Beyond Roadmaps: Mastering the Human Element of Product Ops Through Change Management

In the fast-paced world of tech, change is constant. Product operations professionals are perfectly positioned to guide their organizations through these shifts.

In this session, Marielle Velander, Senior Product & Technology Operations Analyst at N26, shares lessons from anthropology, behavioural economics, and practical change management to show how Product Ops can successfully introduce new processes and approaches in their organizations. She also walks through the “Rider and Elephant” idea — how our rational and emotional sides impact organizational change — with a real case on how these ideas improved product planning.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to set the context for change and create co-creation spaces that bring teams along
• Techniques to drive alignment and address both the logical and emotional sides of change
• Frameworks to gain buy-in and overcome resistance to new ways of working.
• Methods to sustain change and address unspoken concerns in your organization

Discover why mastering change management is a crucial skill for Product Ops, enabling smoother transitions and fostering a more mature, adaptable company.

Key Takeaways

• Change management is about shifting processes, tools, or rituals to enhance team collaboration, with a focus on the human emotional response to change.
• The ‘ADKAR’ framework (Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, Reinforcement) provides a structured approach to track adoption and identify resistance.
• Effective change requires addressing both the logical “rider” (with clear plans and direction) and emotional “elephant” (by breaking changes into manageable steps).
• Creating transparency through decision documentation and building cross-functional relationships helps sustain change long-term.
• Leadership sponsorship is crucial for successful change implementation, as people tend to trust their managers more than others when navigating transitions.