   The traditional Product Manager role—the one you've watched dozens of YouTube videos about—is being rewritten by AI every week. Leaders like Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) and Marc Benioff (Salesforce) are openly declaring it: AI isn't merely automating tasks; it's erasing entire jobs to be done.

   This disruption isn't limited to PMs. AI is disrupting the software development broadly, and quickly. Companies increasingly rely on fewer, AI-empowered super ICs to accomplish tasks once handled by entire teams. If AI can write code, deploy fully functional apps, rapidly analyze qualitative and quantitative data, and conduct "deep research" on users, competitors, and the market, what's left for Product Managers?

   I'm Tony Hui, Head of Product at vidIQ, leveraging GenAI daily to empower millions of creators. I used to be a product developer, using GPT-2 at Indeed. My career evolved because I embraced these shifts early. At the peak, vidIQ had 5 PMs. Now we have just 2. Instead of hiring a third traditional PM last month, I hired for the "new" PM role instead. Twice.

   Aspiring and Early-career PMs: the change isn't coming—it's already here. Your foundational skills matter, but are they enough? Adaptation isn't optional; it's survival. What roles will remain relevant when AI takes over traditional PM and Engineering tasks? How must your skills evolve?

   I'm not predicting the future. I'm describing my present. Your next career move isn't doing more of what used to work; it's time to go all-in to the future of work.

   The traditional Product Manager role—the one you've watched dozens of YouTube videos about—is being rewritten by AI every week. Leaders like Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) and Marc Benioff (Salesforce) are openly declaring it: AI isn't merely automating tasks; it's erasing entire jobs to be done.

   This disruption isn't limited to PMs. AI is disrupting the software development broadly, and quickly. Companies increasingly rely on fewer, AI-empowered super ICs to accomplish tasks once handled by entire teams. If AI can write code, deploy fully functional apps, rapidly analyze qualitative and quantitative data, and conduct "deep research" on users, competitors, and the market,… more

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10. Staff vs. Group PM: Navigating the IC-to-Manager Leap

    Curious about the differences between a Staff/Principle PM and a Group PM—and what it really takes to transition from IC to people manager?

    In this session, we’ll break down the key skills, mindsets, and trade-offs of each path, so you can make an informed choice about your next career move.

    Whether you’re debating a leadership track or already stepping into management, this conversation will give you clarity, practical insights, and real-world examples to help you thrive.

    Don’t miss it!

    Gabriel Hernandez
    Group Product Manager @ Hootsuite

    12 votes

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11. From End User to User Advocate: Shaping Products from the Inside Out

    Join Omar as he shares expert insights on carving out a successful career in Product Management, drawing from his extensive experience transitioning from early roles in customer service and quality assurance to senior product management positions across global markets. Learn how to navigate the journey and the strategies that help you succeed in the product management landscape.

    Topics include:
    • Career Path Exploration: Understanding different entry points into product management from non-technical backgrounds.
    • Skill Transfer and Development: Identifying and enhancing transferable skills from non-technical jobs that are invaluable in product management.
    • Overcoming Industry Challenges: Tackling common obstacles faced when moving into technical and managerial roles.
    • Strategic Career Planning: Practical steps for long-term career planning and advancement in product management.
    • Real-World Applications: Insight into how Omar applied these strategies across various roles.

    About Omar:
    Omar Zayed is currently the IT Product Manager at Westland Insurance in Vancouver, BC, overseeing large-scale projects and strategic roadmap planning for business management systems. With a robust background that includes senior roles at Iversoft and Bally’s Interactive, Omar brings a wealth of knowledge from creating impactful mobile apps and web portals to managing comprehensive B2B and B2C ecosystems. His journey from a customer service lead to spearheading product strategies offers invaluable lessons for anyone looking to break into or advance within the field of product management.

    Join Omar as he shares expert insights on carving out a successful career in Product Management, drawing from his extensive experience transitioning from early roles in customer service and quality assurance to senior product management positions across global markets. Learn how to navigate the journey and the strategies that help you succeed in the product management landscape.

