Melissa Perri

“Organizations buying your software are asking for a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) and you can tie business metrics to that.” Andrew Chung Chief Product Officer at Level Access explains that two strong ways of advocating for product resources for accessibility are to bring product customers who are asking for VPATs, and quantifying the business risk of not being accessible. He goes on to share a great reminder that “don’t wait, just start” is a compelling way to create evidence of the benefits of allocating a small amount of resources, which can then be used to build a business case for unlocking more resources to build accessible products. Use free tools to help you get started and if you can show early success you can build a much stronger case for incorporating accessibility early in the product process. We all purchase software, next time ask for a VPAT during the process.  Every request adds up, and it will make a meaningful difference in how Product teams prioritize limited resources. Full interview is in the comments. This is now conversation #5 in our series for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and we have a few more that we’re editing and will share soon. My mission with these conversations is to help build awareness of the importance and business opportunity for building accessible, and give advocates the tactics and strategies they need to make forward progress in their organizations. Stay tuned for more and in the meantime let me know what more you’d like to hear from our guests.  Upcoming conversations include conversations with startup founders, senior accessibility leaders who have worked at major tech and consumer companies, venture capitalists who invest in the ability space, and more. Drop your questions in a comment, and I'll get as many asked as I can. #NDEAM #GoodJobsForAll #inclusionworks #DisabilityRights #InclusiveWorkplace #InclusionMatters

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This is such a great article from Brian Beutler, CEO of Alianza, Inc. on creating psychological safety in your organization. Every leader should read this! Brian outlines several key aspects of psychological safety, including: >> Giving your team time to work through things and not always focusing on speed. Sometimes you need to let your team think fast, and slow. >> Providing room for team members to ask for help. The fallacy of independence is real. Teach your team to reject it. >> Learning from mistakes. Easier said than done. One way to do this is to model this behavior as a leader. This is a topic I covered last week in my leadingmatters newsletter. Great article from an experienced and enlighted leader. What would you add to the list? #leaders #leadership #culture #innovation #psychologicalsafety #williamkilmer #leadingmatters https://lnkd.in/eQgHSt3e

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Want to lead change internally? This is the masterclass for you. Hitomi Whitlock, MBA, Prosci®, CSPO is brilliant at building connections + leveraging technology. How did we meet virtually? She reached out after reading my book, shares images of her workshop design process, sent me voice notes + Looms. I SO LOVED the way she approaches relationship building and was curious how this transferred into her work as an Organizational Change Manager, so I had to speak with her on the show! This episode captures her different approaches to get cut-through and lead change internally. I thought I was pretty handy with technology, and then I heard how Hitomi uses it -- and I was in total awe. What You’ll Learn: * * The tech tools she leverages, like ClickUp, Miro, Loom, and GoodNotes, to streamline workflows, eliminate unnecessary meetings, and enhance collaboration. * Tips for running effective hybrid workshops that keep everyone engaged, whether in-person or remote. * Strategies for building trust quickly in workshops, from pre-session videos to effective icebreakers. * The importance of balancing big-picture vision with disciplined execution in both professional and personal life. Whether you're a facilitator, a change leader, or just someone looking for inspiration on how to get things done more efficiently, you'll LOVE this episode! Here's the YouTube link: https://lnkd.in/gKdYviRg Or, you can tune in to Episode 250 of the First Time Facilitator podcast. #leadingchange #influence #facilitation

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We've had hundreds of people try out voice-AI coach, and now we're playing around with an iteration. This is pretty niche, so I'm wondering if ya'll see value in this use case. In the first version you interacted with the voice-AI coach in a web browser. Now, we're trying an interaction with the AI coach over a phone call. Why would that matter? In case you don't have internet, don't want to use internet data on your phone, or if you don't have a smart device or computer. That may be pretty niche, but we're thinking there may be applications here for field workers? Frontline employees? Try it out. Give the AI coach a call at 1-(801)-948-2170. (be aware there are limits on the number of concurrent callers it can handle) What do you think? Are there cases where you'd want employees to be able to interact with an AI coach or assistant via phone or texting with no requirement for internet? cc Dave Tosh

