In Episode 7 of Talking Roadmaps, Justin Woods interviews Topher Fox, Director of Product Operations at Aerospike, to explore the trade-offs between centralized and localized ProductOps. They dive into empowerment, cross-functional alignment, tooling, anti-patterns, and why ProductOps is a force multiplier—not just a support role. A must-watch for teams scaling product capabilities with intention.

In this episode, Phil Hornby speaks with Anabela Cesário and Patrícia Cadete from OutSystems about what makes product operations successful. They dive into how product ops acts as an enabler—not a gatekeeper—focusing on collaboration, simplification, and impact. From driving adoption through co-creation to building an internal academy and operational dashboards, they share concrete practices and philosophies to scale product organizations without bureaucracy.

In Season 2 Episode 4 of Talking Roadmaps, Chris Butler shares how product operations can foster effective, sustainable product teams—going beyond process to shape culture, decision-making, and systems thinking. He explores AI's role in roadmapping, why product ops shouldn't become glorified project managers, and how speculative design helps teams prepare for uncertain futures.

In Season 2 Episode 3 of Talking Roadmaps, Justin Woods interviews May Wong to explore the evolving role of product operations. They unpack the idea of ProdOps as the “product manager of product management,” discuss how org context shapes best practices, and reflect on how trust, team culture, and process design intersect with scaling. A must-watch for those navigating change, tooling, and communication in growing product orgs.

In Episode 66 of Talking Roadmaps, Justin Woods interviews Ed Roberts, senior product strategist at We Are Systematic. Ed explores why product teams should rethink traditional roadmaps, favouring satnav or compass-like approaches to adapt to uncertainty. Key insights include embracing flexibility, prioritizing effectively, and treating confidence as an output of work rather than an input. Ed also shares thoughts on evidence-based design, managing ideas, and using tools like ProductSweet to bridge gaps in innovation processes.

In Episode 63 of Talking Roadmaps, Phil Hornby interviews Pawel Huryn about using roadmaps as a strategic tool rather than a feature list. They discuss aligning roadmaps with broader company vision and objectives, focusing on customer outcomes over deliverables, and the importance of managing product risks. Huryn emphasizes iterative discovery and validation before committing to features, suggesting that roadmaps are better suited for setting direction than detailing every step.

In episode 56 of Talking Roadmaps, Phil Hornby interviews Vidas Vasiliauskas. They delve into the compatibility of long-term roadmaps with agile methodologies, exploring practical strategies to balance planning and adaptability. Vidas shares insights on integrating Kanban with traditional project management tools, addressing common challenges, and enhancing team collaboration and productivity.

In episode 46 of Talking Roadmaps, Phil Hornby interviews John Cutler on the intricacies of product roadmapping. They explore the challenges of balancing structure with flexibility, the impact of company culture on roadmap success, and tips for maintaining alignment across teams. John shares insights from his diverse experience in product management, emphasizing the importance of embracing the 'beautiful mess' of product development.

In episode 45 of Talking Roadmaps, Elliot Golden, a veteran in B2B enterprise SaaS product management, discusses the importance of including a recap in your product roadmap with Justin Woods. Elliot shares insights from his 16 years of experience, highlighting best practices for UX overhauls and strategic planning. He emphasizes the value of retrospectives and how they can lead to more effective product strategies.