Welcome to the NEW PoP Newsletter
Welcome to the NEW PoP Newsletter
People of Product - A Podcast, a newsletter, and more??
Let’s first talk about how we got here.
A podcast…
The Option 5 Podcast. I can already tell that you have no idea what Option 5 was about because no one understood what Option 5 was about.
In brief, Option 5 was what we called our “leap of faith”, “take the risk”, and “let’s go for it” moments. It was based on an early proposal me and my business partner, Dan were working on at our company, Crema.
We stayed late after normal hours coming up with 4 options.
After debating, and talking ourselves in and out of which was best, Michael Luchen, our product manager (and detail genius) walked up to the board and wrote,
“Option 5”.
“What’s that?”
“Say yes, and figure it out”.
Take a leap of faith. Take on the challenge that’s bigger than what you’re capable of doing, and trust that the people you’ve pulled together can make it happen. Ultimately, that’s exactly what happened on that project. It went great!
Great story, but maybe not a great podcast title...
The Option 5 Podcast was quite literally an “option 5” moment for Dan and I. We where continuing to look for ways to give our audience, prospects, recruits, and clients a sneak behind the curtain of our creative and collaborative culture. At first, the podcast was a means to talk through the way we see the work we do. We unpacked how we think about the work that we do. We processed through new frameworks, shared stories and principles, and ultimately just kept pushing publish, and seeing where the conversation would lead us.
It’s said that you learn more by teaching than studying, and the podcast was a form of teaching.
The podcast rounded out our content work with our Youtube channel, blog posts, and our social media content for our growing creative firm.
But Option 5 never really encapsulated what we wanted to talk about. Crema was and is passionate about people who build products.
What are their tools, processes, approaches, challenges, opportunities, and successes and failures?
We wanted to talk about product development, UX, agile teams, product processes, and ultimately the stories behind the teams that build the products we use to run our companies.
The big question shifted….
“What is your big risky leap of faith moment?”
now…..
“Who are the people and principles behind the products that help individuals and companies thrive.”
Welcome People of Product Podcast!
The shift put wind in our sales to open the conversation to lots of other people. Incredible product, design, and organizational people.
People like
Toddy Henry,
Jeff Gothelf,
Aaron Dignan
Richard Banfield,
Toressa Torres,
Marty Cagan, and more!
These guest were incredible. Thought leaders in our space!
But we still felt this itch to tell the untold stories of the innovators, creatives, and builders in the companies all around us.
People of Product goes “In-person”
As we emerged from COVID, Crema’s clients were mostly based on the coast. As were the guests for the podcast. We looked around in Kanas City, and thought, “Why don’t we know more product people in KC? More specifically, how can we get to know the leaders shaping product and technology work in KC?
A new premise. What if we hosted a private, invite-only, leadership-only intimate conversation with product, technology, and innovation leadership across the KC area, and possibly beyond?
The hypothesis was that product people in leadership roles don’t need to network, they need to workshop. They need to process, think, and learn. Just like Dan and I were doing on the podcast.
These are being asked to save their companies through technology. They are being told that they don’t have the budgets they want, or the cultural influence they need, and no one really understands what it will take. Including their peers, boards, teams, or even family and friends.
Let’s give these individuals a space to process this hard thing we do.
2 Rules of a PoP (People of Product) Circle :
No Selling in the room.
No Recruiting in the room.
If you want to do it in the hallway go for it. Or go connect over a drink another day.
This space is private. What was shared here stayed here.
Success metric 1. “If we get 10 people to show up, this will be a success.” There has to be 10 leaders in KC doing this kind of work, right?
2 years later and with over a dozen events hosted, our list has grown to over 70 incredible leaders across the KC region.
The room is small though. On purpose. Keep the conversation intimate and private.
20 people is full. So the guest list often rotates. Miss one event? No worries, join next time.
And what a powerhouse of incredible leaders we found.
As facilitators, we often sit back and comment on how much everyone who joins us leans in with such intentionality and engagement. It’s inspiring.
Where do we take this People of Product brand from here?
A New Brand and a new future as PoP (People of Product) Podcast, Leadership, and now Newsletter!
This might be obvious but the path to get here was a winding user journey and decision tree.
Should this be
A new Crema newsletter? But we have “The Loop” - Crema’s company newsletter, and want to tell the stories beyond just Crema.
Should this be a “George Brooks Newsletter?” As the CEO, I continue to grow my brand and following on LinkedIn, but is this just “My newsletter?” Personal brand development is 2024. This will happen, but what if this is bigger than just George.
Is there something more to the People of Product brand?
We think so.
What can you expect?
A new PoP Podcast Episode release each Monday. (forgive us if we miss a week)
A Newsletter post twice a month.
Starting this week is a new series on the podcast dedicated to telling the stories of product, innovation, and technology being designed and developed by in-house teams in AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) services firms.
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