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Last week, Peter and I learned that our podcast received 1000 downloads, and we are still riding that wave of excitement. Let's keep the momentum going!!! 🙌🏼 Our latest episode is now live. You can listen here 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/dtpep28 or on your favorite podcast platform. #designthinkerpodcast #designthinking #designthinkers #podcast #podcastepisode #newepisodealert

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I wrote two term sheets this week into startups backed by amazing founding teams, and in both cases I recommended a pivot to the team’s initial GTM strategy.   Sometimes being well networked, or building in a white hot problem space can be a gift and a curse when it catches the attention of enterprise customers.   On paper, it is the exact type of validation a funding team is seeking as they work through an initial version of their product, but more often than not it has the potential to derail a startup’s potential for success.   The startups in question were both experiencing this exact dynamic.  In one case, the team had caught the eye of one of the largest robotics companies in the world and begun conversations around a potential partnership.   The second company is backed by a 20 year industry veteran with a deep rolodex of enterprise customers within his ICP.  Some of the largest retailers in the world were engaging in conversations around piloting his product.  As I explained to both of these founders, this was amazing validation, but should also not be the focal point of their initial GTM.   The reality is, in order to successfully deploy within either of these customers, they were looking at a long and arduous path, filled with security reviews and product feature sets that realistically an early stage pre-seed company with 2 founders could not deliver upon.   My advice to them, continue those conversations, with the realization that they could take 1 year+ before realistic deployments, but focus the lion’s share of their GTM energies toward customers with lower deployment hurdles, in this case Series A/B backed robotics companies and $50M-$250M retailers.    To be clear, the  genuine interest from these enterprises is a massively positive indicator on the problem/solution set they are building for, and it is part of the reason we are bullish on the market opportunity of each startup.  I’ve just seen so many startups fail to deploy an initial product and ultimately never raise a seed round because they get stuck in a seemingly never ending enterprise sales cycle.

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What's the difference between a technical challenge and adaptive challenge? I appreciate this insight from Albert Wolfe: 1) Skill / technical challenges = someone has solved this sort of problem before. Just pay attention to what they did and what you’re doing and adjust your behavior toward the current “best practices.” 2) Adaptive challenges = probably no one knows the solution (yet). We will need to learn together and bravely uncover previously undiscovered barriers (mostly internal, but some external) to make huge breakthroughs. #adaptiveleaders

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Ever thought about gamifying your SaaS or B2C product? It’s time to think outside the box. Loads of companies are upping their game with reward programs that use point systems, but there's more to it than just racking up points. Take learning courses or lecture series, for example. You can get users hooked by letting them earn points for finishing units and visually tracking their progress. It’s a neat way to keep them engaged and motivated. And here’s a twist: instead of the usual discounts or freebies at the end, how about offering a certificate of completion? It’s something tangible they can add to their resumes or use as proof of continuing education. It’s a win-win – your users get a sense of achievement and something valuable for their professional growth.

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I put a few of these key "Managing Conflict" questions onto my monitor! Jeff Wetzler's recent article is packed with tips for engineering leaders encountering resistance. While it is natural to push harder with data when we are passionate about a path forward, it can quickly become counterproductive if we aren't demonstrating actively listening. Ask more, tell less.... #EngineeringLeadership #StakeholderManagement #TechStrategy

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“The key advice I'd give to any leader in CS is to work really hard to build cross functional allies ... I literally met with every other VP every other week."  This is one of the many tips that I share on the Future Customer Value Podcast, hosted by Sagar Shukla, co-founder of Foresight. In this session, we discussed: ➡️ My journey in enhancing customer success in B2B SaaS ➡️ Innovative strategies for driving customer value ➡️ Collaborative approaches to achieving customer goals Don’t miss this episode and make sure to add the channel to your watchlist on YouTube, Spotify, or Amazon Music - see link in comments. About Future Customer Value and Foresight: Future Customer Value features global thought leaders sharing their pivotal Customer Value moments. Foresight is a platform that measures and enhances Customer Value for Enterprise SaaS and Services companies, built on an Enterprise Value Framework that aligns your use cases with your customer's desired business outcomes. #customersuccess #valuedelivery #outcomesengineering #cco #careerdevelopment

