Launch With Confidence

Hosted by Centercode

Business ManagementInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Nov 2025

Language

About the show

Launch With Confidence is your go-to podcast where curiosity meets the thrill of building and launching a tech product. It's a vibrant hub for inquisitive minds in tech eager to peek behind the curtain of product development. Each episode is a friendly chat with the trailblazers unpacking the secrets to a bulletproof go-to-market strategy and the excitement of nailing that product launch.

Listen to episodes

32 recent

November 24, 2025Episode 427 min

How Data Tells You What to Build (And What to Skip) with Patrick Quiery

When every customer, executive, and competitor has an opinion about what you should build next, how do you know what actually matters?In this episode, Patrick Quiery, VP of Product at IntelliShift, joins Chris Rader to talk about how data, not instinct, guides great product decisions. From fleet management to SaaS, Patrick has spent over a decade transforming complex feedback into clear product direction.You’ll learn how he:Turns customer noise into meaningful product signalsUses data to navigate executive pressure and competing prioritiesValidates ideas early (and often) to avoid building in a vacuumBalances innovation with focus in a high-stakes, hardware-plus-software worldWhether you’re a product leader, PM, or UX researcher, this episode will help you use data to build what customers really want, without losing focus along the way.Watch, learn, and launch with confidence.*Note that at around (10:02) we lost part of Patrick's response to Chris's question due to a technical issue. We apologize for any inconvenience.(00:22) – Meet Patrick Quiery, VP of Product at IntelliShift(01:15) – The art of saying no without losing customers(03:39) – Balancing customer requests with company focus(04:30) – How to say no to big customers with grace and data(06:36) – Handling internal feedback and executive requests(07:34) – Why data is the ultimate decision filter(08:20) – Measuring feature impact and product ROI(09:08) – Finding insights in support tickets and lost deals(10:06) – How social media reveals competitor weaknesses(12:12) – Why partnerships and integrations create stickier products(14:00) – How to decide what to build versus what to buy(14:40) – The AI shift in gathering and connecting feedback(15:37) – Scoring customer feedback to prioritize what matters most(16:29) – How to validate ideas early and often(17:30) – The 3 stages of user validation (IntelliShift method)(18:35) – Prototyping and design validation with real customers(19:38) – The power of alpha and beta tests in launch readiness(20:58) – Rapid fire questions(22:16) – The book that predicted the future of tech (The Four)(23:41) – Leaders Patrick admires and what they teach product teams(24:48) – From forensics to product management(25:41) – How Patrick unplugs and recharges

October 27, 2025Episode 336 min

How to Build Confidence in a New Direction with Ciara Peter

In this episode of Launch With Confidence, Chris sits down with Ciara Peter, SVP of Product at Robin. With leadership experience at Robin, Medallia, Gainsight, and Box, Ciara has spent her career helping SaaS companies navigate market shifts, competitive pressure, and evolving customer expectations.At Robin, she guided the team through one of the most turbulent eras in workplace software—navigating Covid, the rise of hybrid work, and competition from giants like Microsoft and Zoom. In this conversation, Ciara shares how to rebuild confidence when your product story changes, how to reframe competitors, and why “extreme transparency” is a product leader’s superpower.If you’re a product manager or product leader facing change, this episode is packed with lessons on leadership, strategy, and staying close to your customers.In this episode:(00:00) – Intro: Ciara Peter’s background and Robin’s journey(01:08) – Helping teams rebuild confidence in a new direction(01:55) – The explosion of competition during hybrid work(02:45) – Why Robin shifted from point solutions to a platform(04:08) – Practicing “extreme transparency” in product leadership(05:53) – Watching 40 sales calls to uncover patterns(07:26) – Avoiding the feature factory trap(09:12) – Balancing multi-year vision with short-term realities(10:29) – Bridging gaps between old use cases and new direction(11:56) – Using NPS, analytics, and competitor tracking(14:17) – Customer advisory boards and in-person empathy(16:46) – How competitors reveal themselves in new markets(18:46) – The rise of “vibe coding” and what it means(20:15) – Guiding sales teams through noisy competition(22:05) – New personas and motions in platform sales(24:01) – Making strategy stick inside and outside the org(26:03) – Testing if the product story really resonates(28:08) – Why product is a team sport with sales, support, and marketing(29:12) – Rapid fire: resets, role models, and resources(32:33) – A product Ciara can’t live without (and why)(33:22) – Funniest travel mishaps and lessons learned(35:25) – How Ciara wants her team to feel after a big launch(36:17) – Closing thoughts and wrap-upAbout Our GuestCiara Peter is a SaaS Product executive with nearly 20 years of experience leading high performing organizations from Series A to $5B+ in annual revenue. Ciara currently oversees Product and Design at Robin, a leader in workplace management, and has also led world class organizations at Medallia, Gainsight, Box, Betterworks, and Salesforce. Ciara’s experience empowers her to uniquely address the needs of enterprises at scale, while incorporating product led growth, AI, and product design fundamentals to increase adoption and expansion across end users.

