Jessica Yang

Hey Friends, Today we're revealing the biggest launch in the history of Superhuman: reimagined for teams!! I would greatly appreciate your support if you could upvote us on Product Hunt https://lnkd.in/gX_b3PVi (if you haven't already, update your Superhuman version to get access the game-changing features)

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🚀🚀 Exciting news! 🚀 🚀 I left Google two months ago to start a new company - Aligned Labs - with Tyler Garvin At Google, I had the unique opportunity to work at the intersection of product, design, and strategy for our large language models, like Gemini. This experience made one thing crystal clear: data makes the difference. As we push the boundaries of AI capabilities, we're rapidly depleting our sources of unique, high-quality data. This isn't just a speed bump—it's a potential roadblock for the entire industry. At Aligned, we're not just collecting data—we're curating a first-of-its-kind team of the world’s leading domain experts and educators. Our mission is to create top-tier, unique datasets for training large language models. Our goal? To ensure AI outputs align with our expectations of highly intelligent thought partners. We're crafting datasets for every stage: pre-training, instruction-tuning, fine-tuning, and evaluation to empower our clients to unlock the full potential of their models and applications. I'm dedicating the rest of my career to this for three critical reasons: - The data crisis is real and imminent. Without a solution, LLM performance will plateau, stalling AI progress. - As models advance, they require increasingly specialized data. We need to tap into expert knowledge across various domains, but no one has cracked the code on how to scalably attract and retain this talent. Companies like Scale AI have done an amazing job of building a workforce of cheap educated workers but what you really need for the next level of performance are domain experts that can train and impart their expertise and knowledge into these models. - Frontier model builders like Google, OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic understand this problem and are making massive investments, there's a huge opportunity in specialized data. That opportunity goes beyond the Google’s and OpenAI’s of the world. High-quality, unique datasets can dramatically improve AI applications in specific industries, making them perform better and more cost-effectively. We're here to unlock this potential, helping companies of all sizes harness the power of tailored, premium data to build superior models and applications for their specific needs. We're incredibly excited about the potential of our work to dramatically improve AI models and help companies across industries harness the power of truly intelligent AI. Are you passionate about the future of AI? Let's connect! Whether you're a potential client, an AI enthusiast, or a domain expert interested in contributing to the next wave of AI advancement, I'd love to hear from you. Head over to https://www.alignedhq.ai to connect! #AIStartup #MachineLearning #DataQuality #FutureOfAI #AlignedLabs

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You can now download Abe for Home on the app store!! When you sign up, use my invite code: ‘ISAACK’ This is a huge moment for Chase and I. Over the past 6 months or so, we’ve built, tested, onboarded customers, established partnerships and teed-up a powerful roadmap to kick off our broader go-to-market. Today, it is time to give you access! Abe gets homeowners the answers they need to save time and money. Walk the aisles of any hardware store and you can almost feel the problem solving in the air. We are all just one unanswered question away from confidently fixing that leaky sink or repairing that appliance with the weird noise. Abe builds the timely (and necessary) connection between service pro and homeowner with an easy to use video chat. But more importantly, Abe provides access to trusted information and a community of pros to get the job done…together. Owning a home is a big deal. You should feel capable and ready for the tasks ahead. We have a couple exciting things and news in the works. Over the next couple weeks, I'll share more of it. I can't wait to get this version in your hands. #DayOne https://lnkd.in/gUVxKvyt

