In this episode of Practical Product Management, Marilyn and Leah sit down with newly retired product leader Steve Jasper to explore the human side of product leadership. With decades of experience in payments at companies from startups to Big Tech, Steve brings deep insight into how great leaders grow, not just themselves, but the people around them.

This conversation goes beyond frameworks and roadmaps. Marilyn and Leah talk with Steve about the power of mentorship and sponsorship, the art of giving meaningful feedback, and the importance of building trust within teams. They also dig into the realities of burnout, why it’s so common among product leaders, and what it actually looks like to lead with intention instead of exhaustion.

Warm, thoughtful, and full of real-world wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for anyone building teams, navigating career growth, or trying to be a better human at work.

Key Takeaways

• Mentorship and Sponsorship Are Not the Same - Mentorship is guidance. Sponsorship is action. Steve shares how real career growth often hinges on having someone who will speak your name when you’re not in the room—and how to pay that forward.
• Feedback Is a Gift (If You Give It That Way) - Great product leaders give clear, kind feedback—even when it’s hard. Steve talks about how honest coaching can unlock growth and how teams thrive when trust runs both ways.
• Your Team Doesn't Need a Superhero, They Need a Human - Burnout happens when leaders confuse value with volume. Steve reminds us that showing up with curiosity, presence, and vulnerability is far more powerful than working 80-hour weeks.

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In this episode of Practical Product Management, Marilyn McDonald and Leah Farmer welcome their longtime friend and former colleague Geno White, founder of Dockett Ellis Consulting and a seasoned technology strategist with a career spanning Microsoft, Amazon, Expedia, Moderna, and more. Together, they explore what it means to bring real product leadership into complex environments.

Geno shares hard-earned lessons from his years building software systems and leading change at scale: how to cut through misalignment with simple questions, why so many companies misunderstand what it means to be “product-led,” and how to coach executives and teams toward shared understanding and lasting results.

The conversation is full of warmth, humor, and sharp insights—plus practical advice on managing conflict, building cross-functional alignment, and knowing when (and when not) to raise your hand.

Key Takeaways

1. Rigor Isn’t a Buzzword—It’s a Commitment Everyone wants to “build like Amazon” until they realize how much discipline and accountability that really requires. Geno reminds us that frameworks don’t fix culture. Rigor does.

2. Clarity Beats Complexity Complex systems are solvable. Complicated BS is not. Geno breaks down how asking simple (and persistent) questions exposes misalignment—and builds shared understanding.

3. You Were Hired for a Reason—Act Like It One of Geno’s most famous pieces of advice? Don’t raise your hand too early. You don’t need to prove your worth by doing everything. Wait until you know how to win, then go all in.

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In this episode of Practical Product Management, Marilyn and Leah are joined by Brad Jefferson, immersive product leader and filmmaker, to talk about what it really means to build for augmented, virtual, and mixed reality. From medical simulations to interactive storytelling, Brad shares how “immersive product management” expands the way we think about users, environments, emotions, and agency.

They explore how AR/VR is reshaping high-stakes industries like healthcare, law enforcement, and manufacturing—and why embodied UX is more than a buzzword. Brad also shares his journey into interactive AI filmmaking, how AI is transforming accessibility, and why storytelling is still the ultimate product skill.

Key Takeaways

Immersive Product Management Starts with Embodied UX: AR/VR product work requires a new lens on design—where the user is not just clicking, but moving, reacting, feeling. Body awareness, presence, and perception are central to experience design.

VR is Transforming Training in High-Risk Environments: Whether it’s heart surgery, law enforcement, or ladder safety, Brad explains how immersive simulations allow users to train safely, gain confidence, and even experience emotional responses—without real-world risk.

Product Work is Still Psychology Work: Rage clicks, cognitive overload, user panic—it’s all part of how people interact with products. Whether you’re building for AR or apps, understanding the chemical and emotional experience of your user is essential.

AI Is a Creative Partner (and a Wacky One): Brad’s foray into AI filmmaking reveals the promise (and weirdness) of generative tools. Prompts become spells. Models argue about frogs with beards. And yet, the output—done well—is pure magic.

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