Shows
Product PalsPM Spotlight: Diane Aung — From Support to SaaS PM, and the Power of Seeing the Whole SystemIf you’ve ever transitioned (or wanted to transition) into a Product role, this episode will feel like someone finally saying, “Yes, I get you”This week on PM Spotlight, we sat down with Diane Aung — a Senior B2B SaaS Product Manager whose journey began in customer support and grew into a full end-to-end product career. Diane brings warmth, humour and a refreshingly honest take on what PM life actually looks like behind the job title.In this episode, we explore:✨ Why moving from customer support into Product is an underrated superpower✨ What servant leadership really looks like in fast-movi...
2025-11-2355 min
Product PalsPM Spotlight: Paru Madhavan — Coaching with Curiosity in a World of CertaintyIn this episode of Product Pals Podcast, Charlotte and Kiet sit down with Paru Madhavan, Product Coach at the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), wine nerd, and systems thinker.Paru has led teams across travel, fintech, and media, and now focuses on creating environments where people thrive and customers’ problems actually get solved. Together, we unpack the craft and calling of product coaching — what it means, how it differs from managing, and why curiosity might be the most underrated skill in modern product teams.🔑 What you’ll hear:1️⃣ Curiosity beats certainty. If you only remember one...
2025-11-021h 03
Product PalsPM Spotlight: Ting Ting Hu — Finding Product-Market Fit in the Creator EconomyFrom public transport design to YouTube stardom, engineer-turned-creator Ting Ting Hu has built a one-person company of creativity, strategy, and heart.In this episode, she joins Charlotte and Kiet to unpack what it means to treat your craft like a product — balancing art, analytics and authenticity.🔑 What you’ll hear:How Ting Ting plays three roles at once: CEO, PM and talent of her own brandHer viral learning loop — what creators can teach PMs about feedback and product-market fitWhy she left “safe” publi...
2025-10-1348 min
Product PalsPM Spotlight: Cheryl Saw on Product Growth Levers That Matter — Beyond Just PricingIn this episode of the Product Pals Podcast, Charlotte and Kiet sit down with Cheryl Saw — Fractional Product Growth & GTM Strategist at Revvy, with over a decade of experience across SaaS (Adobe, Audible), FMCG (Kimberly-Clark), Health/Edu-Tech, and digital agencies.Cheryl’s journey into growth wasn’t planned - it found her. Over the years, she’s built a career solving hard problems in consumer SaaS, from pricing strategy to retention to building product growth teams across Asia Pacific. In this conversation, she shares candid reflections on her path, leadership, and what it means to create sustainable growth.
2025-09-281h 34
Product PalsPM Spotlight: Ryan Huynh's Journey from Data & AI, Consulting to Product, Exploring The Art of Better DecisionsIn this episode of the Product Pals Podcast, Charlotte and Kiet sit down with Ryan Huynh — Product Manager and co-organiser of ProductTank Sydney.Ryan’s career has spanned AI research, Big Four consulting, and product management. He shares how consulting gave him a toolkit of frameworks, delivery discipline, and stakeholder skills — and how those translate into product craft today.🔑 What you’ll hear:Ryan’s pivot from data & AI into PM, and the big lessons learnedLaunching AQ Intelligence from 0→1 and finding product-market fitWhy he believes the heart of PM is making...
2025-09-1459 min
Product PalsPM Spotlight: Larry Lai - A Global Journey Through Game Design, Product Leadership & LivestreamingWelcome to the very first PM Spotlight — a special series from Product Pals celebrating the real stories behind product management.In this debut episode, we sit down with Larry Lai, whose career spans continents and industries: from game design and livestreaming in China, to product roles at tech giants like Tencent and Huya, and now leading SMB livestream products at TikTok Sydney.Larry shares candid reflections on:🎮 The many “flavours” of product management, and how roles shift across industries and cultures🧩 The overlap between Product Management and Design — and why it matters more t...
2025-08-311h 11Product Pals🎙️Product Pals Bonus: What Happened After We Spoke About Mental Health?Thank you for tuning into this special bonus episode of Product Pals! After our original chat with Will during Men’s Health Month, we were overwhelmed by the heartfelt responses from our listeners. In this short follow-up, Will shares the incredible feedback he received, and we dig a little deeper into why these conversations on men’s mental health are so important.We also touch on topics like:Societal expectations and generational shifts in emotional awarenessAI tools as unconventional support for reflection and self-growthHo...