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"It's Lonely at the Top." This phrase is one I hear often from C-suite leaders, and a recent conversation at a Blend member event in New York really brought it into sharp focus. A member really opened up to me about the isolation that comes with leadership. As a C-level executive, finding a safe space to share real challenges, express doubts, ask the stupid questions, or simply be vulnerable isn’t easy. In most environments—whether it's within your organization or industry forums—there's an underlying sense of competition, even among peers, and that creates barriers to truly opening up, and since covid this hasn't got even easier. She shared that Blend is the first space where she’s felt truly heard. As a founder who's striving to build something different and authentic this floored me, feedback like this makes all the late nights long days and travel schedule all worth while. What makes Blend different is the diversity of roles and experiences around the table. It's not just about connecting with people in similar positions, but having the space and opportunity to expand perspectives, evolving thinking, and finding solutions together. For leaders like her, finding a C-suite community that’s safe and inclusive for authentic, open dialogue is rare—and essential. This is why Jeff Tepel and I founded Blend. The community exists, to create the space where C-suite leaders can come together and grow, not just as executives, but as people. We are proud to be building Blend, and even prouder to be trusted by our members to support them on their leadership journeys. It turns out it doesn't have to be lonely at the top anymore... #JoinBlend Learn more here - https://lnkd.in/ebE_XVQX #LonelyAtTheTop #LeadershipGrowth #InclusiveLeadership #ExecutiveDevelopment #PeerSupport #DiscoverDifferent

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What does bold leadership look like in 2024? In this latest Product Thinking episode, I sit down with Margaret (MJ) Jastrebski, the SVP of Product at Tegus. We dive into the key strategies for uniting teams, breaking down silos, and leading with transparency. Margaret knows the investor research space inside and out from her work at Tegus, a platform that consolidates key company intelligence to help investors make smarter bets. With experience spanning product, sales, and marketing at companies like Stylitics and TXI, Margaret brought a unique 360-degree view. We discussed: ►Uniting fragmented teams behind one vision ►Breaking down silos between product, marketing, sales, etc. ►Leading with transparency to build trust and alignment Margaret emphasized the need for product leaders to externalize their decision-making process. By communicating rationale openly, you empower teams to truly understand and even constructively challenge your calls. Whether you're an up-and-comer or a seasoned pro, you'll want to hear Margaret's insights on casting a clear vision, tearing down organizational barriers, and inspiring teams to achieve big outcomes. What strategies have you found effective for aligning teams and leading with transparency? Share your insights below! Listen Now: https://lnkd.in/gAdV7k56 #ProductLeadership #Alignment #Transparency #BusinessStrategy

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This is for folks planning on buying a learning system, regardless of the type, whether this is their first time, second time, or more. a. Be very detailed with your use case, and here's the kicker: tie your RFP to that use case. Every system has a course catalog. Every system can take videos, for example. b. Make sure you have support questions on the RFP—remember, it is the number one reason people leave. Find out the times of support. Find out if the vendor is using a chatbot with Gen AI to answer questions. If yes, are you able to talk to a real human being, and how does that work? I am seeing a lot where you can't do that. Support includes the ratio of support tickets to the customer base. They have this data, plus more. Ask them to show you some metrics—they collect them. If they say they don't, that is a RED FLAG. If they won't show you any metrics, that is not a good sign. c. When you negotiate and have them put together that contract, you want to make sure the following are always in there. 1. Everything is detailed. You want it itemized. If they say, "Well, the discount is in there," how do you really know? - If you are a 501C3 - make sure you get a discount - there will be vendors that will ask you to send over your document to validate it. Do it. Always sign a three-year deal. The majority of vendors will give you a discount. Again, I cannot stress this enough - everything is itemized, and you want to see what that entails. If they say social feature - okay, is that a coach piece with blah blah? 2. You want them to add the implementation timeframe you agreed upon. This is very rare because it usually goes into that SLA, or they tell you you can find it on their website, but this says lazy. IF they say your implementation timeframe is based on what we agreed upon, and you do not make any changes during the process - it will be done by Y. All of the above text is required. Let's say you signed off on the project plan, and one week later, you want to change or add something. That's fine, but it may impact your implementation timeframe. Thus, this is on you, not the vendor Lastly, always remember two huge pieces a. The salesperson's goal is to the close the deal. You can be buddies, but that buddy, upon closing, may disappear. b. If the salesperson promises to send whatever you need over that they didn't cover - give them a date you need it by (I say the next business day). Honestly, less than 50% ever deliver. The big one - BE WILLING TO WALK AWAY. I know buyers who, in their gut, say don't do it, but they sign anyway. You must LOVE what you see. If not, the system is not for you. I don't care if they offer you a fantastic price - your gut will tell you. Ignore your brain. #learningdevelopment #customertraining #HR #IT #training #CLO #Learningsystem #LMS #LXP #workforce #onboarding

