Post-Launch PM with Megan Shulby - Assoc. Director of Technical Product Management @ AT&T

Lessons In Product Management

Podcast Summary: Megan Shulby on Post-Launch Product ManagementIntroduction & Megan’s Background

• 01:24 - 02:01 – Megan Shulby is introduced; she and John connected via LinkedIn due to her content on underrated product management topics.
• 02:01 - 04:39 – Megan shares her journey from Hollywood entertainment (e.g., The Biggest Loser) to digital marketing, leading to product management. She pursued graduate studies in Information Systems and Marketing to gain technical expertise.
• 04:40 - 05:47 – She discusses how her media background, especially storytelling, plays a role in product management by aligning teams and ensuring a human-centered approach.

• 05:48 - 08:59 – Megan emphasizes the importance of balancing technical and interpersonal skills in product management. While technical foundations are necessary, storytelling is key in aligning stakeholders, engineering, and sales.
• 09:00 - 11:37 – Discussion on the differences between film production and software development, highlighting the lack of post-launch iteration in film versus continuous improvement in software.
• 11:38 - 13:51 – John and Megan discuss how B2B product teams can adopt a controlled introduction approach similar to film test screenings, mitigating reputational risk through phased rollouts.

• 13:52 - 16:24 – Megan explains why post-launch is critical, yet often overlooked. Many PMs shift focus to new features rather than optimizing existing ones.
• 16:25 - 17:22 – Importance of tracking feature success post-launch, ensuring shipped products meet their intended impact.
• 17:23 - 19:46 – Key elements of post-launch management: stakeholder alignment (sales, customer support, finance), defining success metrics, and monitoring usage.

• 19:47 - 22:32 – Importance of measurement and data tracking, with a focus on ensuring product success metrics are defined pre-launch and monitored post-launch.
• 22:33 - 25:49 – Challenges in data collection, particularly in "digital adaptive" businesses transitioning from legacy systems, making it difficult to track clear success indicators.

• 25:50 - End – Key lesson: Not all businesses have perfect data, and product managers must work with what’s available, making informed correlations where necessary.

Connect with Megan on LinkedIn

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