The future of product management, AI and insights from Deel’s Khizar Naeem

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes speaks with Khizar Naeem, Product Lead at Deel, about the evolving landscape of product management, particularly in the context of AI and customer insights. The conversation explores the differences between conventional product management and the messy realities of high-growth companies, the rise of senior individual contributors, and the essential skills for aspiring product managers in an AI-driven world.Chapters(00:00) Introduction to Product Management and AI(01:15) Khizar’s Journey into Product Management(06:01) The Importance of Customer Insights(12:28) Common Mistakes in User Feedback Interpretation(16:54) Conventional vs. Real-World Product Management(20:52) Transitioning from Theory to Practice in Product Management(22:30) AI’s Impact on Product Management(27:05) Skills for Aspiring Product Managers(30:46) The Rise of Senior Individual Contributors(34:19) Leadership Dynamics in Product Teams(38:43) Qualities of Great Product Teams(43:07) Assessing Engineers in the Age of AI(44:51) Cultivating Empathy in Product Teams(48:30) The Future of Product Management (edited)