Andrew O’Neal, Co-Founder of Clearbit on Techsylvania 2023 stage

1. Building your first product team
Things I learned along the way.
Andrew O’Neal, Co-founder of

2. A look back…
😥

3. - Build the best product
- Find and cultivate great talent
- Build an environment that gives agency and
encourages creativity to drive real outcomes
- Build the best product
What is the job…?

4. Credit: Nikhyl Singhal

5. So, who do we hire first (it depends)?
- Have PM’d for a few years (Group PM,
player/coach profile) in solid PM program
- Generalist first over specialist (usually)
- Curious about everything
- Raw horsepower + drive
- Great Communicator

6. Can hold vast context,
and see connections

7. Then hire as diversly as possible

8. Are you really ready?

9. Too much process early will kill progress
Lesson 1

10. (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻┻

11. Minimum Viable Process

12. A few docs do most of the heavy lifting. Start
them earlier than you think you should.
Lesson 2

13. Set a clear vision/strategy

14. Vision -> Goals
Goals -> Team Structure

15. Principles teach how to think

16. Feedback is central growth-minded product
teams.
Lesson 3
“I like that…I wish that…”
“The story in my head is…”

17. The best product work is done in public
Lesson 4

18. Face-time pays dividends
(aka don’t treat each other as APIs)
Lesson 5

19. You set and uphold the bar
Bonus
“The nice thing about standards is that there are so
many of them to choose from.”
Andrew Tanenbaum

20. In conclusion…