Abstract: 

Historically, there was a marked distinction between product management, technology leadership, and data science. This separation, though orderly, posed significant hurdles, particularly when productizing ML models and trying to derive substantial value from vast amounts of data. The long journey from Model to Product in this traditional approach was compromised by skill gaps, duplication of efforts, challenges in resource allocation, and most importantly, speed to market. With separate entities handling product vision, engineering, and data analysis, the pipeline from ideation to execution often became elongated and fractured.

The nature of products, especially digital ones, has evolved. Many now incorporate AI-driven features, from recommendation systems in streaming services through predictive text in communication apps to rapid diagnosis assist tools in healthcare. Understanding how these AI components work is essential for leaders to make informed decisions about which products to develop, evangelize the product development lifecycle, and optimize a speedy go-to-market process. Leaders with AI literacy can bridge the historical gap between product, technology, and data science teams, facilitating better communication and collaboration, reducing friction, and securing a competitive edge in the market.

In an era of rapid technological evolution, with an urgency to swiftly transform AI models into tangible, user-centric products, product leaders have a formidable advantage with AI proficiency. It ensures not just swift execution but also the creation of genuinely transformative products.

In this talk, I will discuss product leadership amplified by AI, delving into its multifaceted advantages: harnessing data oceans, pinpointing product and feature genesis through AI-centric product management, ensuring rapid model-to-market transitions, astute resource orchestration, and the art of future-readiness. Anchoring these insights, I'll spotlight real-world examples from sectors like technology, healthcare, and EdTech, unveiling the expansive horizons AI opens for product leadership.

Bio: 

An AI product innovation leader with 15+ years of experience, recognized for visionary data products, SaaS/DaaS platforms & ML solutions across multiple industries at global companies such as Tessella (acquired by Capgemini) and RepTrak.

Anna is a passionate digital transformation strategist and an active-AI-optimist, an author of numerous patents and papers, with an M.Sc. in Computer Vison and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics in her background.

Her mission is to evangelize data and AI usefulness to companies and clients by articulating the underlying business value and making the model-to-product journey seamless.