    Topics include:
    • Career Path Exploration: Understanding different entry points into product management from non-technical backgrounds.
    • Skill Transfer and Development: Identifying and enhancing transferable skills from non-technical jobs that are invaluable in product management.
    • Overcoming Industry Challenges: Tackling common obstacles faced… more

    11 votes

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12. 🪞 Grey Mirror: How to Build Products for a Complex World – and Positive Human Outcomes

    ---

    ⚖️ An interactive presentation with stories about tradeoffs, consequences, and designing with intention 🔍

    The future will belong to products that are built thoughtfully, responsibly, and with positive human outcomes in mind. 🌱

    Not just what the products do - but what they cause.

    In a turbulent and fast-changing world, great product managers aren’t just shipping products and features - they’re shaping behaviours, influencing systems, and making a difference for people.

    Inspired by the storytelling style of Black Mirror - especially its interactive episode Bandersnatch - this session invites you to step into the Grey Mirror universe: a series of fictional (but eerily plausible) product case studies, each with a complex ethical dilemma at its core. It’s called Grey Mirror because the choices we face as product people are rarely clear cut - most live in the uncomfortable, uncertain grey area between good intentions and real-world consequences.

    ---

    🔍 What to Expect:

    Each “episode” puts you in the PM’s seat 🪑 with a hard decision to make - and no obvious right answer.

    ---

    You'll encounter:

    ✨ Products that influence emotions more than users realize
    🔍 Features that create transparency - but at what cost?
    🤖 AI tools that work too well - and reshape behavior in unexpected ways
    🧠 Moments where growth, trust, and humanity are in tension
    You’ll vote, reflect, and unpack the tradeoffs together with everyone in the room - then walk away with tools to bring that same thinking into your team.

    ---

    ✅ You’ll Leave With:

    🗺️ A storytelling framework to explore product ethics in your own org
    💬 Interactive case studies to reuse in team meetings, retros, or onboarding
    The “Product Ethical Lenses Table” - a tool to evaluate tough decisions from multiple perspectives
    🔎A new mindset for using product ethics as a strategic advantage, not a nice-to-have 💼
    Whether you’re a Product Manager, Product Executive, Product Designer, Technologist, Entrepreneur, or Founder, this session will inspire you to build with more foresight and clarity - even when the future feels uncertain.
    Because in 2025, product-market fit isn’t enough.
    It’s time to design for product-society fit. 🌍

    ---

    Speaker Bio:

    Timothy Yeung (he/him) is a seasoned product leader with over 13 years of experience in tech. He is currently a Director of Product at Hootsuite, where he leads product teams responsible for the company’s core social media management and engagement products.

    Beyond his role at Hootsuite, Timothy is the Lead Instructor of Product Management at UBC Sauder CBS, where he’s passionate about inclusive, applied education that empowers the next generation of product leaders.

    He previously served as President of ProductBC and currently holds leadership roles as a Vancouver Director of APM Canada, President of the lelem̓ Community Centre Advisory Board, and a board member of AI Governance & Safety Canada.

    Timothy is a frequent speaker on ethical product management, having shared his insights on the topic at the Userpilot Product Drive conference, APM Canada, and the University of British Columbia.

    ---

    ⚖️ An interactive presentation with stories about tradeoffs, consequences, and designing with intention 🔍

    The future will belong to products that are built thoughtfully, responsibly, and with positive human outcomes in mind. 🌱

    Not just what the products do - but what they cause.

    In a turbulent and fast-changing world, great product managers aren’t just shipping products and features - they’re shaping behaviours, influencing systems, and making a difference for people.

    Inspired by the storytelling style of Black Mirror - especially its interactive episode Bandersnatch - this session invites you to step into the Grey Mirror universe: a series of… more

    7 votes

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13. From Soil to Screen: How Permaculture Can Shape Digital Experiences

    Permaculture, derived from “permanent agriculture,” is an approach to land management that adopts patterns observed in flourishing natural ecosystems.

    In this session we’ll look at how we can connect permaculture with the products we deliver. Permaculture provides ethics and principles that can be applied to design systems including farms, settlements, and our communities. Participants will build an understanding of these ethics and principles and learn how they can be applied to digital products, leading to sustainable, accessible and inclusive digital experiences.

    Learning Outcomes:
    - What is permaculture and its ethics
    - The principles behind permaculture and how they can map back to accessible digital products
    - How we can use the design system to drive accessibility and inclusivity in the products we build

    Permaculture, derived from “permanent agriculture,” is an approach to land management that adopts patterns observed in flourishing natural ecosystems.

