My favorite weekly finds

🛠️ Tools

• Dust lets you search and automate work across all your tools by connecting AI agents to your existing data.

• Whisk Google's tool, now available in 100+ countries, lets you upload a subject, scene, and style to create a new image..

• fal creates instant videos and product demos 10x faster(raised $49M).

• Tofu creates and runs marketing campaigns across email, LinkedIn, and landing pages.

📰 Intelligent Insights

• Check out this awesome free guide UW professors show how to identify when ChatGPT is confidently make things up and offer techniques to get reliable results with AI.

• Anthropic plans to release a new Claude version “in the coming weeks” and projects to make ~$2-3B in revenue this year - say what!???

• The EU will spend $200B+ on AI, with over $20B for five new AI "gigafactories," each using 100K last-generation AI chips.

• PwC said Over 79% of its 75K US employees use GenAI tools daily, with 26% using AI at least once per day.

👀 ICYMI

• What Does “Fast” Really Mean? Startup Speed Explained (Learn more)

• AI Won’t Take Your Job—But It Will Change It Forever (learn more)

• A Product Manager's Guide to Time Management (learn more)

Deep Dive: Help Your Company Speak ‘Strategy’

Why should I care?

I didn’t start in product management.

Because here’s how strategic clarity transformed my career and can revolutionize yours.

Fifteen years ago at IQVIA, I wasn’t a product manager yet—I was an analyst on a new team. When our VP pushed for a deep integration between our data products and CRM platforms, I didn’t just follow orders. I asked, “What’s our real goal here?”

Our data drivers were powerful but too complex for non-tech users.

I saw an opportunity: if we built a seamless integration, our products would truly serve everyone, not just IT pros.

After some back-and-forth, we built a solution that not only won over users but also set the stage for my shift into a role that merged tech with business strategy.

This story shows that when you link strategy, integration, and clear communication, you unlock real value.

It’s a game-changer—for you, your team, and your entire company.

Ready to dive deeper? Keep reading.

Upward: Get Their Hidden Strategy

Even if the CEO suggests something odd, trust they have a strategy behind it—even if it’s not clear.

Sometimes, their idea comes from pure intuition rather than detailed analysis. So, when a manager sounds off, assume there’s a good reason, and help them explain it.

Start by really listening without judging.

Instead of asking, “Why do we do this?” try, “What result are we after?”

Being specific helps them think it through.

Then, retell their idea in your own words: what’s the problem, what does success look like, and what are the assumptions and constraints?

If something’s missing, ask a focused question.

Share what you understand and let them refine it.

Sometimes a quick chat is enough; other times, set up another meeting. A verbal discussion often works best when things need to move fast.

Remember: strategy, listening, and clarity are key.

Sideways: Lead by Example

In product management, you never win alone. Your colleagues shape your success, and their strategy matters just as much as yours.

Too often, strategy feels abstract while everyone chases immediate tasks.

Change that by clearly sharing your own strategy and aligning with the team.

Start by explaining what you want to achieve, how it ties to the company’s big goals, and what trade-offs you’re making.

Keep it simple—no need for fancy slides. Instead, set the context before diving into solutions.