Episode 219: The Real Role of Product Marketing in Strategy with Rebecca Shaddix

Listen to this episode from Product Thinking on Spotify. Rebecca Shaddix, a seasoned marketing executive and go-to-market strategist, joins Melissa Perri to explore the balance of acceptable mistakes in market strategy. Rebecca discusses the importance of defining acceptable mistakes to avoid unnecessary delays and to better align team efforts with strategic goals. This episode focuses on how acknowledging acceptable mistakes can accelerate development without compromising core objectives.Rebecca also addresses the overemphasis on latest trends like AI, stressing the importance of intentional use rather than succumbing to hype. She provides insights into managing internal pressures and steering conversations back to meaningful customer outcomes.If you want to learn how to effectively balance strategic goals with market pressures while maintaining a focus on customer value, tune in to gain practical insights from Rebecca’s experiences.You’ll hear us talk about:09:04 - The Concept of Acceptable MistakesRebecca explains what an acceptable mistake entails, offering examples such as opting for fewer customer interviews to accelerate go-to-market strategies without significant risk.29:19 - Navigating AI HypeDiscusses the cycle of trendy technologies and how AI has become a prevalent, though often superficial, part of product strategy, emphasizing the importance of intentionality.15:32 - Product and Product Marketing PartnershipHighlights the need for a bidirectional relationship between product management and product marketing, focusing on how they should collaboratively drive strategy and insights.Listen to the full episode for more in-depth discussions and insights.Episode resources:Rebecca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccashaddix/Try Liveblocks: https://liveblocks.io/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:57 Dear Melissa06:17 Defining acceptable mistakes in go-to-market12:22 How product and go-to-market should collaborate17:48 What data product and marketing teams should track22:53 Turning competitive noise into strategy29:21 Responding to AI pressure from the market34:29 Crafting real differentiators, not buzzwords39:29 Advice for future product marketers