Mik + One: The Official Project to Product Podcast by Dr. Mik Kersten

Dr. Mik Kersten: Author of Project to Product and Founder and CEO of Tasktop

Since publishing best-selling book, Project to Product, technology business leader, Dr. Mik Kersten, has introduced transformative frameworks and ideas for delivering software at scale. He has given numerous standing room only keynotes and presentations worldwide and is an internationally recognized thought-leader. In this podcast, Mik + One, nothing is off the record as Mik sits down with industry leading guests and delves into how they deliver value and drive digital transformations in their organizations. Tune in for a new episode every two weeks! Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode. Follow Mik on X: @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne www.projecttoproduct.org read less
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Episodes

Episode 56: GitHub’s Scott Densmore on the Copilot Revolution, Coding at the Speed of Thought
Dec 14 2023
Episode 56: GitHub’s Scott Densmore on the Copilot Revolution, Coding at the Speed of Thought
Joining Mik in this episode of Mik + One is Scott Densmore, VP of Engineering at GitHub, to discuss the future of connected work and the impact of GitHub Copilot on developer productivity. GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered tool that provides code completion and suggestions to developers, allowing them to write code faster and more efficiently. Scott shares the history of GitHub Copilot and how it has evolved to become a game-changer in the world of software development. He also talks about developer flow and happiness and explains how Copilot enhances these aspects by reducing toil and increasing productivity.  Listen as Mik and Scott discuss the potential for customization and extensibility in Copilot, allowing developers to build their agents and their skills to further enhance their workflows.   Key discussions include:  GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered tool that provides code completion and suggestions to developers, increasing productivity and reducing toil. Copilot has been in development for several years, with a focus on fine-tuning the models and prompts to provide accurate and helpful suggestions across multiple programming languages. Studies have shown that developers using Copilot can complete tasks in significantly less time, leading to increased productivity and happiness. Customization is a key feature of Copilot, allowing developers to build models on top of their own code and improve the accuracy of suggestions. The introduction of chat functionality in Copilot allows developers to ask questions, get explanations of code, and even generate tests or refactorings. GitHub is working on an extensibility platform for Copilot to enhance their workflows and bring in expertise from various tools and services.  Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to leave your review.  Follow Mik on X:  @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne  Additional Resources:  Portfolio SAFe Dean Leffingwell on the Mik + One Podcast: Part 1, Part 2 MarTech Dave West - podcast episode Scrum Studio Greenfield project Skunkworks Bimodal IT Agile Release Train Mik + One Podcast Episode 20: Justin Watts Join the Flow Framework Community
Episode 55: Professor Mohan Sawhney: Rethinking Product Management with AI
Oct 19 2023
Episode 55: Professor Mohan Sawhney: Rethinking Product Management with AI
Joining Mik in this episode of Mik + One is Professor Mohan Sawhney, Associate Dean of Digital Innovation and a Clinical Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University. ​ Sawhney discusses the evolution and importance of product management as a discipline. He emphasizes the need for formal training and frameworks in product management and highlights the role of product managers as mini CEOs and customer advocates. Sawhney also explores the challenges and opportunities in implementing product management in different industries, including technology companies, B2B industrial companies, and service-based organizations.  Listen as Mik and Sawhney explore the impact of generative AI on product management, and highlight its potential to enhance day-to-day tasks and improve efficiency and effectiveness Key discussions include: Understanding customer problems and exceeding customer needsThe product manager’s crucial role as orchestrator, mini CEO, and customer advocate The discipline of product management The potential for growth and adoption in various industriesExecutive sponsorship and implementing organizational structure Expansion of product management beyond tech companies to B2B and services industriesRethinking structure, incentives, and processExploring how to implement product management in organizationsHow Generative AI can improve persona development, wireframing, and roadmap optimizationAI Product management and how it is redefining efficiency for the future Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to leave your review. Follow Mik on Twitter: @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne Additional Resources: Portfolio SAFeDean Leffingwell on the Mik + One Podcast: Part 1, Part 2MarTechDave West - podcast episodeScrum StudioGreenfield projectSkunkworksBimodal ITAgile Release TrainMik + One Podcast Episode 20: Justin WattsJoin the Flow Framework Community
Episode 54: Dr. Pallab Chatterjee on Digital Transformation Waste
Aug 8 2023
Episode 54: Dr. Pallab Chatterjee on Digital Transformation Waste
