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September 8, 2024 • 1hr 9min
How LinkedIn became interesting: The inside story | Tomer Cohen (CPO at LinkedIn)
Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career
In this episode of Lenny's Podcast, host Lenny Rachitsky interviews Tomer Cohen, Chief Product Officer at LinkedIn. Tomer oversees all teams responsible for building LinkedIn products and experiences, including product development, design, business development, content creation, and customer operations. The conversation covers Tomer's journey at LinkedIn, the transformation of LinkedIn's feed, adopting an AI-first mindset, and insights on product leadership and career growth.
How LinkedIn became interesting: The inside story | Tomer Cohen (CPO at LinkedIn)
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Key Takeaways
- Tomer Cohen's mantra "We might be wrong, but we are not confused" emphasizes the importance of clarity of thought and execution in product leadership
- LinkedIn transformed its feed from a promotional platform to an engaging content and social platform by:
- Making AI the core engine for content matching and recommendations
- Carving out a subset of users to experiment with new features
- Focusing on delivering value to both content creators and consumers
- Adopting an "AI-first" mindset is crucial for product teams, involving:
- Understanding AI as the core engine driving product success
- Product leaders taking ownership of AI strategy and implementation
- Rethinking product development with AI capabilities in mind
- Career growth in product management benefits from:
- Pursuing roles and projects you have strong conviction about
- Focusing on impact and learning rather than titles or prestige
- Continuously developing your craft and expertise
- Effective product leadership involves:
- Setting ambitious goals while aiming to over-deliver
- Allowing teams time to explore and experiment before converging on focused strategies
- Balancing personal excitement with potential for impact
Introduction
In this episode of Lenny's Podcast, host Lenny Rachitsky interviews Tomer Cohen, Chief Product Officer at LinkedIn. Tomer oversees all teams responsible for building LinkedIn products and experiences, including product development, design, business development, content creation, and customer operations. The conversation covers Tomer's journey at LinkedIn, the transformation of LinkedIn's feed, adopting an AI-first mindset, and insights on product leadership and career growth.
Topics Discussed
The "We might be wrong, but we are not confused" Mantra (02:28)
Tomer explains his frequently used phrase "We might be wrong, but we are not confused," emphasizing its importance in product leadership:
- It's rooted in clarity and principles that lead to leadership
- Focuses on clarity of thought and clarity of execution
- Encourages teams to move forward with alignment rather than hedging or creating confusion
- "I get attached to clarity and focus. I think that's much more important," says Tomer
Transforming LinkedIn's Feed (16:18)
Tomer discusses the strategy behind transforming LinkedIn's feed from a promotional platform to an engaging content and social platform:
- Setting ambitious goals: Envisioning millions of daily active users
- AI-first approach: Making AI the core engine for content matching and recommendations
- Experimentation: Carving out 2 million members to test new features without disrupting the entire platform
- Value exchange: Focusing on delivering value to both content creators and consumers
- "AI is the ultimate matchmaker. It's underutilized, it's misunderstood," Tomer explains
Adopting an AI-First Mindset (35:38)
Tomer emphasizes the importance of adopting an AI-first mindset in product development:
- Product leader ownership: Understanding AI as the core engine driving product success
- Education: Establishing an AI academy for all product managers
- Strategy integration: Incorporating AI into product strategy and operations
- Rethinking development: Encouraging teams to revisit roadmaps with AI capabilities in mind
- "It's not about tech, it's a mindset. It starts with strategy," Tomer emphasizes
Career Growth in Product Management (49:12)
Tomer shares insights on his rapid career progression at LinkedIn and advice for aspiring product leaders:
- Focus on impact and learning: Prioritize roles where you can make a significant impact and learn
- Pursue conviction: Choose projects and roles you have strong beliefs about
- Continuous growth: Always seek to improve your craft and expertise
- "For product people, it's a very fortunate position... people are gonna evaluate you based on your actual work," Tomer notes
Product Leadership Insights (54:54)
Tomer shares key insights on effective product leadership:
- Set ambitious goals: Aim high while striving to over-deliver
- Balance exploration and focus: Allow teams time to explore before converging on focused strategies
- Measure impact: Focus on the products built and their impact rather than titles or company prestige
- Authenticity: Develop a leadership style authentic to your strengths and personality
- "I don't think there's one way of building... everybody builds differently and you can be very successful, but it's very authentic to how they are personally," Tomer reflects
LinkedIn Features and Future Developments (1:04:19)
Tomer highlights some exciting features and developments at LinkedIn:
- Video content: Increased focus on video creation and consumption on the platform
- AI-powered job search coach: A personalized, AI-driven experience to support job seekers
- Continuous innovation: Ongoing efforts to improve and expand LinkedIn's capabilities
- "We're heavily invested in video and it's doing so well for those creators," Tomer shares
Conclusion
Tomer Cohen's insights provide valuable lessons for product leaders and aspiring product managers. His emphasis on clarity, conviction, and an AI-first mindset highlights the evolving nature of product development in the age of artificial intelligence. The transformation of LinkedIn's feed serves as a case study in successful product turnaround, demonstrating the power of focused experimentation and value-driven development. As AI continues to shape the future of products and user experiences, Tomer's advice on embracing this technology while maintaining a strong focus on user value and impact will be crucial for success in the field of product management.