    In this session we’ll look at how we can connect permaculture with the products we deliver. Permaculture provides ethics and principles that can be applied to design systems including farms, settlements, and our communities. Participants will build an understanding of these ethics and principles and learn how they can be applied to digital products, leading to sustainable, accessible and inclusive digital experiences.

    Learning Outcomes:
    - What is permaculture and its ethics
    - The principles behind permaculture and how they can map… more

    7 votes

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14. Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship – What I Wish I Knew

    Overview:
    Many professionals dream of leaving their corporate careers to start their own venture—but what does it really take? In this talk, I’ll share my personal journey from working in healthcare to launching Simple Analytics, a startup that helps small businesses build affordable data solutions.

    This session will provide practical insights on how to transition strategically, reduce risk, and validate an idea before going all in.

    Key Takeaways:
    Mindset Shifts: The biggest changes from being an employee to an entrepreneur

    Testing Your Idea: Validating demand without quitting your job

    Time & Risk Management: How to balance a full-time job with building a startup

    Funding & Bootstrapping: When to seek investment vs. when to stay lean

    Lessons Learned: What I wish I did differently in my startup journey

    Overview:
    Many professionals dream of leaving their corporate careers to start their own venture—but what does it really take? In this talk, I’ll share my personal journey from working in healthcare to launching Simple Analytics, a startup that helps small businesses build affordable data solutions.

    This session will provide practical insights on how to transition strategically, reduce risk, and validate an idea before going all in.

    Key Takeaways:
    Mindset Shifts: The biggest changes from being an employee to an entrepreneur

    Testing Your Idea: Validating demand without quitting your job

    Time & Risk Management: How to balance a full-time job with… more

    5 votes

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15. 🪞 Grey Mirror: How to Build Products for a Complex World – and Positive Human Outcomes

    ⚖️ An interactive presentation with stories about tradeoffs, consequences, and designing with intention 🔍

    The future will belong to products that are built thoughtfully, responsibly, and with positive human outcomes in mind. 🌱

    Not just what the products do - but what they cause.

    In a turbulent and fast-changing world, great product managers aren’t just shipping products and features - they’re shaping behaviours, influencing systems, and making a difference for people.

    Inspired by the storytelling style of Black Mirror - especially its interactive episode Bandersnatch - this session invites you to step into the Grey Mirror universe: a series of fictional (but eerily plausible) product case studies, each with a complex ethical dilemma at its core. It’s called Grey Mirror because the choices we face as product people are rarely clear cut - most live in the uncomfortable, uncertain grey area between good intentions and real-world consequences.

    🔍 What to Expect:

    Each “episode” puts you in the PM’s seat 🪑 with a hard decision to make—and no obvious right answer.

    You'll encounter:
    ✨ Products that influence emotions more than users realize
    🔍 Features that create transparency - but at what cost?
    🤖 AI Tools that work too well—and reshape behavior in unexpected ways
    🧠 Moments where growth, trust, and humanity are in tension

    You’ll vote, reflect, and unpack the tradeoffs together with everyone in the room - then walk away with tools to bring that same thinking into your team.

    ✅ You’ll Leave With:
    A storytelling framework to explore product ethics in your own org 🗺️
    Interactive case studies to reuse in team meetings, retros, or onboarding 💬
    The “Product Ethical Lenses Table” 🧠 - a tool to evaluate tough decisions from multiple perspectives
    A new mindset for using product ethics as a strategic advantage, not a nice-to-have 💼

    Whether you’re a Product Manager, Product Executive, Product Designer, Technologist, Entrepreneur, or Founder, this session will inspire you to build with more foresight and clarity - even when the future feels uncertain.

    Because in 2025, product-market fit isn’t enough.

    It’s time to design for product-society fit. 🌍

    Speaker Bio:

    Timothy Yeung (he/him) is a seasoned product leader with over 13 years of experience in tech. He is currently a Director of Product at Hootsuite, where he leads product teams responsible for the company’s core social media management and engagement platforms.

    Beyond his role at Hootsuite, Timothy is the Lead Instructor of Product Management at UBC Sauder CBS, where he’s passionate about inclusive, applied education that empowers the next generation of product leaders.

    He previously served as President of ProductBC and currently holds leadership roles as a Vancouver Director of APM Canada, President of the lelem̓ Community Centre Advisory Board, and a board member of AI Governance & Safety Canada.

