About Tamar Yehoshua and Her Journey

Tamar Yehoshua, currently the President of Product and Technology at Glean, has a rich background in product management and technology. Since March 2024, she has been with Glean, and previously served as Chief Product Officer at Slack. Her career also includes significant tenures at Google and Amazon, each providing her with distinct insights into building user-friendly digital products.

Philosophy of Product Management

Yehoshua’s philosophy on product management is shaped by her experiences across various tech giants. She emphasizes the need for a customer-centric approach and a keen understanding of both qualitative and quantitative data. While reflecting on her tenure, she noted:

“I think it’s important to be data-informed but not data-driven. You don’t want every decision to be purely based on data because you have to have an instinct; you have to understand your customers and know what they need.”

The Role of Curiosity in Product Management

According to Yehoshua, curiosity stands as a crucial trait for product managers. She argues that the role encompasses listening and learning rather than presenting a closed strategy. Engaging with customers and stakeholders allows for a deeper understanding of needs and potential innovations.

Navigating the AI Landscape

Yehoshua has observed significant innovation among AI practitioners and start-up founders. She highlighted how the launch of tools like ChatGPT prompted rapid changes in strategic roadmaps:

“What differentiates the people who are forward-thinking is their ability to see something that is changing and make bold moves to throw out the original plan.”

She compares the speed of AI adoption to previous technological revolutions, suggesting that AI’s ease of integration accelerates its acceptance in large enterprises.

Challenges in AI Adoption for Enterprises

One of the key challenges enterprises face in adopting AI tools is the gap between leadership readiness and organizational acceptance. Yehoshua noted that even when leaders are enthusiastic, instilling a culture receptive to change often proves complex.

To address this, she recommends leading by example. If executives actively use AI tools and share their experiences, it can help normalize the technology within the organization.

Redefining Roles in the Age of AI

Yehoshua believes AI will fundamentally alter job roles within technology teams. The boundaries separating engineers, product managers, and designers may blur as AI tools enable individuals to perform a more varied array of tasks.

“There’s no reason to think that the way we’ve delineated the roles of engineer, product manager, and designer is the optimal and best way. We should be iterating,” she explained. This evolution suggests a future where cross-functional collaboration becomes the norm.

Building AI-Centric Products

The design and construction of generative AI products entail a faster pace than traditional technology products, albeit following similar frameworks. Yehoshua stated the potential pitfalls with AI’s inherent nondeterministic nature:

“The biggest difference is that AI is nondeterministic. When you check AI for quality assurance, there is a different set of evaluative tools.”

Continual Learning and Feedback

Yehoshua emphasizes the importance of continuous feedback and iteration in product management. Understanding customer challenges and preferences is vital for identifying features that genuinely enhance user experience.

As she poignantly stated:

“There are few things that make a difference in products. There are so many features you can build, but there is a full graveyard of features that I built that nobody ever used.”

Final Thoughts: Embracing AI and Curiosity

In closing, Yehoshua advises professionals across all sectors to remain curious and proactive in exploring AI technologies. By engaging firsthand with AI tools, individuals can better appreciate their potential impacts on their work and the broader industry landscape.

“In the age of AI, be curious. You have to try the tools; you can’t just read about them.”