Gibson Biddle's Recent LinkedIn Posts

How do you define a succinct product strategy? After more than three decades working in product strategy, I’ve noticed a trend: Succinctness makes a product strategy shine. You may think great product strategy requires complexity and endless documentation, but that’s not true at all—simplicity and clarity rule. In my Product Strategy Workshop, I define succinct strategy as a set of hypotheses outlining how your product will delight customers in hard-to-copy, margin-enhancing ways– what I call DHM: - Delight: Creating a product that is perceived as tenfold better than other choices, leading customers to rave about it. - Hard-to-copy: Building durable advantages—or moats—such as brand, network effects, unique technology (like personalization), and economies of scale, making it difficult for competitors to replicate. - Margin-enhancing: Ensuring the business model is profitable or generates revenue, providing the necessary funds to invest in future product improvements and innovation. I like teaching tools like the SMT Lockup (Strategy, Metric, Tactic) to instill discipline, enable teams to determine whether their hypotheses are valid, and connect strategy to execution. I developed the GLEe model (Get Big, Expand, Expand) to help define a long-term product vision and connect it to your product strategy. Ultimately, a succinct product strategy is about achieving focus by clearly communicating high-level priorities, hypotheses, and intended outcomes. And remember: what you choose NOT to do is just as important as what you choose to pursue. Ready to master the art of succinct product strategy? Join my Product Strategy Workshop on Maven and learn the DHM framework, SMT Lockup, and five other vital strategic tools I developed at Netflix. In just two 2.5-hour sessions, you'll learn practical frameworks you can apply immediately to your work. My next cohort is Tuesday (Oct. 28) and Thursday (10/30) of this week, from 9:00 am - 11:30 am PT, so enroll now: http://bit.ly/3WPDxZc

This will be our 9th year for the "Product Leader Summit," an invite-only event on October 23rd in the SF Bay Area. One thousand folks will apply, and we'll build a 120-person "class" that is 50/50 m/f and 20% black/latinx. Yes, there will be great main stage speakers, but the highlights are the forty-person workshops where you spend time with your product leader peers. When I worked full-time, I never attended conferences, but I did spend tons of time networking with product leader peers and potential recruits. This event makes it easy to build relationships in a non-awkward way. Ha does an excellent summary below, and you can apply for this year's event here: https://lnkd.in/gJypEHi

Hello, London! I'm doing a public talk with Monzo on Wednesday night, June 18. Join us for food, drink, and lots of "What would you do?" Netflix cases that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I look forward to seeing you at 6 pm at Broadwalk house in Broadgate. Sign up now! Gib

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Product Leader Summit, and Ha Nguyen, Vidya (Vee) Dinamani, Dan Olsen, and I are planning something truly special for our September 2026 gathering. Since we started back in 2016, our goal hasn’t been to fill a stadium. It’s been to curate the "perfect room" for 120 product leaders. Why the application process? Most product conferences are built for PMs. We love those, but the Product Leader Summit is different. It's built exclusively for CPOs, SVPs, VPs of Product, and Directors at big companies who are stingy with titles. When you’re at this level, the challenges are different, and the conversations need to be, too. We started planning this September event as soon as the last one ended! We spend months obsessing over the experience so that when you walk in, you feel special immediately. We'd love to have you be part of our celebratory tenth event on September 17, 2026, in the SF Bay Area. It only takes one minute to apply:

