Product Therapy

SVPG

Christian Idiodi goes behind the craft of great product work, to the topics that usually aren’t talked about. He discusses behavioral, mindset, and cultural issues with fellow SVPG partners.

  • 46 minutes 3 seconds
    Coaching Transformations

    Christian Idiodi sits down with SVPG partner Lea Hickman for an insightful conversation about what product transformation really means in practice. They dig into the patterns, false starts, political realities, and leadership challenges that show up repeatedly when organizations try to move to the product operating model. They also get practical about convincing reluctant leaders, shifting from output to outcomes, and why pilot teams are the most effective first move.

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    Today’s episode will discuss

    • Why most leaders and teams have blind spots
    • The trap of product management theater
    • Why discovery doesn't slow down delivery
    • How to shift from funding projects to funding teams and outcomes
    • Why starting small helps you to stack the deck in your favor

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    References:

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    SVPG on transformations:

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    Where to find SVPG:

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    Where to find Lea Hickman:

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    Where to find Christian Idiodi:

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    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    00:55 What does transformation really mean?

    02:00 Admitting there's a problem is the first step

    03:44 Most organizations have major blind spots

    05:46 Convincing leaders transformation is needed

    11:09 From managing output, to outcomes

    18:51 The problem with revenue growth goals

    20:58 Why do transformations fall apart?

    23:53 The gap between leadership intention and team reality

    29:34 Balancing product discovery with delivery

    31:37 Should you give your teams the problems to solve?

    36:30 How to approach product experiment funding

    38:51 The very first action of a product transformation

    41:48 Addressing common transformation objections

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    Disclaimer:

    While this podcast is named "Product Therapy", it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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    Production:

    Production by supermix.io

    19 February 2026, 12:00 pm
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    Coaching Stakeholders

    Christian Idiodi sits down with SVPG partner Chris Jones to unpack the often-ignored other half of “empowered teams”: coaching the stakeholders. They dig into why stakeholders often feel like the enemy, what “healthy” actually looks like in the product operating model, and how trust, context-sharing, and outcome-thinking change the relationship. They also get practical about handling “because I said so,” avoiding the stakeholder “black hole,” and shifting finance from funding projects to funding teams and outcomes.

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    Today’s episode will discuss:

    • What makes someone a “stakeholder” and why product teams can’t pretend they’re optional
    • What a healthy stakeholder relationship looks like
    • Why stakeholder trust has to be earned
    • How to get context when stakeholders tell you “because I said so”
    • How to keep stakeholders engaged without hijacking teams
    • Predictability without pretending roadmaps are fortune-telling
    • How to avoid the stakeholder “black hole” through transparency
    • Why postmortems are critical, even when outcomes miss

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    References:

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    SVPG on stakeholders:

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    Where to find Chris Jones:

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    Where to find Christian Idiodi:

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    Where to find SVPG:

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    Timestamps:

    (1:07) Why do stakeholders matter?

    (3:52) The conflict between product and business

    (6:47) Unpacking a healthy stakeholder relationship

    (10:09) Stakeholders should give you problems, not solutions

    (13:05) Why product has to make the first move

    (17:58) Getting context when stakeholders won't give it

    (24:42) The three reasons stakeholders resist you

    (27:53) What we get wrong about “empowerment”

    (31:56) Do senior executives need different coaching?

    (37:21) Finance is the stakeholder nobody talks about

    (41:47) Trust starts when teams own the outcome

    (44:23) What dysfunction really looks like

    (50:14) "We're too big for this" and other excuses

    (53:45) The roadmap trap: predictability vs. discovery

    (56:37) The accountability question everyone's afraid to ask

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    Disclaimer:

    While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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    Production:

    Production by ⁠supermix.io

    22 January 2026, 2:42 pm
  • 55 minutes 34 seconds
    Coaching Focus

    Christian sits down with product coach Elias Lieberich to tackle one of the hottest, most overlooked product leadership skills: focus. They unpack why “we have a prioritization problem” is usually a polite way of saying “we don’t have strategy,” what it actually looks like to build alignment, and how to say “not yet” with integrity.

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    Today’s episode will discuss:

    • What focus feels like inside a strong product org
    • The fastest signal you’re in an unfocused company
    • Why strategy makes prioritization “implicit”
    • How to build alignment different functions
    • The difference between “no” and “not yet”
    • How teams can create clarity even when leadership hasn’t

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    References:

    • Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/
    • ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/
    • Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps
    • Product Matters: https://productmatters.io/

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    More from SVPG on coaching focus:

    • Product Strategy – Focus (SVPG): https://www.svpg.com/product-strategy-focus/

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    Where to find Elias:

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lieberich/
    • Product Matters: https://productmatters.io/

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    Where to find Christian Idiodi:

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

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    Where to find SVPG:

    • SVPG’s newest book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/
    • Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/
    • Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/
    • Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/
    • Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos
    • Podcast: https://producttherapy.com/

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    Timestamps:

    (01:10) Why is organizational focus so difficult?

