The Work Before the Work
AI is making execution faster and more accessible, but that doesn't necessarily make organizations better at deciding what to build. The real advantage may increasingly come from the work that happens before execution: developing a shared understanding of the customer, the business, and the opportunity so teams can make better decisions together. This essay explores why judgment—not execution—may become the defining capability of the next generation of product organizations.
Earning Influence to Shape Change
Influence isn't something a leader can simply claim through expertise, executive presence, or a strong point of view. It is earned over time through relationships, credibility, trust, and the repeated experience of good judgment. This essay explores how influence compounds—and why the most effective leaders don't just build influence for themselves, but create the conditions for others to develop it too.