Melissa Perri

Guest: Melissa Perri - CEO and founder of The Product Institute. Melissa is a renowned figure in the product management community, author of "Escaping the Build Trap" and "Product Operations," and has trained product managers at nearly every Fortune 500 company. Key Takeaways: SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) is often adopted by large non-tech companies seeking structured processes for software development, but it can become overly rigid and counterproductive if not adapted. Product owners often focus on backlog management and developer coordination, but to transition to product management, they should emphasize customer value and strategic impact in their roles. Successful digital transformations require a mix of training existing staff and hiring experienced product leaders to guide and mentor teams. Agile methodologies should be flexible and focused on delivering customer value quickly, rather than adhering strictly to processes like SAFe or Scrum. Companies should integrate software strategy into their overall business strategy at the C-suite level to remain competitive and innovative. Topics Covered: SAFe and its challenges, product owner vs. product manager roles, digital transformation strategies, agile methodologies, career paths in product management.