From Co-op CPO to Co-Founder – Adam Warburton (Co-Founder, Rove)

In this conversation on this week's podcast, Adam Warburton, Co-Founder of Rove, shares his journey from being a Chief Product Officer at large firms like Co-op and Travelex, to co-founding his startup, Rove. He discusses the challenges and learnings from transitioning to a startup environment, the importance of prototyping and user feedback, and the balance between being product-led and sales-led.

Featured Links

• Follow Adam on LinkedIn  
• Rove  
• Co-op 
• Marty Cagan's book 'Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love'

Chapters

• 00:00 Expectation vs. Reality in Happiness
• 05:08 Transitioning from Corporate to Startup Life
• 10:05 The Importance of Prototyping and User Feedback
• 14:58 Navigating Product vs. Sales-Led Strategies
• 20:00 The Value of Co-Founders in Entrepreneurship
• 25:13 Learning from Experience: Shaping Product Practices
• 29:46 Pragmatism Over Theory in Product Management
• 35:08 Coaching and Training: Evolving Perspectives

Key takeaways

• Happiness is expectation divided by reality.
• Transitioning from corporate to startup life brings unexpected challenges.
• Prototyping and user feedback are crucial in the early stages.
• Navigating product vs. sales-led strategies is essential for growth.
• Co-founders significantly enhance the entrepreneurial experience.
• Pragmatism often trumps theoretical frameworks in product management.
• Learning from experience shapes product practices.
• The importance of being adaptable in product strategies.
• Building a prototype can lead to significant traction.
• Coaching should focus on maximizing impact with available resources.