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One of the benefits of being a WriteCME Pro member is access to portfolio- building sprints. On June 3, we're kicking off a #CME white paper sprint. What You'll Get: * Step-by-step guidance on structuring and crafting compelling CME white papers * Hands-on experience creating a polished white paper sample for your portfolio * Personalized feedback from me and your peers to refine your skills * A toolkit with templates, examples, and cheat sheets to streamline your process * Insider tips on marketing your white paper writing services Bonus: A 1-month membership to WriteCME Pro, the premier community and resource hub for CME writers. Why Choose White Paper Whiz? * Accelerated Learning: Master the art of CME white paper writing, with a proven framework and expert guidance. * Tangible Results: Walk away with a powerful white paper sample to showcase your skills and attract top clients. * Bonus: Ongoing support via the WriteCME Pro community for continued growth, networking, and expert insights. Who Should Join the Sprint? * Medical writers who specialize in CME * CME professionals interested in developing in-house white paper writing expertise * Freelance medical/health writers ready to deliver a new service Interested? DM me here on LinkedIn.

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Join Noa Ries and me in a compelling conversation with Victor Cho as we discuss Strategic Self-Advocacy. In this episode, we discuss how effectively advocating for yourself can pave the way for significant career advancements, enhance job satisfaction, and increase professional visibility. Learn about the importance of recognizing and articulating your achievements, seeking growth opportunities, and building a supportive network. Victor shares his expert insights and practical tips on confidently communicating your value, negotiating for what you deserve, and strategically positioning yourself for long-term success in any work environment. Don't miss this essential guide to mastering the art of self-advocacy and taking charge of your professional journey. #StrategicAdvocacy #Podcast #Growth #Leadership #Kahilla

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We, the BOSTON FACILITATORS ROUNDTABLE (BFR), had a very interesting conversation about AI tools and the benefits of using them – and also heard about some of our hesitations of using AI ;-)  Some of us, ahem, found ourselves exploring AI after the meeting to find out what we were missing!! ;-)  Not to mention any names (smile), but I just paid for an app that will record a meeting on my phone and generate a detailed summary which I’m going to use for group interviews. We also got a demo of Jennifer Feldman’s platform Leadership Reality Check, which can summarize large amounts of 360 or interview data, which makes doing 360s very accessible to companies. She also gave participants a generous discount to try out her platform.  So I’d say the ROI on this program was pretty high!   Here’s a list of how people are using AI: ·        I use it to polish my writing and make it more concise ·        I'm not using it. Not sure yet if I want to! ·        Writing scenario's and case studies ·        Proposal writing, marketing collateral, to get unstuck on projects, to synthesize large amounts of info ·        I use it to help me write LinkedIn posts - to edit my base text and make more concise and smooth. I'm sure to mention that it's a LinkedIn post. ·        I have not used it yet and want to explore what it would be useful for ·        For initial research, and as a thought partner for writing and presentations ·        Creative writing... Would love to create some video scenarios for teaching purposes ·        Research on topics, idea generation, creating images (not as much success there yet) ·        Generating scenarios ·        Also-to make terse emails more compassionate  ;-) ·        Use ChatGPT to get some ideas and seeds for further research… ·        I use it to write product messaging ·        Edit writing ·        Creating pictures (who knew it could do that?!) ·        I have an AI fitness coach Here are some resources that people offered: ·        https://fathom.video/home ·        Perplexity.ai ·        Chat GPT is very clunky, I've heard ChatOn is better.   ·        To generate images: https://lnkd.in/eWSeuK7X ·        LinkedIn learning course called "How to research and write using Generative AI tools" by Dave Birss.  Lastly, many pundits are warning about our potential risks of AI, for example, when it can imitate people’s voices and we won’t be able to detect an imitator from a real person.  So it's a bit of both/and. Thanks to those people who offered a lot of great ideas: Sadie Lee Rosethorn Paige Meltzer, PhD Dana W Bos Laura Weiss CPCC, PCC Beth Melillo Jennifer Zaslow Dr. Funmi Aguocha, Psy.D Navni Garg Melissa Halstead (she/her/hers) Nina Coil Jonathan "Jeb" Bates Nimat Haque Stephanie Goodell, ACC

