Product Operations 101: Building the Function That Makes Product Teams Run

Product Operations 101: Building the Function That Makes Product Teams Run Curious about Product Operations but not sure where to start — or how to break in? In this intro session, I'll walk you through what Product Ops actually is, why it's become one of the most in-demand functions in tech, and how it differs from Product Management and Program Management (a distinction that trips up even experienced PMs). Drawing on my career across Instacart, Netflix, Meta, Google, and Stitch Fix — including a pre-IPO stint and multiple 0→1 and build-to-growth transitions — I'll share: What Product Ops really owns: intake and prioritization, voice of customer, product enablement, and product quality — the connective tissue that keeps product orgs running smoothly How to think in systems: every product has a multi-sided marketplace (customers, internal stakeholders, partners, regulators) and great Product Ops leaders learn to hold all sides in view The skills that matter most: getting to root cause, building relationship capital, and influencing without authority Where AI fits in: how I've applied AI directly to triage, intake, and the product development lifecycle How to break in or level up: what hiring managers actually look for, and how to position your experience whether you're pivoting in or growing within the function Whether you're exploring Product Ops as a career path, building out the function at your company for the first time, or looking to sharpen your operational excellence as a current practitioner, this session will give you a clear, practical foundation — no fluff, just what's actually worked.