    Timothy is a frequent speaker on ethical product management, having shared his insights on the topic at the Userpilot Product Drive conference, APM Canada, and the University of British Columbia.

    ⚖️ An interactive presentation with stories about tradeoffs, consequences, and designing with intention 🔍

    The future will belong to products that are built thoughtfully, responsibly, and with positive human outcomes in mind. 🌱

    Not just what the products do - but what they cause.

    In a turbulent and fast-changing world, great product managers aren’t just shipping products and features - they’re shaping behaviours, influencing systems, and making a difference for people.

    Inspired by the storytelling style of Black Mirror - especially its interactive episode Bandersnatch - this session invites you to step into the Grey Mirror universe: a series of… more

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16. Human Imagination: The Last Competitive Advantage

    AI can now code, write, design, analyze... so like, what’s left for us product leaders? In this not-your-average product presentation, we’ll explore the one edge humans still have: Imagination.

    Join Kareem Shouhdy (you might remember him from 2023’s “The Healthy Mind Platter” session) and Ty Husband, product leaders at Aritzia, for a unique session to discuss where AI taps out, why innovation doesn’t come from data alone, and how emotional intelligence, cultural context, and pure chaotic creativity are still undefeated.

    This session is for YOU, product people, who are tired of being told to “just prompt better” and want to build the kind of things no machine could ever dream up. So vote if you’re ready to continue challenging the hype, fight the algorithm, and design products for actual humans - not robots.

    You’ll walk away with:
    1- A reality check on AI’s creative limits (spoiler: it’s not as creative as you)
    2- How to build a team culture that breeds bold, weird, magical ideas.
    3- Why your vibe as a human still matters more than your velocity.

    ... or are we cooked?

    AI can now code, write, design, analyze... so like, what’s left for us product leaders? In this not-your-average product presentation, we’ll explore the one edge humans still have: Imagination.

    Join Kareem Shouhdy (you might remember him from 2023’s “The Healthy Mind Platter” session) and Ty Husband, product leaders at Aritzia, for a unique session to discuss where AI taps out, why innovation doesn’t come from data alone, and how emotional intelligence, cultural context, and pure chaotic creativity are still undefeated.

    This session is for YOU, product people, who are tired of being told to “just prompt better” and want to… more

    4 votes

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17. Unlocking Scalable Platform Products: Where User Needs Meet Business Goals

    In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, platform products serve as the backbone of innovation, enabling organizations to scale efficiently. However, building successful platform products requires more than just technical excellence—it demands a deep understanding of user needs and alignment with organizational strategy. Without this foundation, even the most advanced platform efforts risk delivering limited value.

    In this talk, we will explore the critical role of user research in shaping platform products and ensuring technical, product and design efforts lead to meaningful outcomes. We will discuss practical strategies for conducting research that informs product decisions and share real-world examples of how alignment with business objectives can enhance platform adoption and usability. Attendees will walk away with actionable insights on how to build and scale platform products that bring actual value to the business.

    In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, platform products serve as the backbone of innovation, enabling organizations to scale efficiently. However, building successful platform products requires more than just technical excellence—it demands a deep understanding of user needs and alignment with organizational strategy. Without this foundation, even the most advanced platform efforts risk delivering limited value.

    In this talk, we will explore the critical role of user research in shaping platform products and ensuring technical, product and design efforts lead to meaningful outcomes. We will discuss practical strategies for conducting research that informs product decisions and share real-world examples of how alignment… more

    5 votes

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18. When Your Product is The Organization

    For Product Leaders building an organization that is creating digital products, viewing your organization as a product in and of itself can create a powerful approach. Whether you are focused on a single product, portfolios or broader programs, building your organization with a product mindset brings better alignment, resiliency and results over the long-term.

    By recursively using discovery and design techniques in an organizational context you can support your product organization’s ability to adapt in a world of never-ending change.

    A change platform can help to sustainably & systematically guide your organization forward by crafting outcomes, a change map & release plans.

    Lastly, these approaches can be contextualized for various setups, be it fully-remote, hybrid or in-person teams.

    If you’re a product leader trying to get more out of your product organization, then come explore these ideas.