    (03:16) What a focused organization looks like

    (05:34) The ultimate litmus test for focus

    (08:52) You don’t have a prioritization problem…

    (15:49) The grandfather test

    (17:44) The importance of team-wide alignment

    (25:31) The one thing high-performing teams have

    (28:06) Saying “no” vs. “not yet”

    (30:47) How can a leader protect their team’s focus?

    (36:13) Why you need a Product FAQ

    (40:01) You need to track your business impact

    (45:04) Focus is a muscle that needs building

    (51:58) Elias’ magic coaching question

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    Disclaimer:

    While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

    –

    Production:

    Production by ⁠supermix.io

    22 December 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 32 minutes 7 seconds
    Coaching Pilot Teams

    Christian sits down again with product and leadership coach Gabi Bufrem – this time to discuss pilot teams. They dig into the common challenges that come with this initiative and the actions and mindsets required to overcome them. Hear hard-earned wisdom on how to use pilot teams to spark organizational change. 

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    Today’s episode will discuss:

    • Why pilot teams are a powerful tool for facilitating transformation

    • The ingredients of a high-impact pilot team

    • Why pilot teams are proof points not prototypes 

    • How to navigate the organizational politics that pilot teams run into 

    • How to pitch and position pilot teams to others in the company

    • What successful pilots look like and how to scale their impact 

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    More from SVPG on pilot teams:

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    Where to find Gabi Bufrem:

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    Where to find Christian Idiodi:

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    Where to find SVPG:

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    Timestamps: 

    (01:55) Defining pilot teams

    (03:56) What makes a good pilot team

    (07:23) Where to start with assembling a pilot team

    (09:14) The role of sponsorship

    (13:16) Pilot teams should live on an island

    (20:17) Signs a pilot team is working

    (22:58) What to do following a successful pilot

    (27:34) Common mistakes with pilot teams

    (30:08) How to pitch transformation to an executive

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    Disclaimer:

    While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

    –

    Production:

    Production by ⁠supermix.io

    11 December 2025, 3:59 pm
  • 44 minutes 50 seconds
    Coaching Product Leadership with Shreyas Doshi | Building Trust, Managing Insecurity, and Leading with Courage

    Christian sits down with product leader Shreyas Doshi to dig into a perspective-shifting idea: Most product problems are actually product leadership problems. They unpack how new leaders unintentionally erode trust, why saying “I don’t know” is treated like a crime in many companies, and how judgment, courage, and listening shape outcomes more than any framework.

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    Today’s episode will discuss:

    • Why so many “product problems” are really leadership problems in disguise
    • How new leaders unintentionally erode trust
    • Healthier ways to handle situations where you don’t have all the answers
    • How great leaders use judgment, courage, and deep listening to change outcomes
    • What “framework theater” is – and why it fails
    • The unexpected way AI is changing product leadership

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    References:

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    SVPG on product leadership:

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    Where to find Shreyas Doshi:

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    Where to find Christian Idiodi:

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    Where to find SVPG:

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    Timestamps:

    (00:44) How product leaders build trust

    (01:25) When new leaders erode trust

    (07:54) The true cost of saying “I don’t know”

    (10:45) How insincerity manifests in the workplace

    (16:12) The need for modeling great leadership

    (18:30) How to accurately diagnose problems

    (27:22) The insurgence of “framework theater”

    (32:03) How AI has radically changed leadership

    (35:20) AI isn’t going anywhere

    (41:35) The critical skills any leader must learn

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    Disclaimer:

    While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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    Production:

    Production by ⁠supermix.io

    25 November 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 38 minutes 21 seconds
    Coaching Roadmaps

    Christian sits down with Lea to demystify roadmaps, stripping them down to their job-to-be-done: connect strategy to execution without pretending ideas are certainties. They dig into how to craft outcome-based roadmaps that ladder to business results, when timeframes beat dates, and how to use high-integrity commitments without turning your plan into a promise trap, or feature factory.


    Today’s episode will discuss:

    • Why executives love roadmaps yet teams resent them

    • The two types of roadmaps destined to fail

    • How to frame outcomes in a roadmap

    • Why timeframes trump dates

    • When to use high-integrity commitments (HICs)

    • Coaching leaders to swap false control of features for real control of context

    • The four common roadmap anti-patterns

    • Who really owns the roadmap

    • How to ensure roadmaps and OKRs get along nicely

    • Earning trust with evidence and measuring impact, not output

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    References:

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    More from SVPG on roadmaps:

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    Where to find Lea Hickman:

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    Where to find Christian Idiodi:

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    Where to find SVPG:

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    Timestamps:

    (1:06) What is a roadmap?

