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Gene
Grinyov

PRODUCT

LEADERSHIP

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Build Products People need.

Product Executive to guide your Team, Processes, Products and Profits

I'm a serial startup creator and product-centered approach evangelist, who has gone from assembling and managing Teams to creating and developing Products and Companies behind them.

 

With years of industry experience for the US market and venture capital allocation and management, I invoke not only a wide variety of theoretical approaches on the Software Product Management and Product Development Lifecycle, but also purely practical combination towards exercising the methods tailored to suit Your Product.

Some Metrics

  • What are the most widespread use cases you work with?
    As a Product Manager, I handle a variety of use cases that revolve around driving product success and meeting customer needs. Here are some of the most widespread use cases I commonly work with: 1. New product development: I assist in bringing new products to market, starting from the ideation phase to product launch and further. This involves conducting market research, defining product requirements, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and overseeing the entire development process. I have launched several Products, with some of them for my own Startups. 2. Product roadmap planning: I collaborate with stakeholders to develop a strategic product roadmap that aligns with the business objectives. This includes prioritizing features, estimating timelines, and ensuring the roadmap reflects customer needs and business priorities. 3. Feature prioritization and backlog management: I help prioritize features based on their impact, feasibility, and alignment with the product strategy. By managing the product backlog, I ensure that the most valuable and impactful features are delivered to customers in a timely manner. I also assist Product Teams get their prioritization techniques matched. 4. User research and validation: I conduct user research to understand customer needs, pain points, and preferences. This involves gathering qualitative and quantitative data, analyzing user feedback, and validating product ideas to ensure that the product meets the target market's requirements. I apply Customer Development framework per request. 5. Cross-functional collaboration: I serve as a bridge between various teams, including engineering, design, marketing, and sales. I facilitate effective communication, coordinate efforts, and ensure that everyone is aligned towards the product vision and goals. 6. Product performance analysis: I continuously monitor product performance metrics, such as user engagement, conversion rates, and customer satisfaction. By analyzing these metrics, I identify areas for improvement and propose data-driven strategies to enhance the product's success. In case of necessity, Product Analytics system can be built to support the initiative. 7. Agile project management: I apply Agile methodologies (being keen on Scrum) to manage the product development process efficiently. This includes facilitating sprint planning, conducting daily stand-ups, and overseeing the iterative delivery of features to ensure timely releases and adaptability to changing market conditions. 8. Team assembly and leadership: I play a key role in building and leading high-performing product and development teams. This involves identifying the necessary skill sets, recruiting and onboarding team members, fostering a collaborative culture, and providing guidance and mentorship to ensure the team's success. 9. Financial planning and forecasting: I work closely with stakeholders and finance teams to develop and manage product budgets, financial forecasts, and pricing strategies. By analyzing market dynamics, competitive landscape, and cost structures, I help determine the financial viability of product initiatives and optimize resource allocation. 10. Market expansion and diversification: I collaborate with business development teams to identify opportunities for market expansion or product diversification. By conducting market research, assessing competitive landscapes, and understanding customer needs, I contribute to strategic decisions and guide the development of new products or the expansion into new markets. 11. Go-to-market planning: I develop comprehensive go-to-market strategies that encompass product positioning, pricing, marketing campaigns, and sales enablement. By collaborating with marketing and sales teams, I ensure effective product launches and successful market penetration. 12. Streamlining organizational structure: I help detach C-level management from tactical and operational product work, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives. This creates a clear organizational structure, enabling faster decision-making, efficient execution, and improved work process excellence.
  • How will I know you are doing a right thing for the Product?
    Ensuring that the right actions are taken for the success of a product requires a systematic approach and thorough evaluation, that are especially important from the get-go. To provide assurance, I believe in conducting an initial audit to assess the current state of the product. This audit allows me to identify opportunities and growth areas based on a comprehensive understanding of the situation. Once the audit is completed, we prioritize the identified areas and agree on a plan that outlines milestones to be achieved. This plan serves as a roadmap for our collaboration and ensures clear direction in addressing the product's needs effectively. To measure progress and success, I emphasize the importance of implementing metrics that align with the Product's strategy and goals. These metrics serve as key performance indicators and provide valuable insights into the impact of our actions. Regular tracking and analysis of these metrics (usually integrated into recurring Orientation meetings) allow us to assess the effectiveness of our strategies and make data-driven decisions. Any level of Goal-setting framework and hierarchy, as well as Analytics system that suits your Product can be implemented/enhanced as part of the procedure.
