In October 2024, Planview sponsored the first Project to Product Summit (and it won’t be the last). But in case you can’t wait until next year’s event, we’re sharing some of the key content to catch up on.
In these sessions, speakers from FedEx, Nationwide, Spotify, Vanguard, Verizon, and Planview described their journeys, shared the roadblocks they encountered, and laid out the strategies they developed for the project-to-product shift.
For anyone who wants to excel at making the transition from project-based to product-oriented work, this content is can’t-miss.
Thank you so much for this incredible summit. You combined what would have taken me hours and hours of research to gain this perspective.
Project to Product Summit Attendee
First-Ever Project to Product Summit Drew 4,400 Registrants
The inaugural summit, held October 8-9, comprised two events: an in-person experience for executives in NYC and a virtual conference for everyone from team members to CEOs. We had nearly 4,400 registrants in all.
Our all-day executive event explored advanced strategies for digital product delivery, and leaders from companies leading the shift presented breakout sessions. Here are some of the speakers we heard from:
- Steve Berez, Advisory Partner, Bain & Company, and founder of Bain’s Enterprise Technology practice
- Mike Carr, Principal, Vanguard Chief Technology Officer, Vanguard
- Dr. Mik Kersten, Chief Technology Officer, Planview
- Janaki Palaniappan, Partner, McKinsey & Company
- Dave West, product owner and CEO, Scrum.org
Our virtual event featured 52 presentations in the following tracks: product operating model, investment and value realization, value stream flow, and organizational design and culture.
If you couldn’t make it to the live event – or if you attended but couldn’t get to all of the sessions you found interesting – we shortlisted seven sessions for you below. These contain:
- Two foundational sessions from Planview leaders about overcoming roadblocks and proving the value of the product operating model.
- Five sessions with varied organizations sharing lessons learned and advice for making the shift.
Scroll down to see which sessions are available to watch now.
Your Summit Shortlist: Catch These 7 Sessions On Demand
Overcoming project-to-product roadblocks for leaders
Title: Unlearn What You Know: Stop Thinking Like a Coach and Start Thinking Like a Player
Speaker: Alan Manuel, Global VP of Product for VSM and AI at Planview
What you’ll learn: Many companies pursuing the project-to-product shift do the research, learn the techniques, and develop transformation plans, but can’t get any further. Alan shared firsthand experience on how leaders can overcome these roadblocks by starting to think more like players than coaches. Watch Now
Proving the value of the product-operating model
Title: Five Steps to a Product Operating Model
Speaker: Dr. Mik Kersten, Chief Technology Officer at Planview
What you’ll learn: Although organizations are still making a slow progression toward the project-to-product shift, those who are already operating in this way prove the value of the operating model. Mik, best-selling author of “Project To Product: How to Survive and Thrive in the Age of Digital Disruption with the Flow Framework®,” explained the value he’s seen organizations gain in productivity, value creation, agility, and customer centricity. Watch Now
Making the product shift at Verizon over multiple years
Title: Align your Organization with your Product Vision
Speakers: Abby Knowles, Vice President (GTS) Global Technology Solutions at Verizon, and Archana Prabhu, Senior Director, Solution Architecture at Verizon
What you’ll learn: Moving from a project-based to product-centric model requires a fundamental transformation of your organization’s makeup. Verizon leaders shared how the Consumer Group of Verizon has dedicated itself to a multi-year journey to embrace agile methodologies and a product and platform-driven model at scale, along with strategy advice, challenges to overcome, and tangible steps you can take. Watch Now
FedEx: Getting the data you need to optimize flow
Title: Combining the Power of VSM and OKRs to Optimize Flow and Accelerate Speed to Value
Speaker: Greschen Powell, Senior Consultant at FedEx
What you’ll learn: Getting to an optimized state of flow starts with data. Greschen walked through how to leverage a Value Stream Management (VSM) platform to create the flow models you need to get the metrics and data that will help you identify opportunities and make improvements. Watch Now
Discovering how Spotify does product
Title: How Do We Do Product at Spotify?
Speaker: Rachel Dubois, former Senior Product & Agile Coach at Spotify
What you’ll learn: Get an inside look at how Spotify does product. In this session, Rachel shared methods that the organization has used to make its products consistently successful for more than 10 years, including how Spotify incorporates product-operating model thinking. Watch Now
Experiencing flow measurement implementation firsthand at Vanguard
Title: Introducing Flow at Scale at Vanguard
Speaker: Susan Schweitzer, Senior Flow Advisor at Vanguard
What you’ll learn: Susan walked through Vanguard’s implementation of flow measurement in their enterprise software development organization. You’ll see how they progressed from piloting flow measurement with 10 teams, expanding to 25 teams, and finally, leaping to 750 teams. She traced the steps taken, strategies and tactics, and the takeaways she’s gained from the process. Watch Now
Nationwide: Understanding the impact of generative AI on the product operating model
Title: The Evolution of the Product Operating Model in the Age of Generative AI
Speakers: Kristen Biddulph, Director, SEPM for Innovation, Generative AI Solutions at Nationwide Insurance, and Phil Hamlin, Associate Vice President, Software Engineering, Innovation Delivery at Nationwide Insurance
What you’ll learn: See how generative AI is changing the shape of the product operating model at a fundamental level. Kristen and Phil explored these nuances and provided perspective on how teams can adapt and thrive during this new era of technological innovation. Watch Now
Expert Insights to Guide You Through the Shift
These sessions provide invaluable hands-on insights to help you shift from project-based to product-oriented work. Another great place to start is with the 2024 Project to Product State of the Industry Report.
The report contains insights from 8,000 value streams and more than 600 global survey respondents to help you benchmark where your organization stands in the project-to-product shift. You’ll also learn the eight key identifiers of elite organizations making the shift and the challenges that stand in everyone’s way. Download My Copy
