#547 Why OKRs Fail: Radhika Dutt on Building Teams That Think, Learn, and Adapt

In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Radhika Dutt, author of Radical Product Thinking, to explore why OKRs and traditional performance frameworks often collapse under the realities of modern work. Radhika introduces OLA, a new approach built on puzzle-solving, continuous learning, and adaptability — designed for today’s fast-moving product, engineering, and startup environments.

Together, they break down the hidden “product diseases,” the dangers of vanity metrics, the myth of extrinsic motivation, and why teams need clarity instead of big, fluffy vision statements. This conversation is a mindset reset for anyone leading teams, building products, or trying to scale sustainably.

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👤 About Radhika Dutt

Radhika Dutt is the author of Radical Product Thinking, an engineer by training, and a two-time founder. She built her first startup out of her MIT dorm room and has since become a leading voice on vision-driven product development. Radhika works with organizations around the world to help them escape the trap of short-term targets and build meaningful, world-changing products.

Find more about Radhika’s work here:

https://rdutt.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/

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✨ Key Takeaways

• Why OKRs work in theory but fail in most modern organizations

• How goal-driven cultures create “performance theater” instead of real progress

• The difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation

• Why fluffy vision statements confuse teams instead of inspiring them

• How to define real problems before jumping into solutions

• The OLA framework: objectives, hypotheses, learnings, adaptations

• How OLA drives alignment, clarity, and honest learning

• Why founders should stop copying big-company playbooks

• How to communicate results to investors without vanity metrics

• Why adaptation speed is the true competitive advantage

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🎧 What You’ll Learn

• How to replace rigid goal-setting with dynamic puzzle-solving

• How to build a product culture that values curiosity and experimentation

• How to avoid the biggest traps that kill innovation

• How AI hype influences bad decision-making and how to course-correct

• How leaders can create clarity without micromanaging

• How to apply OLA even if your company still uses OKRs

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⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome and intro

01:00 — Radhika’s early story and the mistakes that inspired Radical Product Thinking

06:00 — Why motivation systems today actually kill motivation

08:00 — The problem with fluffy, generic vision statements

11:00 — Why OKRs create the wrong incentives

14:00 — How OKRs evolved from 1940s manufacturing

18:00 — Why modern work requires a different approach

23:00 — Introduction to OLA and how puzzle-setting works

26:00 — How to apply OLA in sales, product, and engineering

34:00 — Using OLA to bring clarity and innovation

39:00 — Speed, experimentation, and continuous learning

44:00 — How to communicate progress to boards and investors

49:00 — Why founders must drop ego and embrace honesty

54:00 — Final advice and how to connect with Radhika

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📚 Resources Mentioned

• Radical Product Thinking — Radhika’s book

• Free toolkits https://www.radicalproduct.com/

• OLA Toolkit (formerly OHL)