  • When do I know I need a Product Manager?
    A seasoned Product Manager is crucial when you find yourself facing challenges in effectively managing your Products or when you need assistance in driving your business forward. Some widespread signs from my experience are: Lack of strategic direction: You struggle to define a clear product strategy aligned with business goals and/or dissect it into actionable directions. Difficulty prioritizing features: Choosing which features to develop or prioritize becomes challenging or resembles an ever-changing process from planning to planning. Ineffective product development process: Your development process lacks structure, clarity and efficiency. Customer dissatisfaction or declining engagement: Negative feedback and decreased user engagement are evident and influence Product metrics. Market and competitive analysis: You are not sure you can effectively stay ahead of the market and identify new opportunities for your Product. Investor relations amplification: You feel you could do better in definitively communicating your product strategy and vision to investors, fostering trust and attracting necessary funding for your business's growth based on clear product metrics projections. Product and team scaling failures: As you expand your product line or team, team's productivity and clarity of organizational structure muddle. In such cases I can bring invaluable experience in managing the complexities of scaling, optimizing processes, and maintaining a cohesive and high-performing team. Product Team performance issues: If your Product Team is underperforming or lacking cohesion, as a Product Leader I can step in and provide the necessary guidance and leadership to elevate their performance.
  • I have a Product idea. Can you help me make it happen?
    Absolutely! It is my delight to bring product ideas to life. As a Product Leader and startup founder, my expertise lies in translating ideas into tangible products. I will work closely with you to understand the concept, conduct market research, analyze feasibility, and develop a comprehensive product strategy. Together, we will outline the key features and requirements of your product, ensuring they align with your vision and target audience needs. I will guide you through the product development process, from ideation to launch, while incorporating best practices, user-centric design principles, and agile methodologies. Additionally, I can assist in defining a roadmap, prioritizing features, and assembling/collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation. Throughout the journey, I will provide valuable insights, make data-driven decisions, and help navigate any challenges that arise. By leveraging my experience and passion for product development, I will support (or lead) you in transforming your idea into a reality.
  • What is the biggest Team you've worked with? What Team do you feel comfortable working with?
    Throughout my career, I have not only worked with Teams but also assembled them from scratch for various purposes, including my own startups. Just for example, my experience for one of the latest Products includes successfully coordinating 11 Product Teams (~6-15 people each) via my own Team, excluding architecture, legal, and C-level specialists. However, the size of the Team is not a determining factor for me. I have coordinated Teams of all sizes, from standard Scrum teams to companies with multiple departments. My focus is on achieving optimal collaboration and delivering results, regardless of the team's size.
  • How comfortable are you communicating with Dev Team members, not just Product Specialists, on a day-to-day basis?
    Having had extensive experience in assembling and leading Teams, including direct hiring of development, UI/UX, QA, Marketing, Customer Care specialists, I am fully comfortable with (and keen on) day-to-day communication. I have worked closely with professionals from all across Digital on numerous occasions, engaging in interface designs, marketing strategies, system architecture iterations to name some. Additionally, my moderate background in development enhances my ability to effectively interact with and understand the perspectives of the Team. I prefer to discuss the forms of cooperation and level of engagement depending on the tasks at hand.
  • Can you train/lead/consult my current Product Team?
