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This time we talked to Mohammed, formerly a Product lead on Apple Siri, Product Marketing Manager at Google, and currently a Co-founder of DesignPro. Mohammed shared his journey from studying at Stanford to building innovative products, and reflected on his time at Google and Apple, highlighting the different cultures and approaches to innovation.
I felt so inspired after this conversation, especially when Mohammed shared how Steve Jobs entered their room to acquire Siri, how he embraced trial and error and be okay with failure, and how he uncovered that creativity is a fundamental aspect of human nature and should be prioritized in product development. Here are some highlights you can find in the episode:
— Embrace trial and error and be okay with failure in the process of product design and development.
— Customer obsession and understanding their desires and needs are crucial for successful innovation.
— Timing is key in launching products, and being able to tell a compelling narrative is essential for engaging customers.
— Creativity is a fundamental aspect of human nature and should be prioritized in product development.
— Combining the disciplines of product design and product management can lead to more successful and innovative products.
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Where to find Mohammed Abdoolcarim (DesignPro, ex-Apple & Google):
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscarim/
DesignPro: https://designpro.ai/
Where to find Kate Syuma, Growth Advisor (ex-Miro):
Newsletter: katesyuma.substack.com
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syuma
What we’ve covered in this episode:
01:26 Studying at Stanford University
03:09 Creating Products at Stanford
04:44 Working at Google
08:14 Building Siri and Joining Apple
12:29 Apple's Unique Culture
13:57 Combining Product Design and Product Management
19:16 Apple's Approach to Building Products
22:14 Adapting to the Trend of AI
26:38 Transitioning to a Founder Role
29:35 Creating DesignPro
35:05 Balancing Creativity and Operational Tasks
40:42 Fulfilling Creative Routine as a Founder
43:09 Memorable Moments at Apple
45:14 Book Recommendation: Shoe Dog
Resources referenced:
15% discount for Self-serve Onboarding course (starts on 15th of April!): https://maven.com/growth-course/self-serve-onboarding?promoCode=growthmates
How Innovation Works by Matt Ridley: https://www.amazon.com/How-Innovation-Works-Serendipity-Technology/dp/0062916599
Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull: https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0812993012
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight: https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Memoir-Creator-Nike/dp/1501135929
If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to share it with your colleagues and like-minded friends. For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to ekaterinasyuma@gmail.com.
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Fighting for Creatives: From Apple Siri to Becoming a Founder | Mohammed Abdoolcarim (DesignPro, ex-Apple & Google)