#38: Building Great Products, Product Leadership & the Future of Work with Tomer Cohen (LinkedIn)

Overview

This episode features Tomer Cohen, former Chief Product Officer of LinkedIn, as he delves into the art of building transformative products, navigating leadership in large organizations, and the evolving role of AI in shaping the future of work. The conversation spans LinkedIn's journey to becoming a mobile-first platform, the rise of full-stack product builders, and personal reflections on growth, resilience, and leadership.

Notable Quotes

- Between every stimulus and response, there's a space. And in that space is your freedom to choose how you want to respond. – Tomer Cohen, on the power of intentionality.

- Great products don’t just solve functional needs; they evoke emotion, deliver social value, and redefine expectations. – Tomer Cohen, on what separates good products from great ones.

- Sometimes the most important thing to do when you find product-market fit is to stop and ensure your foundations are strong. – Tomer Cohen, on the importance of restraint in scaling products.

📱 Rebuilding LinkedIn for Mobile

- Tomer Cohen shared how LinkedIn transitioned from a desktop-centric platform to a mobile-first product, betting on mobile usage when it was only 3-6% of traffic.

- He emphasized the importance of creating daily value for users, transforming LinkedIn from a transactional tool into a platform for professional engagement.

- Early challenges included reimagining the LinkedIn feed, which was initially a springboard for promotions, into a space for meaningful professional interactions.

🌟 The Rise of Full-Stack Product Builders

- AI is enabling individuals to take ideas from concept to launch without relying on large teams, collapsing traditional roles across design, engineering, and product management.

- Tomer highlighted how tools like coding agents and AI-driven trust reviews are reducing friction in product development, empowering builders to work autonomously.

- He predicts a shift toward generalist product builders who can execute across the stack, while specialists will need to be exceptional to remain relevant.

🛠️ What Makes a Great Product

- A great product exceeds functional expectations by delivering emotional, social, and contextual value.

- Tomer used examples like LinkedIn's feed and audience network to illustrate how products can redefine user experiences, such as transforming commutes into productive or restful time.

- He stressed the importance of deep empathy for the user and a clear vision of the problem being solved.

⏸️ The Power of Restraint in Scaling

- Tomer shared lessons from LinkedIn's endorsement feature, which grew rapidly but failed due to foundational quality issues.

- He emphasized the importance of pausing to fix core problems before scaling, citing LinkedIn's audience network as a success story where restraint led to long-term impact.

- Restraint, he argued, is a critical but often overlooked skill in product leadership.

🧠 Growth Mindset and Leadership

- Tomer reflected on the importance of a growth mindset, challenging limiting beliefs, and embracing resilience in the face of challenges.

- He shared personal lessons on navigating large organizations, emphasizing the need to bring others along on the journey by aligning incentives and building shared purpose.

- Leadership, he noted, is about creating positive impact and fostering authenticity, both in oneself and in others.