S2 | Episode #17 - Katarzyna Malolepszy - Head of Product & Engineering at Expatrio - 'Unleashing the Power of Product Management'

The Technology Leadership Podcast

About Katarzyna
Kasia Malolepszy is the Head of Product at Expatrio and a seasoned product professional with a strong background in the German tech industry. With extensive experience in building and leading product teams, Kasia has successfully brought multiple products to market and has a deep understanding of the finance and insurance sectors. Her passion lies in solving real customer problems and driving innovation in the fintech space. Kashia's expertise in communication, analytical skills, and customer-centricity has been instrumental in her career as a product leader. She believes in creating high-performing teams and empowering them to deliver value.

Synopsis
In this episode of the Technology Leadership Podcast, we are joined by Kasia Malolepszy , Head of Product and engineering at Expatrio. Kasia shares her experience in product management and discusses what makes a great product lead. She emphasises the importance of effective communication and active listening, as well as the analytical skills and customer-centricity required for success in product management. Kasia also highlights the significance of collaboration between product managers and engineers in delivering valuable solutions to customers.
Key Takeaways

• Collaboration and effective communication are crucial for product managers. Actively listening to stakeholders and customers, as well as articulating problems clearly, can lead to better solutions and alignment within the team.
• Data analysis and customer centricity are essential skills. Analysing customer data can provide valuable insights and drive innovation in the finance industry, which is in need of disruption.
• Building a strong relationship with engineering teams is vital for product managers. By involving engineers early in the product development process and articulating problems effectively, product managers can leverage the expertise of engineers to find innovative solutions.
• In the first 100 days as a head of product, it is important to observe and understand the organisation, its processes, and the product. Evaluating the skills of team members, analysing product management processes, and optimising the product development life cycle are key steps to drive improvement and success.

Episode Outline
[00:09] Meet Kasia
[02:08] Product management skills and culture
[07:36] Product engineering collaboration and leadership
[12:42] Product management and delivery evaluation
[24:52] Identifying and developing employees strengths
[33:11] Product prioritisation and analysis tools
[48:46] Product management challenges and future trends