San Diego Startup Week 2018

Most companies deal with a similar set of failure patterns: the product was delivered late, it didn't resemble the original vision, it didn't work properly and had to be redone, or the users simply didn't like it. As product leaders, we try to fix these problems with process and layers of management. We write process documents, measure productivity, and provide incentives to motivate. The real root cause, however, is a failure of leadership, not execution.

We must build our companies upon a purpose, to serve a specific group of people, and build solutions that make a meaningful impact in their lives. We must develop a culture that enables every employee to develop empathy with the customers, which in turn breeds trust, loyalty, and ultimately love. We can accomplish this through User-Centered Design, and extend it to a User-Centered Culture.

In this talk, I will discuss the problems and pains suffered by almost every product development company to some degree. I will discuss the philosophy, strategy, and tactics that can be employed to ensure every employee is bought into the mission, has empathy for the customers, and feel like they are the machine, not the cog.