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I recently came across this thought-provoking article on feature teams vs. empowered teams, and it got me reflecting on our own journey at Meero. As we've been launching and scaling multiple products simultaneously after our pivot (AutoRetouch ProperShot CarCutter), it's been quite the adventure. And I have to admit, some of the scenarios described in the article felt pretty relatable. 😅 In our mission to disrupt various industries and stay ahead of the curve, we've definitely relied on our feature teams to deliver those critical capabilities. Our product managers have worked tirelessly to make it happen, and their hard work has been instrumental in getting us to where we are today. However, as a CEO, I've also come to realize that I don't have all the answers when it comes to product strategy. I'm not some all-knowing, visionary founder with a crystal ball 🔮 That's why I believe it's so important to empower our product & tech teams and trust in their expertise. What really struck me was how much our approach at Meero aligns with Marty Cagan's philosophy of empowered product teams. When we made the decision to pivot our business model, we knew that empowering our product & tech teams would be key to our success. Since then, we've been working hard to create an environment where our teams are laser-focused on understanding and solving customer problems, prioritizing outcomes over outputs, and having the autonomy to make the right decisions. Is it a smooth transition? Not at all. It requires a significant shift in mindset and a lot of trust. But I'm convinced it's the right direction for Meero as we navigate this pivotal stage in our growth story. By empowering our tech teams, we can leverage their diverse perspectives, deep customer insights and creative problem-solving skills to build truly remarkable products. I believe that the most successful companies strike a balance between a clear, overarching vision and the autonomy for product teams to innovate and experiment. It's not about having all the answers upfront, but rather about setting a strong direction and then empowering our talented teams to find the best path forward. Embracing the empowered product team model isn't easy, because it means letting go of control (never easy for a CEO 😂). But I'm excited to see where this journey takes us. One thing I know for sure: we have the right people on board to make it happen. 🌟 Maxence Bernard François Pallier Clément Boutignon Ludovic Dupuy Christof Opresnik Alexis Boyer Fanny Kauffer Jérémy Foucault Estelle Lichnowski #meero #featureteams #ai #empoweredteams

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A lot of folks in product management are curious (at best) and worried (at worst) regarding the impact that GenAI is going to have on the Product Management function and their roles.   A simple analogy that I give to everyone is to think of the advent of Gen AI as that of computers back in the day when they were first introduced at scale. Most of us did not need to know HOW exactly they worked, but WHAT they could help us achieve. And more importantly, knowing what their limitations were.   For this, one only needs to understand the capability of the tool or technology (computers, cloud, AI etc) and be able to think of possible scenarios where it can be applied so it helps one solve customer and/or business problems.    With this mental model, things become relatively easier.   Of course, this is not to say that going few levels deeper & learning any tech (GenAI) will be useless. As always, learning any new tech or skill will always be beneficial in the long run and will help one get better in what they do.   Lastly, just like how computers did not take away all jobs but they transformed the entire industry and created so many new jobs & roles, AI/GAI will do the same.   Happy learning! :-) #AI #GenAI

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I am so proud of the work that is being delivered by our team in Search that was showcased at I/O this week. Highlights were... ⚡Plan Ahead with Generative AI in Search ⚡ Thanks to a new Gemini model customized for Google Search, we are able to do SO MUCH more. With planning capabilities *directly* in Search, you can get help creating plans for whatever you need, starting with meals and holidays. Search for something like “create a 3 day meal plan for a group that’s easy to prepare,” and you’ll get a starting point with a wide range of recipes from across the web. And if you don’t like the suggestions, Search will continue working on your behalf. So if you want to swap the dinner suggestion for a vegetarian option, just like that, Search will customize your meal plan. On top of this, there are lots more updates in Search so — for the curious  — have a read of the blog by Head of Search Elizabeth Reid below 🔽 https://lnkd.in/en6_7fvX #GoogleIO #GenAI #GoogleSearch

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Love how Steve Jobs talks about conflict resolution. For many years at Google, the notion of "disagree and commit" didn't exist. When there were differences of opinion, we duked it out (with words and vigorous debate). Looking back, it seems to me that if the culture has the following attributes, then you have the capacity to reach consensus: - Humility: being open to "maybe I don't have the best answer" - Curiosity and Respect for peers: "I see some merits in my peer's ideas" - Drive to find the optimal path: "let's huddle till we sort this out" Very often, when evaluating two options, the vigorous debate would lead to a new third option that was better than the original options. PS. Having internal mobility within the company was helpful too. If someone felt so strongly that they couldn't get onboard with the team consensus, they could go work on a different problem :-) https://lnkd.in/gkjun3KE