2025-07-1420 minProduct PalsProduct Pals: It’s men’s health month, let’s talk about mental healthIn this episode of Product Pals, Charlotte and Kiet sit down with their good friend William Ly for a casual chat on mental health—just in time for men’s health month in Australia. This isn’t a professional how-to guide, but rather a vulnerable conversation about recognising our own struggles, knowing when to ask for help, pondering the pros and cons of AI-powered therapy, and practical ways to support loved ones when we spot the warning signs. Tune in for real stories, honest reflections and friendly banter, as we shine a light on why mental...
2025-06-1743 minProduct PalsProduct Pals Explore: The Thinking Behind Great Product DecisionsIn this episode of Product Pals, Charlotte and Kiet return to the heart of product management — product thinking — and unpack how it connects with the broader Influence-Dynamics Map (IDM). They dive into the real differences between product and systems thinking, demystify how to craft vision without the corporate fluff, and break down why execution and operations deserve their own spotlight (even if they often get lumped together).Expect practical frameworks, honest reflections, and relatable stories from the product trenches — all aimed at helping you think more clearly, act more strategically, and lead with more intention.
2025-05-1851 min
Product Pals[Bonus] What We Learned from Our First Live Event?In this short bonus episode, Charlotte and Kiet reflect on our first-ever Product Pals live event at the Atlassian office in Sydney. From energising conversations to some truly thoughtful feedback, we’re taking it all on board as we evolve the Influence Dynamic Map model and future episodes. It’s a quick debrief filled with gratitude and next steps – tune in!
2025-04-2106 min
Product PalsProduct Pals on Thinking in Systems: Expanding Influence and Navigating ComplexityProduct managers are often pressured to make quick decisions—but what if taking a systems thinking approach led to better, more strategic solutions?In this episode of Product Pals, Charlotte and Kiet uncover how systems thinking helps PMs step back, assess the bigger picture, and make smarter decisions. We discuss:🔹 The importance of System Thinking and how does it different from default mental model🔹 how to leverage our Product Pals’ original Dynamics-Influence Model - Systems Thinking for PMs to discover and explore different dynamic across all layers that influence your decisions🔹 Practical too...
2025-03-0949 minProduct PalsProduct Pals talk about our biggest failures?Failure is tough to face, but it’s also one of the most powerful tools for growth.In this episode of Product Pals, Charlotte and Kiet share candid reflections on their biggest failures and how these experiences have shaped their approach to work and collaboration. From early career missteps to hard-earned lessons, they dive into the uncomfortable but necessary practice of embracing failure as a learning opportunity.Discover how fostering a culture of openness and trust can help teams turn mistakes into innovation and create an environment where everyone thrives. If you’ve ever struggled with...
2025-02-1447 minProduct PalsProduct Pals Unpacking the Awkward: Are You Avoiding the Money Talk in Product Management?In this episode of Product Pals, Charlotte and Kiet tackle the often-overlooked connection between product management and finance. From Charlotte's personal journey of rediscovering her relationship with money to Kiet’s experiences with financial modelling, they dive into how understanding the numbers can transform your product strategy. They share practical tips for building financial knowledge, including how to tackle the vulnerability of discussing money, the importance of mentorship, and the power of financial models in decision-making. Whether you're new to product management or a seasoned pro, join us for insights on how finance can help you make better, more co...
2025-01-1730 minProduct PalsProduct Pals on Growth: Learning to Learn in an Evolving World as PMIn this episode of Product Pals, we dive into continuous learning and growth as product managers.
From structured courses to on-the-job learning, Charlotte and Kiet share their favourite approaches and challenges in keeping their knowledge up to date, including how to seek and keep our motivation, what are the more accessible channels of learning in a budget and time constrained environment and how to prioritise your learning backlog . We explore the Shu Ha Ri model of mastery, the "zone of genius," and finding purpose in work.
If you’re navigating your own growth as a PM...
2024-12-2037 minProduct PalsProduct Pals Case Study: Navigating a Live Product Management InterviewHow do you bring your thinking model and skills to life during a case study interview? Feeling a bit overwhelmed while preparing? We've been there.
In this episode of Product Pals, we challenge ourselves with a live case study simulation focused on AI-driven job displacement. We walk through our thinking models, share different strategies, and provide practical advice for navigating frameworks and solving complex problems.
With insights and tips throughout, we hope you'll feel more prepared to confidently showcase your PM skills in your next case study interview!
2024-11-2240 minProduct PalsProduct Pals Unplugged: Real Talk on the Product Manager’s RoleIn this first episode of Product Pals, we’re diving into the real talk on what it’s like to be a product manager. From balancing customer needs with business goals to navigating roadblocks and celebrating small wins, we share the unfiltered ups and downs of the Product Manager role.
Discover why understanding your customer isn’t just a textbook exercise, the battles worth fighting, and the unexpected joys that make it all worthwhile.
Whether you’re new to product management or just curious about the journey, join us for a candid co...
2024-10-2523 min