Joining Mik in this episode of Mik + One is Pallab Chatterjee, a visionary entrepreneur and technology expert. Pallab is currently the chairman of 3Lines VC, a boutique VC firm specializing in investments in AI-focused companies in the US and India. Pallab shares his journey from running a research lab at Texas Instruments to becoming the CEO of IT Technologies and Symphony Retail AI. Mik and Pallab discuss the TI-84 and TI-86 calculators, which Pallab helped bring to market, and how they revolutionized the industry. They discuss the importance of understanding waste and its impact on organizational capacity and the role of finance in driving digital transformation.  Mik and Pallab also discuss the importance of actionable visibility and the challenges of implementing predictive and prescriptive models in organizations. Key discussions include:  The story behind the Ti 84 and Ti 86 calculatorsUnderstanding waste and its impact on organizational capacity The role of finance in driving digital transformationThe role of AI and digital disruption in shaping the future of workAdvice for organizations looking to embrace digital transformationThe PDCA cycle and the importance of actionable visibilityThe challenges of implementing predictive and prescriptive models in organizationsUnderstanding waste and rework cycles in software organizationsThe need for a metadata layer to operate on an enterprise relational databaseHow organizations can avoid stagnation or falling behindThe importance of customer-centricity and quantifying pain levels Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to leave your review. Follow Mik on Twitter: @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne Additional Resources: Portfolio SAFeDean Leffingwell on the Mik + One Podcast: Part 1, Part 2MarTechDave West - podcast episodeScrum StudioGreenfield projectSkunkworksBimodal ITAgile Release TrainMik + One Podcast Episode 20: Justin WattsJoin the Flow Framework Community
Episode 53: George Kadifa on Generative AI
Jun 7 2023
Episode 53: George Kadifa on Generative AI
Joining Mik in this episode of Mik + One is technology visionary George Kadifa to discuss generative AI and its potential impact on the tech industry. George discusses how generative AI has changed the conversation with machines, allowing them to generate new content, code, images, and videos in a multi-modal fashion. This development is expected to be even bigger than all the previous tech transformations combined. George Kadifa has a long history of predicting tech trends and capitalizing on them. He believes that generative AI is set to revolutionize the scientific method by being able to comprehend complex situations with billions of parameters, which could have huge implications for medicine and other areas of science.  Mik and George also discuss how the development of deep learning has led to a shift from workflow-based software to information-based software, with the ability to create predictive and generative capabilities. Key discussions include:  The Impact of Generative AI on the Technology and Enterprise LandscapeGenerative AI and its Implications for the Creative IndustryThe Impact of AI on the Future of Technology and WorkflowsThe Potential of AI to Transform Software DevelopmentThe Benefits of Value Stream Management and AI for Improved ProductivityThe Power of Data in Generative AIWorkflow Automation and Insight-Driven Analytics on Business ProcessesThe Increase in Complexity of Software Development Interplay Between Cloud Vendors and AI Model DevelopmentThe Future of Language Modeling and Information Protection Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode: https://www.planview.com/lp/mik-plus-one/  Follow Mik on Twitter: @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne Additional Resources: Join the Flow Framework Community
Episode 52: Mik Kersten on the 2023 Project to Product State of the Industry Report
Mar 21 2023
Episode 52: Mik Kersten on the 2023 Project to Product State of the Industry Report
In this episode of Mik + One, we’re flipping the script! Debbie Konrad, an early Value Stream Management advocate, interviews Mik. The two discuss a new report, the 2023 Project to Product State of the Industry Report, that analyzed anonymized data from 2022 of 3600+ software delivery teams representing over 38,000 business product owners and engineers combined with 326 targeted survey respondents in 34 of the world’s leading enterprises. It revealed that five years into the shift from project to product, following the publication of Mik's seminal book on the subject, only 8 percent of sample have operationalized the product model. Debbie and Mik discuss how the report’s findings are timely and relevant, as technology leaders are under increasing pressure to match tech giants and unicorns on digital innovation and wrestle the competitive advantage from the hands of a few companies. In this episode, Mik shares how to shift the management approach in digital portfolios from a project to a product-based model. Debbie and Mik also address the importance of combining systems data with survey data in order to provide additional insights into the adoption curve of value stream management. Key discussions include:  The 2023 Project to Product State of the Industry ReportThe seven dimensions of change required for a product operating modelProduct Management MaturityInsights from the 2021 State of Value Stream Management ReportThe Journey from Product Experimentation to OperationalizationSurvey Responses and System Data on Product Operating Model TransformationsAutonomy and Dependencies for High Performance TeamsThe Benefits of Value Management for Software Development TeamsImplementing Build and Run Teams for Software at ScaleThe Importance of Backlog Management and Prioritization in Product ManagementCreating an Effective Product Management Function: Strategies for SuccessExploring the Benefits of Flow Metrics for Improved Efficiency and Time to Market Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to leave your review. Follow Mik on Twitter: @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne www.planview.com Additional Resources: Download the 2023 Project to Product State of the Industry Report and connect with DebbiePortfolio SAFeDean Leffingwell on the Mik + One Podcast: Part 1, Part 2MarTechDave West - podcast episode Learn more and join the Flow Framework Community hereFor more information on the 2023 Project to Product State of the Industry Report, go here: https://projecttoproduct.org/podcast/mik-kersten-interview