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Wow, I just had a super energizing conversation with Shashank Shekhar about AI in mortgage. He's building something special at InstaMortgage. Shashank will be sharing his experience integrating AI at HousingWire's upcoming AI Summit. Thanks Dan Catinella for recommending that I speak with Shashank! A quick AI Summit update: - We've sold 70 tickets to top executives at mortgage and real estate companies, and expect to sell out in June - Only three sponsorships are left, with a dozen clients circling - Recent executives who booked their ticket include Ed Bratton, Brooke Anderson Tompkins (also a speaker!), Bill Roy, Joe Chappell, and Gareth Borcherds Come to Dallas and let's all geek out about AI!

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After 10+ years working with early-stage startups it’s fair to say I’ve seen I’ve seen some things (& some things I will never unsee), learned some things, earned some stripes, some scars, and some measure of expertise (one hopes) helping more than a dozen startups find product-market fit. While I’ve enjoyed year-long runways at well-funded startups that were eventually acquired, or went public, or very publicly imploded—what really taught me the real meaning of Lean startup was working with self-funded founders who had ten compelling concepts but resources to build one. When you don’t have a year to be wrong; you learn to get it right very fast. If you are a founder facing your own set of high stakes decisions & tradeoffs; we can help. For free. You can book a 1 hour chat with us to talk through all the things racing through your head. We know what’s involved in getting something tested, validated, and built; this is what we do every day all day. We might not have all the answers but there is a good chance we can give you some clarity, some calm, some options. Call us at 1.844.4FLAGRANT or DM me. And if you want to get a sense of what we are like as hoomans- check out our Delightful Reveal series. It’s all the things we have been reading, watching, listening to, & enjoying. https://lnkd.in/gfrz9tQS #startups #entrepreneurship #socialentrepreneurs #innovation

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🚀 Teaser Alert! 🚀 We're on the brink of unveiling a new feature powered by generative AI that will transform the way planners work. This cutting-edge technology automates tedious tasks and provides powerful insights, enabling our users to make more informed decisions with ease. ✨ But with great power comes great responsibility. ✨ At Reposite, we are deeply committed to the ethical use of AI and we have been working with the Gepeto team in partnership to deliver just that. We ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability in all our AI-driven features. By embedding these principles into our product and fostering a culture of ethical AI within our teams, we're not just embracing the future of tech—we're shaping it. Stay tuned for more updates! #Innovation #AI #EthicalAI #TechForGood #Reposite #FutureOfTech

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What a pleasure it was to have Aaron Smith, Chief Product Officer at Pattern®, join me in this latest episode of Product Thinking! 💫 Aaron shared so many insightful lessons from his impressive product career, including his time at Amazon, Grubhub, and Nordstrom. Some highlights from our conversation: ► Aaron's learnings from Amazon's customer obsession, data-driven decision making, and flexible, autonomous planning approach. He emphasized the importance of being results-focused rather than overly committed to one plan. ► The cultural adaptation challenges ex-Amazonians face when joining other companies. Aaron stresses the need for humility - it's about finding the best of both cultures, not just trying to replicate Amazon. ► Aaron's "pain-point alchemy" leadership principle - truly understanding customer needs, even when they're not articulated, to uncover innovative solutions. ► Fostering a culture of innovation through consistency and giving employees the chance to share their best ideas, just like Amazon's "operational planning" process. Product leaders can learn so much from Aaron's wealth of experience at some of the world's top customer-centric companies. If you're a product leader looking to level up your skills, you won't want to miss this conversation! 🎙️ How do you plan to implement customer-centric strategies in your product leadership role? I’d love to hear your insights! Listen now: https://lnkd.in/esYQdddE #ProductThinking #ProductLeadership #CustomerCentricity #InnovationInsights