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I just got back from helping a public SaaS company design its strategic narrative last week. Here are 3 things to keep in mind when doing this work post IPO: ==== ✍️ Words *really* matter When you���re publicly traded, investors, analysts, competitors, and customers listen to your every word. If your narrative is vague, too close to the status quo, or too future-oriented, then you risk having the market lose faith in your vision. Get it right, though, and it can create the excitement and momentum you need to move ahead. 💪 Customer insight leads to conviction When you're close to your customers, it's so much easier to have confidence in the RIGHT message. Last week, every person on the executive team, from the CEO, to product, marketing, and legal had a perspective that came directly from recent customer conversations. That was a huge advantage for them. 🏎️ Being big doesn’t mean being slow You CAN move fast, even when you have 1000s of employees. But moving quickly requires the right culture. I was amazed that this team could make tough decisions without deliberating for months. But that was only possible because they have a culture of trusting each other, their data, and their instinct. Trust and speed are strategic advantages at any size. ==== The client (and the work we did) has to stay a secret for now 🤫 so I don’t interfere with their launch plans, but stay tuned! 𝗜 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀. 🔔

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Have you led a team after layoffs or restructuring? You have the opportunity to contribute to this leadership survey - Assessing Servant Leadership and Emotional Intelligence During Organizational Change. Many of us have witnessed how 2024 began with several companies acknowledging their need to perform layoffs or restructuring. Leaders who remain in the organization after these changes are often required to take over departments or lead new teams. Reflect on your own leadership experiences during periods of significant organizational change. How would you describe the effectiveness of your leadership in terms of your application of Emotional Intelligence and Servant Leadership? Please take a few minutes to complete a brief survey using the link below. Your responses will support a new research initiative. We greatly appreciate your support! https://lnkd.in/gZpb-Hd2 - Mary King and Adrian Terry

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Practical and impactful communication seems to be a pressing challenge in supporting several CEOs with their upcoming leadership offsites. Every great relationship is derived from a great conversation, which is a byproduct of strong and consistent communication skills. We engage our colleagues, customers, partners, and friends daily through clarifying questions. We read countless emails and question their intent, we find ourselves explaining seemingly simple requests several times, we write and rewrite critical ideas, we (try to) listen intently for what's said and what's left unsaid, we may (hopefully respectfully) argue or debate important topics, we discuss what's important to us, and we often hold our tongue in good judgment of not saying what could be misunderstood or worse yet, offend or hurt others. Yet only a few of us seem to have the necessary tools to improve our communication or to really understand how we're being communicated. So, I'm starting a new series, #RelationshipsMatterMoreThanEver, to share not just communication theories—in our jobs and careers but also with ourselves and in search of knowledge, authentic connections, and personal relationships—but most of all, the power of the English language in the use of our words and their meanings. I hope you'll jump in with what has worked for you and what hasn't and how we can all make our current #HybridWork world as productive and impactful as possible. Follow Avnir for more details.

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