In this episode of the Scaled Up Twilight podcast, Mike Dias interviews Lucas Lovell, VP of Product at Paddle. Lucas shares his unique journey from studying law in Australia to becoming a product leader in the tech industry. He discusses his experiences at Paddle, the importance of founder backgrounds in product management, and the skills necessary for transitioning from a founder to a VP role. The conversation highlights the significance of adaptability, empowerment, and the evolving nature of product management as companies scale. In this conversation, Mike Dias and Lucas discuss the challenges of cross-functional alignment in product and go-to-market functions, the impact of incentivization structures on decision-making, and the balance between passion and financial outcomes in leadership roles. They explore the evolving role of AI in product management, emphasizing the need for customer centricity despite the efficiencies AI brings. Lucas reflects on his career choices, highlighting the importance of continuous learning and growth. Takeaways The role of a VP of Product differs significantly from a PM. Metrics shift from product-focused to business-focused at the VP level. Collaboration across functions is essential for product success. Product leaders need a founder mindset to navigate silos. Cross-functional alignment is a maturity journey for companies. Clarity in strategy helps reduce friction among leaders. Incentivization structures can create misalignment between teams. Balancing passion and financial outcomes is crucial for leaders. AI is transforming product management by speeding up execution. Sound Bites "Paddle is a great place for founders." "Your primary artifact becomes strategy." "Why do we have such a lot of silos?" "Alignment on strategy is crucial." "We didn't have alignment on ICP." "We want to be more piratic." "Execution is becoming cheaper and faster." "AI is making PMs less customer centric." "Keep indexing towards learning."