The New Mandates for AI Product Leadership: A Comprehensive Guide

If you have not yet tried to build your first AI app, now is your chance. No coding knowledge required. What Replit is unlocking is pretty amazing. Go check it out. Let your kids try to build their own app. Its game changing:

Are you kidding me? A plane falls from the sky, a tragedy that should unite us in grief, yet the vultures of division circle, their cries echoing a chilling refrain: “It’s DEI’s fault!” Not overworked and understaffed air traffic controllers. Not outdated infrastructure. Not the corporate cost-cutting that has left critical safety roles understaffed. No, they point fingers at diversity efforts—because that’s the easiest, laziest scapegoat available.

For decades, product dev was linear: Awareness, Consideration, Purchase, Onboarding, Expansion. But AI is changing this: Contextual Intelligence: Products adapt to your expertise instantly. Predictive Adaptation: Features appear when you need them, not when you search for them. Compounding Value: Each interaction makes the product smarter for you. Non-Linear Progression: Jump to advanced use without the slow climb. The future? Products learning faster than users.

If you liked this, check out my website: I help companies and CEOs with AI strategy and growth.

Think of feelings as signals, not weapons. When you blame, you lose the opportunity for meaningful dialogue. ❌ Blame-Based Approach: “Why are we still discussing this? It feels like leadership isn’t taking this risk seriously.” ✅ Solution-Focused Approach: “I’m feeling uneasy that we’ve spent three meetings on this topic without clear next steps. I’d like to understand what’s holding us back.” **Quick Exercise**: Next time you feel frustrated, start your sentence with “I’m feeling…” instead of “You’re not…”

Most communication breakdowns happen not because of what we say, but how we say it. The Three Pillars of Effective Leadership Communication 1. Master the Art of Neutral Observation The Key Difference: Observations are neutral. Judgments create resistance. Let’s look at two approaches: ❌ Ineffective Communication: “The product roadmap is all over the place. It’s clear the team isn’t focused.” ✅ Effective Communication: “I’ve noticed the product roadmap has shifted three times this quarter. I’m concerned about whether we’re aligned on our priorities.” **Pro Tip**: Before speaking, ask yourself: “Am I describing what I see, or how I feel about what I see?”

Are you struggling to get your message across as a leader? You’re not alone. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore battle-tested communication strategies that transform team dynamics and drive real results.

Ready to launch your board career? Join me at Athena’s Board Readiness course, and accelerate your journey to a board role by learning top-notch governance strategies from leading experts in today's boardrooms. Learn more here:

If your meetings feel “too aligned,” you’re not hearing the bad news, the realities on the ground, or the uncomfortable truths your team sees. Innovation doesn’t live in harmony; it lives in debate, candor, and hard conversations. If you’re a leader, your job isn’t to demand alignment. It’s to create an environment where dissent is welcomed and people feel safe sharing tough truths. Encourage questions, push for debate, and reward critical thinking. This is where the magic happens—not in a perfectly rehearsed presentation.

Your "perfectly aligned" meetings are a massive red flag 🚩 Shows your company has terminal bureaucracy disease. When everyone agrees, someone's not thinking. The physics of innovation: - Consensus = gravity - Dissent = escape velocity Choose wisely 🚀

👀 Who’s got a Twos PALs access code they’re willing to share? I need lists to do *things* for me! #TwosPals #Productivity

@HowardBGil Please do share a copy. Great stuff.

Important history to understand