Leading Transformation Without Burnout: How AI Handles the Admin

Too often, product managers work as human middleware between systems and stakeholders, drowning in administrative overhead instead of driving strategic change. Life is short—you need to get your time back.

In this episode, Ross Webb (who led product transformations at Amazon and Just Eat) explores how AI transforms leadership effectiveness by handling administrative burden, freeing leaders to focus on strategic thinking and meaningful change management.

What You'll Learn:

• Why compassion alone won't drive lasting transformation in established organisations
• How to standardise platform integrations to unlock 30% year-on-year growth
• The balance between rigorous planning and genuine agile principles (not "lean theatre")
• How to build crucial stakeholder alliances when you're the outsider coming in
• How AI can automate status updates, reporting, and process coordination

Featured Guests:

• David Behlich - Transformation specialist who's driven change in 70,000+ person organisations
• Dominic Le Garsmeur - Platform strategy expert who achieved 30% YoY growth through standardisation
• Kris Jones - Strategic planning advocate who balances preparation with agility
• Niko Korner - Organisational politics navigator and stakeholder alliance builder

Key Takeaways:

• Successful transformation requires both inspiration AND enforcement—some people need to be moved
• Focus on foundation before chasing growth; sometimes slow down to speed up
• Understanding organisational politics is essential for senior product leadership
• AI can eliminate the administrative friction that keeps leaders reactive instead of proactive

Sponsored by FlowFocus AI - The agentic AI system that connects your entire product stack (Jira, Amplitude, PostHog, roadmapping tools, competitive intelligence) and saves product managers 5-10 hours per week. Because life is too short to be human middleware.