    Agenda

    Applying the product mindset for building Organizations.
    Using organizational discovery and design techniques to create a resilient product org
    Incorporating a change platform to iteratively guide your organization’s progression.
    Customize to patterns in remote, hybrid and in-person organizational setups

    About Speaker

    Mack is the co-founder and management consultant at Alluvial Consulting, a practice focused on digital delivery training, consulting and facilitation; as well as the CEO & Executive Producer at Superbrothers Audiovisual, an indie video game studio. He has worked in, on and around dozens of product teams across the world.

    For Product Leaders building an organization that is creating digital products, viewing your organization as a product in and of itself can create a powerful approach. Whether you are focused on a single product, portfolios or broader programs, building your organization with a product mindset brings better alignment, resiliency and results over the long-term.

    By recursively using discovery and design techniques in an organizational context you can support your product organization’s ability to adapt in a world of never-ending change.

    A change platform can help to sustainably & systematically guide your organization forward by crafting outcomes, a change map &… more

    4 votes

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19. AI-Powered Security Automation for Agile Product Development

    The Challenge
    Security is often treated as a late-stage concern, leading to delays and rework.
    Product managers must balance speed, innovation, and security without disrupting development.
    Security teams may introduce last-minute requirements, forcing developers to redo work.

    The Solution: Embedding Security in Development
    Automate security analysis within the development workflow.
    Ensure security tasks are integrated into Agile processes from the start.
    Use industry standards like OWASP ASVS, PCI-DSS, and GDPR to guide security decisions.
    Make security a proactive step rather than a last-minute fix.

    How AI Can Help ?
    Analyze use cases automatically and identify security risks in real time.
    Suggest security controls based on best practices.
    Generate security-related sub-tasks directly in ticketing systems like Jira.
    Reduce manual effort, allowing security teams to focus on high-impact tasks.

    Example: AI-Powered Security Automation
    Integrates with ticketing systems to review security risks.
    Suggests security requirements based on compliance standards.
    Helps teams address security early, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities.
    Acts as a force multiplier for security teams, improving efficiency.

    Key Takeaways for Product Managers
    ✅ Shift security left—address it early to prevent costly fixes later.
    ✅ Leverage automation to streamline security without slowing development.
    ✅ Align security with business goals to maintain developer velocity.
    ✅ Enhance collaboration between product, security, and development teams.

    By making security an integral part of the Agile process, product managers can deliver secure, compliant software faster—without sacrificing speed or innovation.

    The Challenge
    Security is often treated as a late-stage concern, leading to delays and rework.
    Product managers must balance speed, innovation, and security without disrupting development.
    Security teams may introduce last-minute requirements, forcing developers to redo work.

    The Solution: Embedding Security in Development
    Automate security analysis within the development workflow.
    Ensure security tasks are integrated into Agile processes from the start.
    Use industry standards like OWASP ASVS, PCI-DSS, and GDPR to guide security decisions.
    Make security a proactive step rather than a last-minute fix.

    How AI Can Help ?
    Analyze use cases automatically and identify security risks in real time.… more

    3 votes

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20. Products as Profit Engines: The Key to Value Creation and Market Success

    At their core, businesses exist to create value—and products are the primary vehicle for transferring money from customers to the organization. But what makes a product successful in the market? How do you ensure that your product delivers real value while driving profitability?

    This session will break down:

    ✅ The dual purpose of products: revenue generation and value delivery
    ✅ How businesses balance profit, customer needs, and market differentiation
    ✅ What makes a product truly valuable—solving pain points, quality, innovation, affordability, and customer experience
    ✅ The role of pricing and feature selection in maximizing market fit

    We’ll explore how to develop products that not only meet customer expectations but also drive sustainable business growth. Whether you're in product management, strategy, or business development, this session will provide actionable insights for building and positioning high-value products.

    At their core, businesses exist to create value—and products are the primary vehicle for transferring money from customers to the organization. But what makes a product successful in the market? How do you ensure that your product delivers real value while driving profitability?

    This session will break down:

    ✅ The dual purpose of products: revenue generation and value delivery
    ✅ How businesses balance profit, customer needs, and market differentiation
    ✅ What makes a product truly valuable—solving pain points, quality, innovation, affordability, and customer experience
    ✅ The role of pricing and feature selection in maximizing market fit

    We’ll explore how to… more

    2 votes

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    0 comments  ·  Presentation  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →