How every product team can drive business impact - Matt LeMay at #mtpcon London 2025

Product teams are under pressure — layoffs, shifting expectations, and the illusion of doing things the "right" way have created a cycle of low-impact work. In this sharp, insightful talk at Mind the Product, author and consultant Matt LeMay challenges the orthodoxy of product management, calling for a seismic shift toward impact-first thinking. Matt unpacks the myths that keep teams stuck, shares practical stories from companies like Mailchimp and Spotify, and introduces strategies to realign product work with what the business actually needs. Key Takeaways - Stop chasing the "right" process and start aligning with what your business truly values. Success isn’t about following frameworks—it’s about impact. - The 'low-impact death spiral' is real. Many teams deliver safe, surface-level features because it's easier and less political, but it leads to bloated products and disconnection from business goals. - Align every team goal to company impact. Avoid endless OKR cascades. Instead, keep goals no more than one step away from the company’s core objective. - Discovery becomes non-negotiable when you're accountable for real outcomes. It's not about doing more or less, but doing the right amount to deliver value. - Tie daily work back to revenue or outcomes. Don’t waste time on features unless you can articulate their business value. Guess if you must—but guess with purpose. - Real product leadership means navigating ambiguity, pushing for clarity, and stepping into uncomfortable conversations about money, timing, and value. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to the Struggle 01:00 – Product Management’s Ongoing Identity Crisis 04:00 – The Low-Impact Death Spiral 08:00 – What the Business Actually Expects 10:00 – How to Set Real Goals 16:00 – Revenue Accountability and Existential Crises 20:00 – The Messy Middle: Frameworks Won’t Save You 23:00 – Rethinking Discovery 26:00 – Impact Estimation Over Scoring Games 30:00 – The 100 Million Pound Reality Check 35:00 – Product Righteousness vs Commercial Reality 38:00 – Final Thoughts & A Better Future