))
Shift: Driving more effectiveness and productivity through empathy, with Adam Johnston, Director of Product and Design
Archived series ("Inactive feed" status)
When?
This feed was archived on October 31, 2025 21:09 (
Why? Inactive feed status. Our servers were unable to retrieve a valid podcast feed for a sustained period.
What now? You might be able to find a more up-to-date version using the search function. This series will no longer be checked for updates. If you believe this to be in error, please check if the publisher's feed link below is valid and contact support to request the feed be restored or if you have any other concerns about this.
Manage episode 295864309 series 2919304
Adam Johnston is not a car guy.
Yet, two-and-a-half years ago he took on the job of Director of Product and Design at Shift, an ecommerce platform for buying and selling used cars. Adam was drawn to the position and company because of its vision — making car buying and owning a simple and trustworthy process for everybody.
It’s that customer-focused philosophy that Adam carries with him in every meeting he attends.
A few people had product management job titles at Shift when Adam began but all had been field promoted into the positions. So when he joined the company, the question was: how do you take an organization that has never really had a strong product management perspective and create space for a true product management process?
For Adam, building relationships, which ties back to that customer-focused philosophy, is central. From getting on Zoom calls with customers to customer surveys, Adam says getting that customer feedback is crucial to understanding the “why” and ensuring Shift’s marketing works.
Building on relationships, Adam says learning about human-centered design has been an asset in his toolbox. Leading with empathy, learning why customers want what they want or why his team has certain goals, leads to more effectiveness and productivity.
In this episode of People Drive Products, Adam dives into where customer behavioral shifts come from, emphasizing mobile first, trends in the market post-COVID-19 and more.
14 episodes
Share