September 30, 2025Episode 224 min

The Fieldwork of a Product Manager with Randy Ford

In this episode of Launch With Confidence, Chris Rader sits down with Randy Ford, Director of Product Management at Fidium Fiber. Randy has spent more than 20 years leading product teams across networking, cloud, and security, but what sets him apart is his conviction that the best ideas come from observing customers in their own environments.From stadiums packed with thousands of devices to small supermarkets with hidden connectivity issues, Randy shares how in-the-wild insights can transform product development, customer trust, and even company strategy.If you’ve ever wondered how to bridge the gap between product roadmaps and customer reality, this conversation will change the way you think about field research and customer engagement.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why stepping outside of the office uncovers problems no survey ever willHow to turn onsite observations into product improvementsWays to build personas that reflect real environments, not just demographicsAdvice for teams navigating travel restrictions and budgets00:00 – Introduction to Randy Ford01:01 – Randy’s role and product management scope01:41 – Why getting out of the office matters02:11 – Observations you only see onsite04:14 – Problem-solving with real-world signals05:03 – Stories from Western Digital and stadium Wi-Fi challenges07:16 – Turning field context into product planning08:19 – Lessons from supermarkets and everyday environments10:05 – How observations improve customer experience12:25 – Personas and environmental factors15:32 – Building vertical profiles for customer segments15:50 – Advice on connecting with customers in the wild17:10 – Regional and environmental differences in customer needs18:43 – Becoming a trusted partner by sharing insights19:15 – Budgets, travel bans, and scrappy ways to stay close to customers20:43 – Rapid-fire questions (coffee vs. tea, product mistakes, teams vs. Slack, favorite snacks, dream product

August 12, 2025Episode 126 min

Pre-launch Social Proofing with Natalie Mackay

In this episode of Launch With Confidence, Chris Rader sits down with product marketing leader and content creator Natalie Mackay to talk about pre-launch social proof, gathering deep customer insights, and unlocking the hidden go-to-market power of beta programs. Natalie shares actionable ways product marketers can partner with product managers to create messaging that resonates, drive conversions, and build authentic social proof before launch day. We also explore why so many teams overlook beta as a strategic GTM tool, and we wrap up with a fun rapid fire Q&A.

November 12, 2024Episode 1136 min

Testers as the Backbone of Product Success With Chip Duval

In this episode, Chris Rader welcomes Chip Duval, an experienced Senior Program Manager with expertise at companies like Sonos and Peloton. Chip dives into practical strategies for beta and alpha testing, sharing methods to identify and retain quality testers, collect actionable feedback, and integrate insights for product improvement. He emphasizes the importance of managing both quantitative and qualitative feedback and balancing tester enthusiasm with structured, goal-oriented program design. Chip also discusses the role of tester engagement and the value of a diverse beta pool. With actionable advice on optimizing feedback loops and establishing clear success metrics, this episode offers listeners a roadmap for building impactful testing programs that contribute to long-term product success. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ (0:00) Intro (1:27) Defining what makes a good beta tester: criteria and metrics (2:18) Key tester evaluation metrics: product usage, bug reports, engagement, and survey responses (5:05) Importance of community engagement and tester collaboration (7:17) Balancing diverse tester personalities to get unbiased insights (10:02) Structuring beta tests with intentional tester selection (13:13) Cost-effectiveness and impact of early bug discovery (15:02) Managing large tester pools for actionable, scalable feedback (21:07) Integrating cross-functional insights for effective launches (32:28) Rapid Fire Questions: Quick insights on beta testing best practices ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ⭐️ Ready to beta test your product with Centercode? Sign up for free now and run a beta test today → https://bit.ly/centercode-home

October 16, 2024Episode 1043 min

Building Beta Programs That Go Beyond Bugs with Keith McDonald

Quick note – The video files didn’t quite cooperate for this episode, so enjoy the audio-only experience. Keith’s wisdom still shines, so don't sleep on this one! In this episode, Chris Rader sits down with Keith McDonald, Beta Testing Lead at Square, to discuss the art of building beta programs that go beyond just finding bugs. Keith’s career spans more than a decade, including significant roles at Sonos, where he led beta testing for flagship products like the Playbar. Now at Square, he continues to innovate in beta program management, focusing on improving customer experiences and product quality through deep user feedback and strategic testing. Keith shares his journey, the lessons learned along the way, and his thoughts on building high-performing teams with a blend of technical expertise and customer empathy. He also provides insights into the future of beta testing, including how AI could play a role in enhancing, but not replacing, the human touch in testing. Tune in to hear how beta programs can transform product development and why a focus on user experience is key to success. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ (0:00) - Intro (3:26) - Early challenges in testing at Sonos, launching the Playbar and other hardware products. (10:21) - Keith’s transition to Square: Managing beta programs for hardware teams. (14:10) - Building a beta testing team that balances technical and customer-focused skills. (19:44) - The importance of user feedback and its role in shaping products. (28:41) - Going beyond bugs: How to focus on enhancing user experience in beta programs. (34:14) - Keith’s thoughts on AI’s role in the future of beta testing. (40:00) - Rapid-fire questions

