Bring the Donuts – Ken Norton

Being intentional about how we relate with coworkers - Some years ago, I was in session with a newish client.

Essential product management reading - Updated for 2026.

My perspective twenty years later - That's me in the JotSpot office in Palo Alto, Summer 2005, a few months before we were acquired by Google.

The case for humor, play, and letting go - Gregg Popovich.

Why this job feels so isolating and what you can do about it - Product leadership is lonely.

Embracing uncertainty by confronting our inner stories - “I don’t know.”

Learning to be a better storyteller in the workplace - My coaching clients often ask for help becoming better storytellers, one of the most important skills for product leaders.

What it is and how to use it - In the last newsletter, I introduced the concepts of Reactive and Creative leadership.

Evolving from fear-driven to purposeful leadership - One of the most powerful frameworks I’ve come to deeply understand over the past few years is the distinction between Reactive and Creative leadership.

Express your full magnificence by living in your Zone of Genius - Iremember countless evenings as a teenager in the 1980s when I’d retire to my family’s Apple ][+ computer after dinner.

Leading with vision and purpose - I joined Melissa Perri’s Product Thinking Podcast to talk about the evolution of product management, the stark difference between empowered and unempowered product teams,and why ultimately, product is all about people.

What to do when it’s time for some tough talk - Frequently, a coaching conversation orbits around a difficult conversation: everything from firing an employee, confronting a disrespectful co-worker, delivering tough feedback, to having a heart-to-heart wi…

Sharing guides to working with one another can lead to psychological safety - I learned a lot over the years from Urs Hölzle, Google’s eighth employee and the company’s first real engineering leader.

Making the shift from reactive to creative leadership - I joined Lenny’s Podcast to talk about coaching, product leadership, and the transition from reactive to creative.

A relationship built on communication, candor, and trust - In my coaching sessions with CPOs and other senior product leaders, the relationship with a CEO is a frequent topic.