    (02:18) Why roadmaps are often hated

    (04:18) The problem with top-down roadmaps

    (05:32) You need outcome-based roadmaps

    (10:02) Why roadmaps shouldn’t have dates

    (12:38) How to give teams greater roadmap autonomy

    (16:08) The four most common roadmap traps

    (20:04) Who should own a roadmap?

    (21:47) Focus on outcomes, not features

    (25:24) Can roadmaps and OKRs co-exist?

    (30:06) High-integrity commitments in roadmaps

    (32:33) How to navigate the politics of roadmaps

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    Disclaimer:

    While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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    Production:

    Production by supermix.io

    13 November 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 47 minutes 5 seconds
    Coaching How to Coach

    Gabi Bufrem is a product and leadership coach who partners with executives and teams worldwide to unlock performance with a rare blend of curiosity, empathy, and candor. In this conversation with Christian, Gabi breaks down what great coaching looks like, how to build trust quickly, and why the best leaders measure their success through the growth of others.

    Today’s episode will discuss:

    • The difference between mentorship, management, and coaching
    • Why everyone not only should have a coach but deserves a coach
    • The three steps to building trust quickly
    • Why vulnerability is a crucial unlock
    • Busting limiting beliefs and “leaving space for magic” in career arcs
    • How to give tough, constructive feedback as a coach
    • The core difference between coaching leaders and coaching ICs
    • How to measure coaching impact through tangible wins

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    References:

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    More from SVPG on product coaching:

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    Where to find Gabi Bufrem:

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    Where to find Christian Idiodi:

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    Where to find SVPG:

    -

    Timestamps:

    (01:08) What does a product coach do?

    (06:18) Gabi’s journey into coaching

    (10:01) Coaches see what you can’t

    (15:05) How to encourage healthy dialogue

    (18:36) The power of vulnerability

    (20:26) Designing discovery sessions

    (24:55) Revealing clients’ blind spots

    (27:10) How to give constructive feedback

    (32:44) “My job is to teach you how to fish”

    (37:04) A mindset for improving communication

    (40:25) Coaching leaders vs. coaching ICs

    (42:28) Measuring success as a coach

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    Disclaimer:

    While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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    Production:

    Production by ⁠supermix.io

    30 October 2025, 11:00 am
  • 33 minutes 6 seconds
    Coaching Team Objectives

    Christian sits down with Jon Moore to unpack one of the most important — and most misapplied — practices in modern product teams: team objectives. They break down why OKRs often fail, how to make objectives meaningful for empowered teams, and why focus, trust, and problem-solving are at the heart of real product outcomes.

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    Today’s discussion unpacks:

    • What team objectives really are (and aren’t)

    • Why most companies get OKRs wrong

    • How to shift from outputs to outcomes

    • The role of leadership in creating focus and context

    • How to set clear, problem-based objectives

    • The difference between team, business, and individual objectives

    • Why functional goals kill cross-functional teams

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    References:

    • Empowered (book): https://www.svpg.com/books/empowered/

    • Google OKRs: https://rework.withgoogle.com/guides/set-goals-with-okrs

    • Marty Cagan on Empowered Teams: https://www.svpg.com/empowered-product-teams/

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    SVPG series on team objectives:

    • Accountability: https://www.svpg.com/team-objectives-accountability/

    • Action: https://www.svpg.com/team-objectives-action/

    • Ambition: https://www.svpg.com/team-objectives-ambition/

    • Collaboration: https://www.svpg.com/team-objectives-collaboration/

    • Commitments: https://www.svpg.com/team-objectives-commitments/

    • Empowerment: https://www.svpg.com/team-objectives-empowerment/

    • Management: https://www.svpg.com/team-objectives-management/

    • Overview: https://www.svpg.com/team-objectives-overview/

    • Summary: https://www.svpg.com/team-objectives-summary/


    Where to find Jon Moore:

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathonmoore/

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    Where to find Christian Idiodi:

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

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    Where to find SVPG:

    • SVPG’s newest book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/

    • Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/

    • Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/

    • Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/

    • Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos

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    Timestamps:

    (00:56) What are company objectives?

    (02:39) Why teams get OKRs wrong

    (05:10) The true purpose of a team objective

    (07:48) OKRs only work with the right team culture

    (09:04) Leaders often want success shortcuts

    (09:58) The mechanics of a great team objective

    (13:28) Who should set team objectives?

    (18:23) The optimal cadence for revising objectives

    (20:11) Why environment shapes key results

    (22:41) You should lead with context

    (25:14) The high-integrity commitment

    (27:50) Can many teams share one objective?