August 30, 2024Episode 952 min

Elevating Beta Testing By Integrating AI with Jacob Christensen

In this insightful episode of Launch With Confidence, we sit down with Jacob Faarkrog Christensen, the Customer Validation Lead at Bang & Olufsen, to explore the evolving role of AI in beta testing and product development. Jacob shares his journey of implementing AI models into their beta programs, which has significantly improved how they collect and analyze feedback. He delves into the challenges of balancing automation with the need for human interaction, ensuring that testers feel engaged and valued throughout the process. Whether you're interested in the technical aspects of AI or the strategic decisions behind product testing, this episode offers a comprehensive look at how Bang & Olufsen is staying ahead in the competitive high-end audio market. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ (00:00) - Intro (01:13) - Jacob covers his role at Bang & Olufsen, providing an overview of their beta testing program (02:22) - How beta testing influences product launches and shapes customer-focused development (05:29) - Including existing customers versus new potential customers in beta tests (11:08) - AI's impact on removing friction in the beta process, including log analysis and bug tracking (14:28) - How AI enhances the accuracy of feedback by correcting errors and standardizing reports (20:18) - Jacob discusses how AI assists in managing large-scale beta tests with hundreds of participants (30:10) - Balancing AI and human interaction to maintain engagement and ensure meaningful tester experiences (40:01) - The future of AI in beta testing, including automated insights and dependency analysis for bug fixes (42:43) - Rapid-fire questions

July 30, 2024Episode 822 min

Transforming Support with Beta Feedback with Danielle Prince

On this episode of Launch With Confidence, we dive into the world of smart home products with Danielle Prince, Beta Coordinator at Wyze Labs. Danielle shares her journey from a support agent to leading Wyze’s innovative beta program, detailing the unique strategies and methodologies that drive their success. She explains how Wyze transitioned from decentralized social media-based testing to a structured platform, ensuring comprehensive feedback and resource optimization. Danielle also highlights the importance of user feedback and the integration of support teams in beta testing. Learn about Wyze's SMART approach to beta testing, which ensures their tests achieve meaningful results for the product team. This episode offers valuable insights into maximizing beta test outcomes, improving product development, and enhancing customer support. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ (0:00) — Intro (3:40) — Danielle shares her background and role at Wyze. (4:01) — Insight into Wyze's beta program model and its evolution. (5:01) — Discussing the SMART approach to beta testing. (7:20) — The role of the Wizard buddies and support integration. (8:29) — How product managers and support teams handle feedback. (10:44) — Transition from social media-based testing to structured beta programs. (13:12) — Issues with decentralized feedback and the benefits of a standardized testing platform. (16:29) — How Wyze uses beta test results to improve products and support resources. (20:40) —The importance of user feedback and maintaining positive tester relationships. (22:01) — Rapid Fire Questions

July 3, 2024Episode 746 min

Why Empathy Matters in Beta with Dylan LeMay

Ever wondered how the tech behind baby monitors gets perfected? On this episode of Launch With Confidence, we’re joined by Dylan LeMay, Beta Program Manager at Nanit, who turns real-world chaos into irrefutable insights. As a new dad himself, he blends personal experience with professional expertise to ensure Nanit’s smart baby monitors excel in diverse environments. In this insightful conversation, Dylan reveals the fascinating behind-the-scenes of beta testing in real homes, dealing with everything from varying crib setups to diverse environmental factors. He shares how his personal journey into parenthood has enriched his professional approach, bringing a deeper level of empathy and understanding to his role. Tune in to hear about the trials and triumphs of refining cutting-edge baby tech, and gain invaluable insights into how meticulous testing can lead to products that parents trust and love. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ (0:00) - Intro (2:00) - Discussing the significance of testing in diverse environments. (4:38) - Challenges faced when testing products for babies in different settings. (7:19) - The importance of beta testing in diverse environments and situations. (10:41) - Balancing technical issues and user experiences in beta testing. (13:09) - How test data makes its way back into product development (14:48) - Recruiting for time-sensitive products and how automation helps keep things on track. (18:41) - The impact of empathy on beta testing and understanding user pain points. (23:10) - Collaborative efforts between beta testing and other departments. (30:58) - Growing a beta program (41:07) - Lightning round, rapid fire Q&A

June 22, 2024Episode 625 min

PM Learnings From Previous Roles with Raiana Zaman

Dive into the intricate world of digital product management with Raiana Zaman, Senior Product Owner/Analyst at State Employees Credit Union in North Carolina. Transitioning from a developer to a product management role, Raiana brings a unique perspective to the table, bridging the gap between technical execution and strategic product vision. This episode explores Raiana's journey, highlighting the skills and mindset shifts essential for navigating the dynamic landscape of product development in the finance sector. Discover the importance of customer feedback, the art of balancing stakeholder interests, and the crucial role of curiosity and problem-solving in crafting digital products that resonate with users and drive business success. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ (0:00) - Intro. (2:14) - How development experience benefits her current role. (4:26) - Key skills for moving into product management. (7:00) - The synergy between product marketing and management. (9:27) - Early user involvement in development for better product fit. (13:29) - Prioritizing product quality over strict deadlines. (16:38) - Using user feedback in product betas for refinement. (21:24) - Raiana shares quick insights and personal preferences.