Here’s a little secret: you don’t need a technical degree to succeed in product management. Back in 2005, when I started my role as VP of Product at Netflix , I joked that I would be the only English major in the building and felt that my degree was an anomaly. However, when I began developing our first Quarterly Product Strategy Meetings (QPSM), I realized the importance of my non-technical perspective. The meetings originated as quarterly updates but quickly became a mechanism to help the growing company scale quickly with strong alignment across the entire product organization. Leveraging my non-technical background, the QPSM taught me three important things about discussing product strategy effectively in a world-class product organization: 1. The Importance of Defining and Aligning on Measurable Strategy QPSM discussions were centered around the core belief that product strategy must be articulated as measurable hypotheses. Using clear frameworks and learning from past A/B tests made communication easier. Data provided a common language that was digestible to both technical and non-technical audiences. 2. Efficient Organizational Design and Velocity (Tight Alignment, Loose Coupling) Through QPSM meetings, I learned that operating under the principle of “tight alignment, loose coupling” helps prevent organizational friction and enables rapid scaling and fast decision-making. “Tight alignment” is when each team member understands the overall product strategy. “Loose coupling” occurs when only occasional, light check-ins are required across functions—you don’t have to consult multiple teams for every decision. Finding this balance between understanding and developing product strategy was possible with the skills I gained early on in my career without a technical degree. 3. Embrace a Culture of Debate and Learning Effective teamwork and collaboration require team members to ask the hard questions and be honest when they disagree. My non-technical background prepared me to advocate for my own ideas, and I quickly learned that embracing debate in these meetings sharpens everyone’s thinking and improves decision-making. Discussing product strategy effectively and efficiently is essential in world-class product organizations and achievable for anyone, regardless of background. Want to learn the frameworks and tools I used at Netflix to build world-class product strategy? Join my Product Strategy Workshop on Maven , where you'll learn how to craft a product vision, align your teams, and run effective quarterly strategy meetings—just like we did at Netflix. The next cohort starts on October 28. Enroll now: http://bit.ly/47fJwvf

I know it’s a far-off future date and you likely don’t go to events like this, but this is the rare diamond in the rough. If you’re a CPO or VP of Product, I encourage you to apply…today.

The fifth cohort of my Product Strategy Workshop on Maven is one month away (October 28 & 30). We'll demystify product strategy and teach product leaders of all levels to quickly build a product strategy for your overall product organization or swimlane. With numerous "what would you do?" cases, the two-day workshop will keep you on the edge of your seat. I'm about to cross the 500 student threshold, and you can read the reviews at the link below. If you're a past student or a "friend of Gib," please like and share this post to help spread the word. Thanks!

The Net Promoter Score for my February Product Strategy Workshop on Maven was 70, which is considered world-class. Click on the link in the comments below to learn more plus read all the reviews. The next cohort is April 1 & 3, 9:00am-11:30am PT each day.

My Product Strategy Workshop is part of the "Maven 100." Maven is having a 20% sale for the next week, so it's a good time to sign up for my sixth session on October 28th and 30th.

One of my favorite talks, my "Netflix Wicked Hard Decisions" no-slides talk, was born out of paranoia. I worried, "What would I do if none of the technology worked?" Instead of relying on Google Slides, I learned to take a case-based approach where the content comes from the audience. I put a simple question on the table: "How should Netflix respond to Blockbuster's attack in 2007?" I encourage folks to ask enough questions to form an opinion, farm for dissent, then nurture debate so that it begins to feel like an executive team discussion. If you're interested in this talk or other product strategy topics, check out my baby website in the comments below. Many thanks to Notion Capital for hosting me last night. (The NPS was 100, which is freaky but not unexpected given the level of engagement from the entrepreneurs in the room.)

I've got a busy two weeks ahead of me: the 9th Annual Product Leader Summit in the SF Bay Area, then the following week, my two-session Product Strategy Workshop on Maven. We're locked and loaded on the Product Leader Summit, but you still have time to sign up for my next virtual Product Strategy Workshop. It's Tuesday and Thursday, October 28th and 30th, from 9-11:30 am PT on both days. My mission is to demystify product strategy, enabling product leaders at all levels to quickly develop a strategy for their overall company or its component swimlanes. It's not boring —we'll do lots of modern-day, juicy, "what would you do?" scenarios. I use many Netflix cases that inspire best thinking and debate. The result of this work? I'll send you back to work the next day, where you can instantly apply the six tools, models, and frameworks to become a more strategic product leader. Check out the details and reviews at the link below:

