20Product: Product Secrets Behind Uber and Opendoor | How AI Changes the Role of the PM & The Product Development Process | How to Hire the Best Product Teams & What No One Does That Everyone Should Do with Brian Tolkin
This podcast episode interviews Brian Tolkin, Head of Product at Opendoor, about his product leadership experiences at Uber and Opendoor. The conversation covers key lessons from launching Uber Pool in China, including the importance of understanding underlying infrastructure (like mapping data) and adapting to cultural differences in product design. Tolkin emphasizes the need for product managers to balance business needs with user needs, highlighting the importance of simplification and identifying the "kernel of truth" amidst competing priorities. He also discusses effective OKR setting, sprint management, and the ideal backgrounds for product team members, advocating for internal transfers and a nuanced approach to hiring based on team needs. The interview concludes with a quick-fire Q&A section covering various aspects of product management.