    (28:59) A common objective pitfall

    (30:29) How to reinforce accountability


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    Disclaimer:

    While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

    -

    Production:

    Production by ⁠supermix.io



    16 October 2025, 11:00 am
  • 57 minutes 33 seconds
    Coaching Product Strategy

    Christian sits down with Marty to demystify one of the most talked-about, yet misunderstood topics in product: product strategy. They draw sharp lines between business strategy, go-to-market, vision, and product strategy; dig into why lack of focus masquerades as a “prioritization problem”; and unpack how strong product strategy drives alignment and results.

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    Today’s discussion unpacks:

    • A clear definition of product strategy

    • How product strategy differs from business strategy

    • What “we have a prioritization problem” really means

    • Earning stakeholder trust

    • Moving from feature roadmaps to outcome-based roadmaps

    • How to pick focus areas

    • How to increase the odds of success

    • When and how AI belongs in your product strategy

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    References:

    -

    More from SVPG on product strategy:

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    Where to find Marty Cagan:

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    Where to find Christian Idiodi:

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    Where to find SVPG:

    -

    Timestamps:

    (01:34) Defining product strategy

    (05:43) Product strategy vs. business strategy

    (13:51) Do you need a product vision?

    (16:03) What characterizes a good strategy?

    (23:25) How to coach executives on focus

    (30:49) Earning stakeholder trust

    (36:09) Who should solve and who should strategize?

    (38:11) Annual planning vs. real strategy

    (41:25) The two components of a product strategy

    (45:14) Where product strategies fail

    (48:41) How does AI impact product strategy?

    (52:43) Strategic pivots: making the strategy a living artifact

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    Disclaimer:

    While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

    -

    Production:

    Production by ⁠supermix.io

    2 October 2025, 11:00 am
  • 43 minutes 21 seconds
    Coaching Transformation: How a Hospitality Company Adopted the Product Model

    Christian sits down with Anuar Chapur and Gabrielle Bufrem to recount how they transformed Palace Resorts, a Mexico-based hospitality company with 15,000 employees and more than 6,000 rooms across seven countries. Together, they unpack the cultural shifts, mindset changes, and problem-solving approaches that helped a hospitality company start thinking and operating like a tech company.

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    Today’s discussion unpacks:

    • How transformation drove 5x higher conversion rates and millions in cost savings  

    • Concrete examples of how the company worked before and after transforming

    • The role of coaching, trust building, team topology, and pilot teams

    • The biggest challenges on the transformation journey

    • Advice for anyone considering or undergoing transformation

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    References:

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    Where to find Palace Resorts

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    Where to find SVPG:

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    Where to find Anuar Chapur:

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    Where to find Gabrielle Bufrem:

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    Where to find Christian Idiodi:

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    Timestamps:

    (00:00) Intro

    (00:55) The company before transformation

    (06:24) Bringing in a coach and building trust

    (09:49) Gabrielle’s initial assessment

    (11:20) Setting up a pilot team

    (16:44) Problem discovery and problem solving

    (18:26) Measuring success

    (21:19) Using data to inform decisions and build trust

    (23:12) An example of the product-mindset shift

    (27:18) Changing team topology

    (30:42) Biggest challenges on the transformation journey

    (35:02) The results of transformation

    (39:07) Advice for anyone going through a transformation

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    Disclaimer:

    While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

    –

    Production:

    Production by ⁠supermix.io


    18 September 2025, 10:00 am
  • 35 minutes 49 seconds
    Coaching Up

    Christian sits down with fellow SVPG partner Lea Hickman to tackle a topic that rarely gets discussed openly: coaching up. Why is it taboo to give feedback to your manager? How do you coach leaders who are checked out, micromanaging, or think they’re always right? Hear Lea’s wisdom from her time coaching leaders and leading teams herself at companies like Adobe and IBM. 

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    Today’s discussion unpacks:

    • Why coaching up is different from managing up (and why it matters)

    • How to ask for coaching and feedback, even from disengaged or difficult managers

    • What to do when your manager thinks they’re always right

    • Navigating ego, insecurity, and imposter syndrome in leadership

    • How to “manage up” when your manager is new or underqualified

    • Using a personal “user manual” to decode your manager’s style

    • Why shaping your relationship with your manager is your responsibility too

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    References:

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    Where to find Christian Idiodi:

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    Where to find Lea Hickman:

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    Where to find SVPG:

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    Timestamps:

    (02:18) The taboo of coaching up

    (04:04) Coaching up vs. managing up

    (05:11) What to do if your manager doesn’t coach you

    (08:28) Managers need to learn how to coach

    (11:08) Coaching a manager who’s “always right”

    (16:19) The real challenges of imposter syndrome

    (17:17) How to coach a manager who isn’t engaged

    (23:25) Underrated tools to help you coach up

    (24:21) Write your own user manual

    (31:32) When coaching up doesn’t work

    (33:24) Two core skills to become a better employee

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    Disclaimer:

    While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

    –

    Production:

    Production by

    ⁠supermix.io


    4 September 2025, 11:00 am
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