Ed Essey is a dynamic force in the world of innovation at Microsoft Garage, where he empowers intrapreneurs to bring their brilliant ideas to life through experimentation. An MIT alumnus, serial entrepreneur, and seasoned product leader, Ed's passion lies in leveraging technology to foster a great culture and drive innovation.

With a rich engineering background, Ed has made significant contributions to AI research, enhanced Microsoft Office, and made parallel computing accessible. His leadership in implementing change management programs across innovation, design-thinking, and agile methodologies has positively impacted over 25,000 employees, helping them create products that earn raving fanfare.

As the visionary founder of the Garage, Ed has successfully brought over 150 innovative projects to market. He is a strong advocate for mindful leadership, believing in the power of wisdom to create technology that goes beyond intelligence.

Ed resides in Seattle with his two children and continues to inspire through his work and writings on innovation, incubation, and growth. Learn more about Ed's journey and insights at edessey.com.

In this enlightening episode of Product Unwind, we delve into the world of innovation and growth with the esteemed Ed Essey. As a seasoned expert in the field, Ed shares his invaluable insights on the frameworks and methodologies that drive successful innovation in today's fast-paced business environment.

We kick off the conversation by exploring Ed's journey into the realm of innovation and his unique approach to fostering growth within organizations. Ed then unveils the key elements of his preferred innovation framework, emphasizing the importance of balancing risk and creativity to achieve breakthrough results.

As we dive deeper, Ed recounts real-world examples of growth strategies that have made a significant impact, shedding light on how he measures the success of these initiatives. He also addresses common challenges faced by companies in their quest for innovation and offers practical solutions for overcoming these obstacles.

The discussion takes a forward-looking turn as Ed highlights emerging trends in innovation and growth, providing listeners with actionable insights to stay ahead of the curve. For product managers eager to drive innovation within their teams, Ed shares his top advice and strategies for cultivating a culture of innovation.

Finally, Ed reflects on his most rewarding experiences in the field and recommends resources for those looking to deepen their understanding of innovation and growth.

Join us for this inspiring episode as we unlock the secrets to navigating the innovation maze with Ed Essey on Product Unwind.

In this captivating episode, we sit down with Rajesh Achanta, a titan in the field of supply network operations, to unravel the secrets behind managing a colossal operation that powers the APAC markets with net sales surpassing USD 7 billion. With over three decades of experience at P&G, Rajesh shares his invaluable insights on leading a vast team of over 2000 employees, navigating complex supply chains involving 1000+ material suppliers, and ensuring seamless delivery from over 50 manufacturing operations to customers across the globe. But Rajesh's expertise is not just about numbers and operations. We delve into the philosophy that drives his success - a deep commitment to mentoring, a passion for innovation in supply chain management, and a visionary approach to creating competitive advantage. Beyond the boardroom, Rajesh reveals his personal journey into endurance running, his dedication to wellbeing, and his ventures in angel investing and geo-political forecasting. "Mastering Supply Chains and Pushing Boundaries: The Rajesh Achanta Story" is more than just a conversation; it's a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and strategic foresight. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a supply chain enthusiast, or someone fascinated by the interplay of business and personal growth, this episode offers profound lessons and inspiring stories from one of the industry's best. Join us as we explore the mind and motivations of Rajesh Achanta, a leader who redefines the boundaries of what's possible in business and life.

Rajesh's blog Rajesh Achanta | Substack

Book Recommendations by Rajesh DRIVE - Daniel H. Pink

Better - Atul Gawande

Quiet - Susan Cain

Thank you for listening to this episode of Product Unwind. We hope you enjoy the Product Unwind Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more.

If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge.

This podcast aims to make product knowledge accessible to all. Product Unwind is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj and Rohit.

Aditya is a business leader with ~15 years of experience in Consumer Tech, FMCG, and Retail. He graduated top of his class from IIT BHU in 2008, and spent 10 years with consumer goods giant HUL, with multiple stints in the global parent Unilever across 4 continents. He then moved to the very c Boston Consulting Group, for 3 years, where he advised clients on Consumer Goods and Retail business in SEA. Currently, he works with a Tech startup (Circles.Life) based in Singapore, where he heads New businesses launching new products globally. 

Check out their latest launch here (www.jetpacglobal.com) 

Aspiring consultants, decode the maze! In This podcast, Aditya cracks open the secrets of a career in management consulting. Hear us on how to master case interviews, navigate challenges, build crucial relationships, and find work-life balance. Join us as we navigate the ladder in the world of consulting

Thank you for listening to this episode of Product Unwind. We hope you enjoy the Product Unwind Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more.

If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge.

This podcast aims to make product knowledge accessible to all. Product Unwind is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj and Rohit.