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Strategic alignment across product and field is complex and not easy to get right, but it's a pleasure to work alongside Brett Crane, Trevor Jett (Childers), and Jarod Greene. It's wonderful to be in conversation with them, sharing what we have learned, in this webinar: https://lnkd.in/gc-qp7Hk

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In my experience of interviewing and working with many product leaders, a common trait among the great ones is treating their craft more as a science than an art. Delighting users, creating magical experiences, and ultimately developing software that users love to use is a science. An immediate red flag during interviews is when product leaders can't express details beyond "talking to customers" on how they build lovable products. While talking to customers is paramount, I listen for the structure and tools they use to become customer-centric and experts in the users they serve. Here’s what I look for: Methods to Listen For When Evaluating How Product Leaders Create Lovable Products: 🗺️ Journey Mapping: Understand what users do before and after they interact with your product or attempt to accomplish their job. 🔑 Key Moments Identification: Reveal the key moments that matter in the user journey. 😌 Emotional State Awareness: Understand the emotional states of users and how they change as they progress through the journey. 📊 Data Collection and Analysis: Collect and analyze data to understand funnels, drop-off rates, attrition, etc. I’m also on the lookout for specific techniques on how the product leader builds high-performing product teams. Here are some of the practices to listen for: 🏆 Recognition and Rewards: Establish clear KPIs that define success, create accountability, and drive alignment. Implement a system for recognizing and rewarding team achievements and individual contributions. 🤝 Consistent 1-on-1s: Conduct regular one-on-one meetings to mentor and guide the career and development of the product management team. 👥 Team Collaboration: Allow teams to craft their process and evolve it over time. My favorite team performance ceremony is the retrospective, where the team can gather in a safe place and collectively define how they will improve. 🔄 Cross-Functional Alignment: Create alignment between product, engineering, sales, marketing, and leadership. This involves regular cross-functional meetings, transparent communication of goals and progress, and a unified vision that ties the efforts of all departments together. Ensuring that all teams are moving in the same direction is crucial for driving consistent and sustainable growth. Overall, there are many important items across both themes that define effective product leadership. By listening for a product leader who employs these structured methods, companies can make a better hire to turn insights into actionable strategies, ensuring that the user experience is not left to chance but meticulously crafted and continuously improved, while building and managing high-performing teams that drive success.

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I just got early access to "The Seismic CMO" by Christa Richards! If you're looking to master AI in your marketing strategies, this book is a must-read. Available for free for the next 24 hours! Get your copy here: https://lnkd.in/ebABtCEx #TheSeismicCMO #AIinMarketing #B2Bmarketing #TechMarketing #FreeBook

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A career update - After three incredible years at Enigma leading product, I’m off to different pastures - I am deeply deeply grateful to Hicham Oudghiri, Scott Steinberg, Ryan Green, and all my talented and kind teammates. I’m extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and excited to see us on the road to profitable growth! I’ve taken on a role as VP of Product at EvolutionIQ, and consider this a public broadcast that Matt Gillespie and I are hiring for Senior PMs. https://lnkd.in/etzCZMuP Just to list some of the reasons I joined: - An opportunity to completely transform how insurance operates and define what it means to help get people get back to work, done together with some of the most thoughtful and smart people I've met. - At the forefront of human-in-the-loop + AI decision-making - equal parts behavioral psychology and AI prediction + LLMs. I’d guess that this skill set will be THE PM skillset to have for the coming years! - GTM momentum and ARR growth, where despite my deep hatred for the 🚀emoij, I was almost unconsciously possessed to repeat 🚀 paste🚀 it 🚀🚀🚀🚀. I truly found it unbelievable at first. If you know of talented individuals that would be a good fit, please let me know!

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Delivery-focused. Execution-oriented. Not Strategic. Or (my new favorite internet slur) ZIRPM. In a startup context, getting stuff off the production line IS strategic (despite what the haters say). Here are a few reasons why: Read this post and more on my Typeshare Social Blog: https://lnkd.in/dPDuKYQb

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