We’ll be hosting our 9th annual Product Leader Summit in the SF Bay Area on October 23rd. It’s a labor of love project by Ha Nguyen, Dan Olsen, Vidya Dinamani and me that brings together 120 worldwide product leaders on the 23rd with an extra day of activities on the 24th if you’re up for it. It’s a small event designed to help VP and CPO-level product leaders connect with each other. There are only 2-3 main stage speakers and for the rest of the first day, leaders choose three of the nine smaller workshops offered. These small workshops— with world-class speakers and workshop hosts— give product leaders time to get to know each other. If you’re from out of town or want an extra day to build and connect your network of peers, stay the second day to participate in outdoor activities and explore the CA coast. I know you’re busy and as a vp/cpo, you rarely attend events. In fact, you likely speak at other events. But I encourage you to attend this event as it’s a highly efficient way to meet your peers. If you’re head of product, a VP or CPO-level product leader, or a Director in a title-inflation free large company (like Apple) I encourage you to apply to this invite-only event. Click below to apply or learn more. (Past attendees, please like, comment, and share to continue to build this unique product leader network.) Thanks! Gib https://lnkd.in/gJypEHi

On April 1 in Bend, I’ll be telling the story of Kristen Hege ‘s and my 2,650-mile hike from Mexico to Canada through the High Sierra and Cascades. Tickets are $20 and include all you can eat food and drink, plus any leftover money is donated to charity. This is only the second time I’ve done this talk. The first time, the NPS was in the 70’s which is considered world-class. Come on out and heckle on April Fool’s day, starting at 5:30 pm. Please sign up today so we know how much food to order.

Hello, London! I'll be giving my "Netflix: Wicked Hard Decisions" talk at Monzo on Wednesday, June 18th, in the evening at Broadwalk House. RSVP below. (I'm doing three events in London that week, so watch this space for more.) Also, let me know if you'd like to meet or if I can drop by your company that week.

Nice way to think about our invite only event. We’ll be celebrating our 10th year of the Product Leader Summit next fall. Apply today! Gib

I'll present my new "Leadership Lessons from the Pacific Crest Trail" talk in San Diego on June 5th to kick off Vidya Dinamani and Heather Samarin's Product Manager Summit. If you live within 2,650 miles of San Diego (my max thru-hiking range), I'd highly recommend this event, and my new talk is a lot of fun. You can sign up for the event here: https://lnkd.in/eyAFqXUh

The fourth cohort of my Product Strategy Workshop will start in 23 hours: Tuesday, April 1, from 9-11:30 am PT and Thursday, April from 9-11:30 am PT. If you can't make it, the fifth cohort will be on October 28 and 30 (post Cornwall Coast and Appalachian Trail hikes!)

On Tuesday in Las Vegas!…

Oliver has launched his own research insights business. I highly recommend him…

Hello, London! I’m giving my “Netflix’s Wicked Hard Decisions” talk on Wednesday evening, June 18th, at 6pm. Details here:

My 2 x 2.5-hour Product Strategy Workshop is on Maven's top 10 lists for Product, Business, & Finance. The next cohort is April 1 and April 3 (from 9-11:30 am PT, each day). If you'd like to engage in a fast-paced review of the six product strategy frameworks I use to help companies succeed, click the link below. The course is full of B2B, consumer and startup examples, along with lots of juicy "what would you do?" cases:

Thursday June 5 in San Diego! I’ll be speaking first thing in the morning!

Hello Bend, Oregon! I will do my "Leadership Lessons from the PCT" talk on Tuesday, April 1st at 5:30 pm. In 2023, my wife and I hiked 2,650 miles from the border of Mexico to Canada along the Sierra and Cascade Mountains. It was a great adventure, and I'll reflect on what we learned about leadership that applies to high-tech careers and growing successful startups. It costs 20 bucks but includes food and beer. Come on out!

I reinforce what Suzanne says about Oliver below…Oliver is starting his own practice, focused on developing consumer insight (e.g. quantitative and qualitative research).

Hello, Bend! I'm doing my new "Leadership Lessons from the PCT" talk on April 1st. My wife and I hiked the 2,650-mile trail, and I reflect on the parallels between a tech career and growing fast-paced startups—lots of stories of fun and adventure.