Episode 217: Behind the Scenes of Pendo’s Product Operations Evolution with Jessica Soroky

Join us for an insightful episode of the Product Thinking Podcast as we delve into the world of product operations with Jessica Soroky, the Senior Director of Product Operations at Pendo. In this episode, Jessica reveals the transformative strategies that have redefined Pendo's product operations, highlighting their innovative approach to integrating data and AI for enhanced product management. Jessica and I discuss the evolving landscape of product operations and the strategic shifts necessary to elevate the role beyond administrative tasks. We explore how Pendo empowers product managers by streamlining data insights and fostering a cross-functional communication framework that improves product launches and customer satisfaction. If you're eager to understand how product operations can drive strategic value and innovation within your organization, this episode is a must-listen. Gain practical insights and inspiration from Pendo's journey in optimizing their product operations. You’ll hear us talk about:09:17 - Evolution from Scrum Master to Program Manager Jessica explains the bold transition of Scrum Masters to Program Managers at Pendo, expanding their roles to oversee the entire product lifecycle and enhancing cross-functional collaboration. 15:04 - Leveraging AI in Product Operations Discover how Pendo is integrating AI into their operations to reduce the burden of data tasks for product managers, allowing them to focus on strategic decision-making. 20:56 - Implementing Effective Launch Processes Learn about the introduction of go-to-market checklists and launch briefs at Pendo, which have streamlined product launches and improved cross-departmental alignment. Episode resources: - Jessica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicasoroky/ - Pendo: https://www.pendo.io/ - Try Liveblocks: https://liveblocks.io/ Timestamps: 00:00 Coming Up 01:17 Intro 05:53 Jessica's journey to Product Ops leader 11:48 Improving launches through whole-company alignment 19:19 Structuring product ops for impact 25:00 Building effective cadences and data rituals 30:14 Driving data culture and exploring AI tools 36:30 Making product ops strategic