Hunter S.

Mentorship is an invaluable aspect of career development, and it extends beyond hierarchical relationships. While some may view a mentor as simply someone higher up the ladder, I believe it can be anyone with valuable experience to share. Throughout my career, I've benefited from both technical and non-technical mentors in areas like Scrum, Operations, and Engineering. I value mentors who not only broaden my knowledge but also deepen it. When it comes to system management, particularly in cybersecurity, it's crucial to approach challenges holistically. Mentors play a significant role in expanding your understanding of impacts and identifying streamlined solutions. They offer insights that can enhance your problem-solving skills.

I have found Product and UX silos can lead to a disjointed user experience. Too many times have I seen both focus solely on their own areas to the detriment of the product. In my experience, collaboration is crucial. Thus, it is best if PMs incorporate UX insights into the product roadmap, while UX Designers educate stakeholders on design trade-offs. I have found it valuable when solutions from UX are closely tied to the product’s goals and present multiple options with clear pros and cons. This collaborative approach ensures a holistic understanding of user needs and business objectives, resulting in a more effective and satisfying product experience.

In product development, the challenge of analysis paralysis often arises from too many conflicting viewpoints. To overcome this, I've found that collaborative synthesis is key; Unite stakeholders (architects, designers, engineers, operations) to map a single persona's journey, step-by-step. By focusing on a single persona's journey & prioritizing feature functionality at each step, we can avoid branching use cases and endless discussions. I prefer using a whiteboard, where we can visually map out each persona, establish clear priorities of flows & features, & incorporate the Kano Model to ensure a cohesively layered approach. This method streamlines decision-making & ensures alignment across teams.

Aligning individual needs and gaps with the overall team focus is essential for effective leadership. Recognizing that each team member has unique goals and aspirations, it's crucial to tailor coaching and development approaches accordingly. By gaining an understanding of individual strengths and weaknesses, leaders can craft a comprehensive development plan that includes clear goals and milestones aligned with the team's objectives. When addressing gaps at the individual level and providing a roadmap for personal success, team members are more likely to be engaged and motivated. This approach fosters a culture of collaboration and empowerment, ultimately leading to collective success and thriving team dynamics.

Depending on whether the team is co-located or not, I've found it crucial to have a whiteboard that clearly displays the following: Ideal UI Flow: This should provide a clear visualization of the feature and its developmental phases. RoadMap: A high-level overview with semi-fleshed-out details by phase. Architecture: Clearly illustrating the connections to both UX and features. Considering all these aspects, there should be a designated area that precisely defines the Persona(s) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that the flow and features enable. To address these needs, tools like Aha!, Miro, or Google Docs can be utilized. The choice ultimately depends on your team's immediate requirements.

To thrive as a product leader, it's essential to navigate the complete product lifecycle with a focus on team measurement and outcome optimization. Stay abreast of technology and industry trends for informed decision-making, given the dynamic nature of business strategies. Equally important is developing strong coaching skills to empower not only product improvement but also the growth and development of your team members. This holistic approach ensures effective leadership, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, adaptability, and learning within the team.