Podcasts Technology Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career Vision, conviction, and hype: How to build 0 to 1 inside a company | Mihika Kapoor (Product at Figma)

Vision, conviction, and hype: How to build 0 to 1 inside a company | Mihika Kapoor (Product at Figma)

Published: April 21, 2024, 11:01 a.m.

Mihika Kapoor is a design-engineer-PM hybrid at Figma, where she was an early PM on FigJam and is now spearheading development on a new product at the company that\u2019s coming out this June. She\u2019s known as the go-to person at Figma for leading new 0-to-1 products, and, as you\u2019ll hear in our conversation, beloved by everyone she works with. Her background includes founding Design Nation, a national nonprofit focused on democratizing design education for undergraduates; spearheading product launches at Meta; and community building within the NYC AI startup scene. In our conversation, we discuss:

\u2022 How to effectively take ideas from 0 to 1 at larger companies

\u2022 How to craft a compelling vision

\u2022 The importance of vulnerability and feedback

\u2022 The role of intuition and product sense in making decisions

\u2022 How to practically communicate your vision

\u2022 How to balance collaboration and strong opinions

\u2022 Advice for building a strong team culture

\u2022 Pivoting with grace and enthusiasm

\u2022 The current AI revolution and its impact on PM

\u2014

Brought to you by:

\u2022 Paragon\u2014Ship every SaaS integration your customers want

\u2022 Lenny\u2019s Talent Team\u2014Hire the best product people. Find the best product gigs

\u2022 Vanta\u2014Automate compliance. Simplify security

\u2014

Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/vision-conviction-hype-mihika-kapoor

\u2014

Where to find Mihika Kapoor:

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

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

\u2014

Where to find Lenny:

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

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

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

\u2014

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Mihika\u2019s background

(04:29) Core attributes of great product managers

(07:34) Crafting a compelling vision

(12:12) The vision behind FigJam\xa0

(18:25) Delivering a vision without design or engineering skills

(21:52) Creating momentum

(26:36) The importance of strong conviction

(27:45) Direct communication

(32:48) Building hype

(42:20) Immersing yourself in user insights

(47:16) Operationalizing user insights \xa0

(50:33) Caring deeply about what you build

(54:01) Finding passion in your work

(57:00) Building a strong culture

(01:07:07) Pivoting with grace and enthusiasm

(01:11:48) Design Nation

(01:13:15) Mihika\u2019s weaknesses

(01:16:07) Building new products at larger companies

(01:20:50) Coming up with a great idea

(01:22:49) The key to going from 0 to 1

(01:26:47) Spreading the idea across the company

(01:29:15) Closing thoughts

(01:32:11) Lightning round

\u2014

Referenced:

\u2022 Figma: https://www.figma.com/

\u2022 Sho Kuwamoto on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shokuwamoto/

\u2022 The Medici Effect: What Elephants and Epidemics Can Teach Us About Innovation: https://www.amazon.com/Medici-Effect-Preface-Discussion-Guide/dp/1633692949

\u2022 FigJam: https://www.figma.com/figjam/

\u2022 Cognition: https://www.cognition-labs.com/

\u2022 Devin: https://www.cognition-labs.com/introducing-devin

\u2022 David Hoang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhoang2/

\u2022 Replit: https://replit.com/

\u2022 The Making of Maker Week at Figma: https://www.figma.com/blog/the-making-of-maker-week/

\u2022 Yuhki Yamashita on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuhki/

\u2022 Jeff Bezos\u2019 Simple Decision-Making Framework Will Give You Clarity, Conviction, and Courage: https://medium.com/illumination/jeff-bezos-simple-decision-making-framework-will-give-you-clarity-conviction-and-courage-adf8d0183625

\u2022 Alice Ching on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceching/

\u2022 Karl Jiang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-jiang-4a07424/

\u2022 Kris Rasmussen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopherrasmussen/

\u2022 Config: https://config.figma.com/

\u2022 Dev Mode: https://www.figma.com/dev-mode/

\u2022 Asana: https://asana.com/

\u2022 Julie Zhuo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-zhuo/

\u2022 StrengthsFinder test: https://www.gyfted.me/personality-quiz/strengthsfinder-test-free

\u2022 Dylan Field on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanfield/

\u2022 Vishal Shah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishalnshah/

\u2022 Design Disruptors: https://www.invisionapp.com/films/design-disruptors

\u2022 Daniel Burka on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dburka/

\u2022 Jamie Myrold on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemyrold/

\u2022 Design Nation: https://dn.businesstoday.org/

\u2022 Stuart Weitzman on X: https://twitter.com/StuartWeitzman

\u2022 Joe Gebbia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgebbia/

\u2022 Building a long and meaningful career | Nikhyl Singhal (Meta, Google): https://www.lennyspodcast.com/building-a-long-and-meaningful-career-nikhyl-singhal-meta-google/

\u2022 Jambot: https://www.figma.com/community/widget/1274481464484630971/jambot

\u2022 Hestia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hestia

\u2022 Harry Potter series: https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Books/dp/0545162076

\u2022 Pachinko: https://www.amazon.com/Pachinko-National-Book-Award-Finalist/dp/1455563927/

\u2022 Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration: https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Expanded-Overcoming-Inspiration/dp/0593594649

\u2022 The Overstory: https://www.amazon.com/Overstory-Novel-Richard-Powers/dp/039335668X

\u2022 Severance on AppleTV+: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/umc.cmc.1srk2goyh2q2zdxcx605w8vtx

\u2022 Dune on Max: https://www.max.com/movies/dune/e7dc7b3a-a494-4ef1-8107-f4308aa6bbf7

\u2022 Dune: Part 2: https://www.dunemovie.com/

\u2022 Arc browser: https://arc.net/

\u2022 Pika: https://pika.art/home

\u2022 The power of recognition: Why you should celebrate your employees | Josh Miller: https://www.lennyspodcast.com/videos/the-power-of-recognition-why-you-should-celebrate-your-employees-josh-miller/

\u2014

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

\u2014

Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.



Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe