In Episode 26, Justin Woods & Phil Hornby reflect on the biggest lessons from Season 2 of Talking Roadmaps as they unpack the evolving role of product operations. From product ops as a “force multiplier” rather than process policing, to balancing standardisation with team autonomy, the discussion explores AI’s impact on product operating models, roadmap governance, tooling, leadership buy-in, and why product ops may become the team that “designs the machine” instead of simply running it. They also preview Season 3’s focus on go-to-market strategy.

Bonus Episode – In “Are you making real progress?”, Justin Woods speaks with Tim Herbig about moving beyond “alibi progress” and focusing on real product impact. They explore how strategy, OKRs, and discovery must work together, why teams mistake activity for progress, and how to reach “informed conviction” in decision-making. Tim also shares practical ways to prioritise problems, align discovery, and avoid over-reliance on frameworks.

In this bonus Talking Roadmaps episode, Phil Hornby sits down with Davor Gašparac to unpack the uncomfortable reality behind “Product Owner” roles. They explore how agile transformations often create title inflation without true product accountability, why many teams lack a clear definition of their product, and how this misalignment leads to wasted effort, poor quality, and meaningless outputs. Davor shares hard-earned insights from decades in delivery and product, challenging listeners to rethink ownership, value, and what product leadership should really look like.

In this Product Development Panel teaser, Phil Hornby speaks with Rosario Marrazzo about navigating product development in scaling startups. Rosario shares hands-on insights from building AI-driven products, challenging the idea that tools drive transformation—arguing culture and prioritisation matter more. The conversation explores evolving product workflows, team structures, and the realities of operating in fast-changing, high-pressure environments.

In this Talking Roadmaps bonus episode, Phil Hornby speaks with Ethan Talwar about why industrial AI isn’t just “AI at scale.” They unpack the hidden complexity behind infrastructure systems, from the need for reliability and domain-specific models to the interplay of technology, people, and processes. Ethan shares practical lessons from deploying AI in real-world industrial environments, helping product teams rethink how to move from experimentation to commercially viable solutions.

In this Product Strategy Panel teaser, Phil Hornby speaks with Antonio Perić Mažar, CEO of Locastic, about breaking down silos between product and engineering and applying AI with purpose, not hype. Drawing on 15+ years of experience, Antonio shares practical lessons from real project successes and failures, highlighting how experimentation, tighter collaboration, and value-focused thinking can drive faster delivery, stronger teams, and products customers truly pay for.

In this Talking Roadmaps bonus episode, Phil Hornby speaks with Tatjana Kotarski about why organisations that excel at delivery still fail to create value. Drawing on a real transformation case, they explore how the PERO Model™ emerged from practical challenges—highlighting ownership gaps, misaligned systems, and the limits of governance—and how evolving PMOs into value-focused capabilities unlocks measurable product outcomes.

In this Talking Roadmaps bonus episode, Phil Hornby speaks with Miljenko Baković about the realities behind product strategy. They explore why strategy isn’t a fixed framework, but a context-driven tool shaped by experience, failure, and decision-making needs. Miljenko shares his perspective on defining product vision through customer value, not features, and highlights lessons from scaling products across startups and automotive innovation.

In this Talking Roadmaps bonus episode, Phil Hornby speaks with Marija Matokanović ahead of the Product Development Panel at Product World EU. They explore how AI is reshaping product roles, challenging assumptions about the future of product ownership, and influencing both work and personal life. Marija highlights generational perspectives, evolving development processes, and why adaptability—not rigid roles—will define successful product teams.