Episode 51: Carol Houle on Strategic Digital Transformations
Jan 24 2023
Episode 51: Carol Houle on Strategic Digital Transformations
Joining Mik in this episode of Mik + One is Carol Houle, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Financial Services and Insurance at Atos. With over two decades of experience in building and renovating businesses seeking to focus on strategic digital transformations, Carol shares success stories and challenging lessons she has learned in her professional journey. Carol and Mik talk about the complexities of agile transformation, and the role that education can play in optimizing value streams.   Mik and Carol also have a transformative discussion about how the shift from project to product is actually a shift of mindset, and for a shift of mindset to occur acknowledgment from a higher place within individuals, and fundamentally within the organization, is crucial.  Key discussions include:   Carol’s background and history in the industry Improving technology in the last decade What is agile transformation? How to measure improvement and maintain autonomy  The need for shifting mindsets and education Special focus sessions for executives and how they can be utilized The value of servant leadership and empowerment  Setting up systems that include feedback loops to create a sense of control Instrumentation of business value to connect to your business strategy Why digital transformation is the vehicle for building relationships Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to leave your review.  Follow Mik on Twitter:  @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne  www.tasktop.com  Additional Resources:  Connect with Carol Portfolio SAFe Dean Leffingwell on the Mik + One Podcast: Part 1, Part 2 MarTech Dave West - podcast episode Scrum Studio Greenfield project Skunkworks Bimodal IT Agile Release Train Mik + One Podcast Episode 20: Justin Watts  For more information on Carol Houle, please visit: https://projecttoproduct.org/podcast/carol-houle/
Episode 50: Former Ford CEO Mark Fields on the Value of a Unified Vision
Dec 20 2022
Episode 50: Former Ford CEO Mark Fields on the Value of a Unified Vision
Joining Mik in this episode of Mik + One is Mark Fields, Senior Advisor to TPG Capital, a member of Planview's board of directors, and former CEO of Ford Motor Company. Mark has presided over three decades of strategic and digital transformations at global businesses and shares how he consistently succeeded with a focus on product. He discusses the value of possessing agility, a unified vision, and a rallying cry as a business to create a product that delivers more value and potentially diverts a company off more common value streams.  In this episode, Mik and Mark also discuss drive-by-wire and how a point of view on what the future is, creates a demand for businesses to create organizational structure that can support strategy. Key discussions include:  Early steps in Mark’s careerTurning Mazda around in JapanFunctional divides between business, technology, and operationsFocusing on product is how you get customers Unifying vision and having a rallying cry in a businessTurning products into platforms Diverting off common platforms to deliver customer missionsECUs in vehicles and the costAWS and Azure bills for organizationsFord’s Mach-EDigital companies Mark is on the board of and how he is helping them thriveLearnings and agility Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to leave your review. Follow Mik on Twitter: @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne www.tasktop.com Additional Resources: Connect with MarkPortfolio SAFeDean Leffingwell on the Mik + One Podcast: Part 1, Part 2MarTechDave West - podcast episodeScrum StudioGreenfield projectSkunkworksBimodal ITAgile Release TrainMik + One Podcast Episode 20: Justin Watts For more information about Mark Fields and to view the full list of resources mentioned in this episode, as well as download the transcript, visit: https://projecttoproduct.org/podcast/mark-fields/
Episode 49: Brendan Hopper on Lessons Learned Shifting From Project to Product
Nov 22 2022
Episode 49: Brendan Hopper on Lessons Learned Shifting From Project to Product
Joining Mik in this episode of Mik + One is Brendan Hopper, is the CIO for technology at Commonwealth Bank Group. He is responsible for ensuring the bank has a world leading IT engineering capability and is making the right technology investments and decisions. Brendan shares what drives his passion for driving innovation and flow at organizations and why technology should become an accelerator, not a disruptor for organizations and their customers.  In this episode, Mik and Brendan also discuss org structure and the core principle that to be evolutionary means focusing on small increments and not just major redesigns. Key discussions include:  Brendan’s professional journey in strategy and engineeringHow velocity can drive safetyBuilding technology that real people delight inCreating a transformation network that is course correcting Lessons Brendan has learned in shifting from project to product The need for feedback cycles in transformationUnderstanding data that bottlenecks at the value stream level and the organization level. Restoring and repairing organizational design Why org structure has to continually changeMoving teams between value streams when roadmapping what is nextWhat Brendan is focused on today Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to leave your review. Follow Mik on Twitter: @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne www.tasktop.com Additional Resources: Connect with BrendanPortfolio SAFeDean Leffingwell on the Mik + One Podcast: Part 1, Part 2MarTechDave West - podcast episodeScrum StudioGreenfield projectSkunkworksBimodal ITAgile Release TrainMik + One Podcast Episode 20: Justin Watts For more information about Brendan Hopper and to view the full list of resources mentioned in this episode, as well as download the transcript, visit: https://projecttoproduct.org/podcast/brendan-hopper/
