Support System for Product Leaders - All Things Product Podcast with Teresa Torres & Petra Wille
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Product leaders are overwhelmed — and it’s not just you.
Between shrinking headcount, constant AI disruption, economic uncertainty, and nonstop context switching, many product leaders are trying to do more with less while still protecting their teams. In this episode of All Things Product, Petra Wille and Teresa Torres unpack what real support for product leaders actually looks like.
They explore why product leaders often underinvest in themselves, how to think about delegation without guilt, and what kinds of support systems actually scale your impact — from executive assistants and research support to coaches and communities of practice. If you’re feeling stretched thin and wondering how to focus on the work only you can do, this episode is for you.
Key Topics Covered:
- Why product leaders struggle to scale themselves
- The hidden cost of “doing it all yourself”
- Executive assistants: why product leaders rarely have them — and why that’s a problem
- Delegation as a leadership skill, not a weakness
- How to identify the work only you can uniquely do
- Research and data support for strategy work
- Coaches as shortcuts for clarity, accountability, and skill-building
- Communities of practice as leverage for leaders
- The “professional athlete” mindset for product leadership
- When AI helps — and when humans still matter
- Letting go of perfection: “80% done by someone else is 100% awesome”
Notable Quotes:
- “You are a pro athlete. It makes sense to think about how you scale your impact without adding more to your calendar.” — Petra Wille
- “As you get busier, it becomes more important to focus on the value only you can bring.” — Teresa Torres
“80% done by someone else is 100% awesome.” — Dan Martell (quoted)
Practical Takeaways for Product Leaders:
- Audit your time: what work truly requires you?
- Experiment with small amounts of support (even a few hours a week)
- Delegate outcomes, not just tasks
- Keep the hands-on work you love — but be intentional about it
- Use peers, coaches, and communities to learn how others delegate
- Don’t wait until burnout to build your support system
Resources & Links:
- Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org
- Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com
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