Leaders Unscripted

Conversations with leaders about the challenges they’ve faced and what they’ve learned.

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34: Being the First Product Leader at a Startup with VP of Product & Engineering at The Rounds, Dan Storms

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Becoming the first of anything puts you on a precipice, makes you a pioneer, and brings the best out of budding leaders-to-be… that’s where Dan Storms stepped up.

Dan has been the first executive hire at several startups, pushing him to develop small businesses FAST, and he’s now a driving force as VP of Product & Engineering at The Rounds.

It’s a pleasure to hear from Dan as he shares first steps after joining a startup, his four principles for working with Founder-CEOs, the three types of product leader, and so much more.

This Episode Covers:

  • Leading for the first time with lots of eyes on you
  • The issue with an ‘outcomes over outputs’ approach
  • How he thinks about roadmaps
  • The three types of product leader, and their specialities
  • Keen advice for first time executives

Episode Highlights:

“There's something very tangible about food and delivering things and helping people in their real lives. I think it's a lot harder for an app or a website to have such a meaningful, tangible impact on people's lives.” - 6:25 - Dan Storms
“There are three typical types of product leader - the visionary, the master of the craft, and the administrator, each useful in their own way.” - 16:30 - Dan Storms
“The first, best thing to debate as it relates to your roadmap is not so much specific features, but what percent of allocation you think is the right amount.” - 23:30 - Dan Storms
“You have to come in and be willing to really move the needle. That doesn't necessarily mean working 500 hours a week, right? It just means having the energy to be excited, to move fast, and make sure the team is enthusiastic about that as well.” - 37:40 - Dan Storms
“Sometimes people talk about imposter syndrome, right? Part of that assumption, I think, is that someone else knows something magical that I don't know.” - 46:45 - Dan Storms

Links & References:

Constellary: https://www.constellaryhq.com/

Suzan Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanbond/

Dan Storms: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danstorms/

The Rounds: https://www.therounds.co/