Dow Jones SVP on Monetization strategies with over 100 million monthly users | E225 | #TheProductPodcast
“Product management is not just about user needs. It’s about pairing them with business needs to create a good product experience.”
In this edition of # TheProductPodcast newsletter, we sit down with , SVP of Consumer Products at Dow Jones. Ryan’s incredible journey from intern to senior leader at a company overseeing iconic brands like The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and MarketWatch offers invaluable lessons for aspiring and seasoned product managers alike. With over 100 million monthly users across these platforms, Ryan shares her strategies for building user-centric products, balancing business needs, and fostering innovation in a subscription-driven model.
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There are many incredible lessons to learn from Ryan. Here are a few of the top ones:
The Power of Communication in Product Management
“If you think about product management and the different types of groups that you have to speak to… it’s about speaking to people how they want to be spoken to. That’s something I gained from growing up in a large family.”
Ryan attributes her communication skills to her upbringing in a large family where she had to navigate diverse personalities and communication styles. In product management, this translates into the ability to effectively engage with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and users. Whether it’s aligning engineering teams or collaborating with marketing, tailoring communication to resonate with different audiences is critical for driving alignment and achieving shared goals.
Balancing User Needs with Business Objectives
“User needs are at our core… but product management is not just about user needs. It’s about pairing them with business needs to create a good product experience.”
Ryan emphasizes the delicate balance between user-centric design and meeting business objectives, particularly in a subscription-based model. She explains how her team integrates user research with business requirements like advertising and paywalls. By aligning these priorities, they ensure that products deliver value for both users and the company-a challenging yet essential task for long-term success.
Iterative Testing for Major Product Changes
“We did tons of user research… but it was all about the testing and iterative approach post-launch that got us where we are today.”
When launching the MarketWatch paywall, Ryan’s team relied on extensive pre-launch research but recognized that real insights emerge after going live. She underscores the importance of structured testing plans that prioritize key questions, enabling teams to refine strategies based on actual user behavior. This iterative approach ensures that even large-scale changes evolve into successful implementations.
Leveraging AI While Preserving Trust
“How do we leverage the best of AI to ensure trusted journalism is showcased? That’s something we’re experimenting with-both for team efficiencies and user features.”
Ryan highlights how Dow Jones is exploring AI’s potential while safeguarding journalistic integrity. From enhancing operational efficiency to developing personalized user experiences, AI offers transformative opportunities. However, maintaining transparency and trust remains paramount. Ryan advocates for cross-functional collaboration to navigate this evolving landscape responsibly.
Thinking Across Three Time Horizons
“Product management is about operating simultaneously in three time horizons: today/tomorrow (execution), this quarter/next quarter (planning), and next year/five years (strategy).”
Ryan breaks down product management into three distinct time horizons that align with different skill levels. Junior product managers should focus on mastering execution through agile practices like sprint planning. As they grow, they can take on medium-term planning responsibilities before advancing to long-term strategic thinking. This structured approach helps teams develop well-rounded skills while keeping their work aligned with organizational goals.
Context Is Queen in Data-Informed Decision Making
“Don’t bring me just a number-give me the context. Why does this matter? What insights can we draw from it?”
Ryan stresses the importance of being data-informed rather than purely data-led. She encourages her team to provide context around metrics-explaining their significance and implications rather than presenting raw numbers. This approach helps stakeholders make better decisions by understanding how data aligns with broader business goals.
🔑 Key takeaways
- Adapt your communication style to resonate with diverse stakeholders across teams.
- Balance user needs with business goals like subscriptions and advertising.
- Embrace iterative testing post-launch for continuous improvement.
- Leverage AI responsibly while preserving trust and transparency.
- Develop skills across three time horizons: execution, planning, and strategy.
- Always provide context when presenting data -it’s key to meaningful decision-making.
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➡️ If you found this valuable, help us spread the impact by sharing, following and rating the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts, so we all help each other learn and grow.
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🗞️ Subscribe to this newsletter so you get to learn how Product is being done inside the most important companies, directly from the top product leaders in the industry.