Episode 44: Geordie Henderson on Implementing Organizational Design and Innovation to Scale High-Performing Teams
Apr 5 2022
Episode 44: Geordie Henderson on Implementing Organizational Design and Innovation to Scale High-Performing Teams
Joining Mik in this episode of Mik + One is Geordie Henderson, General Manager of AWS Messaging and Streaming at Amazon Web Services, and previously the VP of Engineering at Hootsuite. In this episode, Mik and Geordie share insights into organizational design and innovation to build, integrate and lead successful software organizations, as well as other key topics including: An overview of Geordie’s experience in scaling high-performing teams at Amazon Web Services and Hootsuite, and advice to leaders on the missteps to avoidImplementing the correct team structures and dynamics when optimizing flow for business outcomesHow to successfully approach creating microservices teams and managing product needsThe concept of Single Threader Owners (STOs) and the role of product and engineering leadership when organizing around products vs. technologyInput versus output metrics and the importance of having set goals when evolving team structureAdvice to leaders on creating the dynamic and structure required for driving innovation within the organization Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to leave your review. Follow Mik on Twitter: @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne www.tasktop.com For more information about Geordie Henderson and to view the full list of resources mentioned in this episode, as well as download the transcript, visit: https://projecttoproduct.org/podcast/geordie-henderson/
Episode 43: Darrell Fernandes on Driving Organizational Improvement To Deliver Customer Value
Mar 15 2022
Episode 43: Darrell Fernandes on Driving Organizational Improvement To Deliver Customer Value
In this episode of Mik + One, Mik is joined by Darrell Fernandes, Head of Product Technology at TIAA, a Fortune 100 financial services organization that is the leading provider of financial services in the academic, research, medical, cultural and governmental fields. In this episode, Mik and Darrell discuss themes around driving organizational improvement and customer value, as well as other topics including: The five key accountabilities that all IT product managers should consider when thinking about how an IT product fits within the marketInsights into successfully building out Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) that align with the business outcomes and deliver customer valueOrganizing cross-functional Agile Release Trains (ARTs) as capabilities and guidance for building them into the business and technology roadmapOperationalizing at a business level and advice on educating leadership and business counterparts when getting buy-inRecognizing success and building incentives that strengthen how the teams operate to become more innovative, efficient and value-focusedAdvice on how to approach and introduce Flow within the organization to deliver greater business value   Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to leave your review. Follow Mik on Twitter: @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne www.tasktop.com For more information about Darrell Fernandes and to view the full list of resources mentioned in this episode, as well as download the transcript, visit: https://projecttoproduct.org/podcast/darrell-fernandes/
Episode 41: Bank of New Zealand on Applying the Flow Metrics at Scale
Feb 1 2022
Episode 41: Bank of New Zealand on Applying the Flow Metrics at Scale
To kick off the first episode of 2022, Mik is joined by two guests from Bank of New Zealand: Paul Littlefair, Chief Technology Officer, and BMK Lakshminarayanan, Value Stream Architect. In this episode, Mik, Paul and BMK delve into how Bank of New Zealand has been applying the shift from Project to Product and Flow Metrics, and other key topics including: Insight into how Bank of New Zealand’s transformation journey started, and the goals they first set out to achieveThe importance of investing in continuous improvement, and rewarding for improvement and not just outputGetting leadership buy-in, and why reporting the developer experience at the board level is crucial to enabling flow and visibilityIntroducing education around flow at all levels to create continuous learning across the organization, and insight into how Bank of New Zealand has executed thisHow tenacity, pivoting and starting today has brought a large enterprise organization like Bank of New Zealand on a great trajectory to getting things deployed, and how they’ve adapted their learnings at scale Subscribe to the Mik + One podcast today so you never miss an episode and don’t forget to leave your review. Follow Mik on Twitter: @mik_kersten #MikPlusOne www.tasktop.com For more information about Paul Littlefair and BMK Lakshminarayanan and to view the full list of resources featured in this episode, as well as download the transcript, visit: https://projecttoproduct.org/podcast/bank-of-new-zealand/