    Absolutely! With my experience as a seasoned Product Leader, I am confident in my ability to train, lead, and consult your current Product Team. I have a proven track record of successfully building and managing high-performing teams, guiding them to deliver to the market and achieve strategic objectives. As a Product Leader, I possess deep knowledge of product management best practices, agile methodologies, and industry trends for several niches. I can provide comprehensive training sessions tailored to the specific needs of your team, equipping them with the necessary skills and frameworks to excel in their roles. In terms of leadership, I will bring a strong sense of vision, strategic thinking, and a customer-centric mindset to inspire and guide your team towards achieving product excellence. Additionally, I can offer valuable insights and consultation to optimize your team's workflows, improve cross-functional collaboration, and streamline product development processes. I will work closely with your team to identify areas for improvement, implement effective methodologies, and leverage data-driven approaches to make informed decisions that drive product success. My goal is not only to elevate the performance of your Product Team but also to foster a culture of continuous learning and growth. I will mentor and support your team members, empowering them to develop their skills, expand their knowledge, and become valuable contributors to your organization's product strategy. Book an intro now for us to discuss your specific Product situation and tasks.
  • What markets and niches have you primarily worked with?
    As a Product Manager, my expertise lies in the US market, where I have specialized for over a decade. I have a deep understanding of US-targeted and US-based products, enabling me to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities presented in this dynamic market. Additionally, I have successfully worked with European products (UK and Germany in particular), further broadening my global perspective and adapting strategies to different regions. My experience spans across various industries and niches, amongst which are Education, Fintech, Social, AR, Medtech, iGaming, Martech, Telecom and Governmental Programs. I have a diverse background in managing products for both B2B and B2C, as well as B2B2C models, ensuring seamless experiences for both web and mobile platforms. I am well-versed in handling SaaS products, which I've done/led several times. With my extensive experience and versatility, I am equipped to bring exceptional product management skills to a wide range of markets and niches, helping businesses thrive and succeed in the ever-evolving landscape of product development.
  • How much do your services cost?
    As each project and engagement is unique, the cost of my services can vary depending on the scope, duration, and specific requirements of the collaboration. I strive to give a free Intro and hourly rate for some of the Services is as cheap as $35 per hour. However, to provide you with an accurate estimate, I would need more details about your specific needs and the complexity of the project. Once we have a clear understanding of the scope and objectives, I can formulate a tailored proposal that includes a transparent breakdown of costs and deliverables. As varying tasks imply differing effort, I work on both hourly and Service Package compensation basis. I invite you to reach out to me with further details about your project, and I will be more than happy to discuss pricing and provide a customized proposal that would work for you.
  • What ways of payment do you prefer?
    I offer flexible payment options to accommodate different preferences and ensure a convenient payment process. I typically accept payments through secure means, such as SWIFT, wire bank transfers, and crypto. Additionally, I am open to discussing alternative payment methods based on your specific requirements and preferences.
  • I don't want my current Team to know your role and objectives. What can be done?
    I understand a need for discretion and maintaining confidentiality for certain stages/formats of cooperation. In such cases it is generally a practice to be presented as an outside Product Specialist observing the situation and getting to know things better to provide general recommendations on the state of the Product. Rest assured, no matter the areas of attention, my focus will be on delivering value and achieving our shared objectives while respecting your confidentiality requirements.
  • Can we sign an NDA? Especially if we want to go stealth?
    Undoubtedly. Signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is not only a widespread practice in my experience but also an essential step in maintaining the utmost discretion and trust between parties. I find it a fitting mean to demonstrate the seriousness with which I approach the protection of sensitive information. Signing an NDA is crucial in cases of: 1. Preserving Confidentiality: An NDA serves as a formidable shield, safeguarding the confidential information exchanged between us. It establishes a legal framework that imposes strict obligations on all involved, ensuring that proprietary knowledge, trade secrets, and sensitive data are held in the strictest confidence. 2. Stealth Go-to-Market Strategies: For ventures that would lose their potency and thunder if exposed prematurely, an NDA becomes even more indispensable. This proves vital for industries with tight competition and minor Value Proposition changes, that could be copied by industry leaders fast. 3. Candid Assessment of the Current Team: In some cases, an NDA may be essential for conducting an in-depth evaluation of your current team. When I assess their capabilities, identify areas for improvement, and provide insights to enhance their performance, it ensures a confidential and unbiased evaluation, enabling us to strategize and build a high-performing team for maximum success. 4. Securing the Product Manager's know-hows and methodology: Signing an NDA is essential for preserving the expertise and distinctive approach employed by a Product Manager. When working with some of the Customers, I would ask for the protection of specialized knowledge and personal work methods.

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