Strategic Planning: A Real Talk with Product Ops Leaders

Product Ops HQ Virtual Meetup ft. Amy Rohan, Chris Compston, Graham Reed, and Shabnam Osman

Strategic planning doesn’t have to be chaotic. In this panel discussion, Product Ops leaders share what’s working, what’s still hard, and how Product Ops helps teams keep everyone aligned without losing their minds. Whether you’re wrestling with prioritization, juggling competing goals, or trying to get cross-team clarity, you’ll walk away with practical ideas to bring structure and calm to your planning cycles.

Topics covered:

What’s actually working right now
The biggest challenges teams face and how to overcome them
Balancing structure with flexibility to respond to shifting priorities
What Product Ops can do to simplify planning cycles and drive alignment
How to set up planning cycles that keep teams sane and focused

Watch now to hear real-world examples and join the Product Ops HQ community to share your takeaways, ask follow-up questions, and connect with peers.

Key Takeaways

Focus on a limited number of high-priority goals (e.g. 3 key commitments per team) to drive prioritization and clarity, while acknowledging other work still happens.
Ensure goals are specific, measurable, and within the team’s control. Avoid vague high-level goals without clear metrics or ownership.
Involve key stakeholders (finance, sales, etc.) early and throughout the planning process to build alignment and avoid surprises later.
Balance structure with flexibility in planning. Have a defined process but allow room for new ideas and adjustments as teams dive into planning.
Use AI tools strategically to increase efficiency in planning (e.g. for summarizing, formatting outputs) but not to replace human judgment and decision-making.