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Ami Vora is the Chief Product Officer of Faire, which connects independent retailers and brands around the world. Before Faire, Ami spent over 15 years at Meta, including as VP of Product and Design for WhatsApp (2B+ users), VP of Product for Facebook\u2019s ads system (now $130B of annual revenue), and director at Instagram. She began her career working on developer tools at Microsoft. In our conversation, we discuss:

\u2022 Why execution eats strategy for breakfast

\u2022 Using metaphor to rally teams around one shared goal

\u2022 How to build cross-functional relationships

\u2022 \u201cDinosaur brain,\u201d \u201cToddler soccer,\u201d and the \u201chill climbing\u201d metaphors

\u2022 A tactic for handling disagreement

\u2022 Tips for working well with product-minded founders as a product leader

\u2022 The story of Ami\u2019s incredible 15-year journey from temp to VP at Meta

\u2022 Much more

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Brought to you by:

\u2022 Sidebar\u2014Accelerate your career by surrounding yourself with extraordinary peers.

\u2022 Anvil\u2014The fastest way to build software for documents.

\u2022 User Testing\u2014Human understanding. Human experiences.

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Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/authenticity-and-curiosity-ami-vora

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Where to find Ami Vora:

\u2022 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amvora/

\u2022 Substack: https://amivora.substack.com/

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Where to find Lenny:

\u2022 Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com

\u2022 X: https://twitter.com/lennysan

\u2022 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/

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In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Ami\u2019s background

(02:00) The myth of perfection in success

(07:55) Emotionally connecting with the job

(09:55) Embracing curiosity in moments of challenge

(13:16) Thinking in feedback loops

(17:17) The \u201cdinosaur brain\u201d metaphor in product reviews

(20:20) Strategies for conducting effective product reviews

(26:33) Using metaphors and imagery to communicate your vision

(29:35) The power of having a shared narrative

(31:55) WhatsApp: an example of metaphor in action

(34:44) Emulating people that inspire you

(36:19) WhatsApp video calling

(37:35) Why execution is greater than strategy

(41:36) Time allotment for strategy vs. execution

(45:10) How to become a better strategic thinker

(47:59) The intricacies of implementing feedback

(51:53) Being a female leader in tech

(55:13) Advice for young women in tech

(56:07) Setting goals and aligning incentives

(01:01:40) Acknowledging hard truths

(01:05:46) Lessons from transitioning to Faire

(01:08:40) The importance of a good CPO/CEO relationship

(01:11:17) Vetting heads of product and maintaining customer focus

(01:12:40) How Ami went from intern to leading major products at Meta

(01:14:53) The one thing you should do to be successful in product

(01:17:25) Lightning round

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Referenced:

\u2022 Faire: https://www.faire.com/

\u2022 Making Meta | Andrew \u201cBoz\u201d Bosworth (CTO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/making-meta-andrew-boz-bosworth-cto

\u2022\xa0 Community Wisdom: AMA with Dan Hockenmaier + Facilitating a roadmap session, structuring product teams, navigating an acquisition, companies not needing PMs anymore, and much more: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/making-meta-andrew-boz-bosworth-cto

\u2022 Developing a growth model + marketplace growth strategy | Dan Hockenmaier (Faire, Thumbtack, Reforge): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/developing-a-growth-model-marketplace

\u2022 Dan Hockenmaier\u2019s website: https://www.danhock.com/

\u2022 On Reviews: https://boz.com/articles/reviews

\u2022 Finding a global optimum always feels like a hill climb: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/amvora_finding-a-global-optimum-always-feels-like-activity-7074776143882588161-jhyy/

\u2022 Dolores Park: https://sfrecpark.org/892/Mission-Dolores-Park

\u2022 Rob Goldman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgoldman/

\u2022 Execution eats strategy for breakfast, but execution without strategy leads to burnout: https://rationalpm.substack.com/p/execution-eats-strategy-for-breakfast

\u2022 The goal of a \u201cstrategy\u201d is to change our own team\u2019s behavior: https://amivora.substack.com/p/the-goal-of-a-strategy-is-to-change

\u2022 The paths to power: How to grow your influence and advance your career | Jeffrey Pfeffer (author of 7 Rules of Power, professor at Stanford GSB): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-paths-to-power-jeffrey-pfeffer

\u2022 Path to Power course outline: https://jeffreypfeffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Pfeffer-OB377-Course-Outline-2018.pdf

\u2022 Management Time: Who\u2019s Got the Monkey?: https://hbr.org/1999/11/management-time-whos-got-the-monkey

\u2022 Max Rhodes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-rhodes/

\u2022 Coupa Coffee: https://www.coupacafe.com/

\u2022 Brandee Barker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandeedbarker/

\u2022 Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person: https://www.amazon.com/Year-Yes-Dance-Stand-Person/dp/1476777128\xa0

\u2022 How to tell better stories | Matthew Dicks (Storyworthy): https://www.lennyspodcast.com/how-to-tell-better-stories-matthew-dicks-storyworthy/

\u2022 A life of yes: Matthew Dicks at TEDxSomerville: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3TaQFcaMk4

\u2022 The Office on Peacock: https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/the-office

\u2022 30 Rock on Peacock: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/30-rock/6240863759978157112

\u2022 Dall-E-2: https://openai.com/index/dall-e-2/

\u2022 ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com

\u2022 Fellow kettles: https://fellowproducts.com/products/stagg-ekg-electric-pour-over-kettle

\u2022 TikTok\u2019s \u201cRoman Empire\u201d Meme, Explained: https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2023/09/21/tiktoks-roman-empire-meme-explained/

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Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.

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Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.