In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, we are joined by Kristin Dorsett, COO at Viator.We dive into how Kristin and her team are building a culture of experimentation, and what it takes to move fast without losing alignment.

Viator, under the TripAdvisor umbrella, has embraced a learning mindset that blends data, customer feedback, and rapid iteration. Kristin shares how cross-functional collaboration empowers decision-making and why they’ve built systems that encourage teams to learn from both successes and failures.

If you're aiming to understand how to balance experimentation with measurable success in your organization, this episode is a must-listen!

You’ll hear us talk about:

• 15:14 Embracing Failure to Succeed

Kristin discusses the importance of cultivating a mindset that celebrates learning from failures and iterating quickly to achieve collective success.

• 28:29 The Role of AI in Product Strategies

How Viator uses AI to improve customer experiences by focusing on solving practical problems, avoiding the trap of using technology for technology’s sake.

• 22:50 Leveraging Customer Feedback

Kristin explains how Viator's voice-of-the-customer program helps product managers identify key areas of improvement, leading to significant enhancements in their checkout conversion.

Episode resources:

• Kristin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristindorsett/
• Viator website: https://www.viator.com/
• Try Liveblocks: https://liveblocks.io/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:12 Dear Melissa

06:18 Transition to COO

12:34 Culture of experimentation

17:48 Practical AI strategy

22:34 Voice of the customer

31:28 Cross-functional leadership

Join Melissa Perri on the latest episode of the Product Thinking Podcast as she chats with Jake Knapp, creator of Design Sprint at Google, and general partner at Character Capital. Known for for his seminal book “Sprint”, Jake discusses nuances from his latest book, "Click," and emphasizes the critical role differentiation plays in product success.

This episode dives into the importance of starting product ideation with a clear differentiation strategy, ensuring that by the time you're ready to launch, you're not just another face in the crowd. Learn how to apply Jake's insights to make your products stand out from the rest, using the Foundation Sprint.

Want to understand how to make your product unique in today's competitive market? Tune in for some practical takeaways from Jake's extensive experience helping startups and established companies refine their product strategies.

You'll hear us talk about:

• 5:53 - The Power of Differentiation

Jake explains why thinking about differentiation should be the starting point of any product project, and how it connects to finding product-market fit.

• 16:48 - Foundation Sprint to Design Sprint

Jake walks through how a two-day foundation sprint can set the perfect stage for design sprints, helping teams define their hypotheses and move quickly from ideas to testable prototypes.

• 35:53 - Lean Startup vs. Design Sprint

Explore the similarities and differences between Lean Startup and Design Sprint methodologies, and why rapid iteration and experimentation are key to product success.

Episode resources:

• Click book: https://www.theclickbook.com/
• Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-knapp/
• Try Liveblocks: https://liveblocks.io/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:57 Dear Melissa

06:57 Finding the gap before building

14:39 Foundation sprint and why differentiation matters

25:21 Customer research timing and magic lenses

30:29 How to use lenses for decision-making

35:53 Lean Startup vs design sprint and planning time

43:19 Reclaim case study

Rebecca Shaddix, a seasoned marketing executive and go-to-market strategist, joins Melissa Perri to explore the balance of acceptable mistakes in market strategy. Rebecca discusses the importance of defining acceptable mistakes to avoid unnecessary delays and to better align team efforts with strategic goals. This episode focuses on how acknowledging acceptable mistakes can accelerate development without compromising core objectives.

Rebecca also addresses the overemphasis on latest trends like AI, stressing the importance of intentional use rather than succumbing to hype. She provides insights into managing internal pressures and steering conversations back to meaningful customer outcomes.

If you want to learn how to effectively balance strategic goals with market pressures while maintaining a focus on customer value, tune in to gain practical insights from Rebecca’s experiences.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• 09:04 - The Concept of Acceptable Mistakes

Rebecca explains what an acceptable mistake entails, offering examples such as opting for fewer customer interviews to accelerate go-to-market strategies without significant risk.

• 29:19 - Navigating AI Hype

Discusses the cycle of trendy technologies and how AI has become a prevalent, though often superficial, part of product strategy, emphasizing the importance of intentionality.

• 15:32 - Product and Product Marketing Partnership

Highlights the need for a bidirectional relationship between product management and product marketing, focusing on how they should collaboratively drive strategy and insights.

Listen to the full episode for more in-depth discussions and insights.

Episode resources:

Rebecca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccashaddix/

Try Liveblocks: https://liveblocks.io/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:57 Dear Melissa

06:17 Defining acceptable mistakes in go-to-market

12:22 How product and go-to-market should collaborate

17:48 What data product and marketing teams should track

22:53 Turning competitive noise into strategy

29:21 Responding to AI pressure from the market

34:29 Crafting real differentiators, not buzzwords

39:29 Advice for future product marketers