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Smashing the Plateau
Smashing the Plateau

How to Navigate AI Era Product Development with Curiosity and Ambition Featuring Jim Morris

26 January 2026 30:25 Smashing the Plateau

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About this episode

Jim coaches product management in startups, growth-stage companies, and Fortune 100s. He's a Silicon Valley founder with over two decades of experience, including an IPO and a buyout. These days, he coaches product leaders and teams to find product-market fit and accelerate growth across a variety of industries and business models. Jim graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Computer Science and currently lectures at both Stanford and University of California, Berkeley in product management.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to navigate the AI era in product development and build a sustainable coaching practice around your unique expertise.

Jim and I discuss:

  1. Jim's career journey from building products to coaching [01:36]
  2. The importance of curiosity and ambition in product management [06:11]
  3. The benefit of having a dedicated product management coach [09:34]
  4. How AI tools are reducing friction in finding the right product [11:55]
  5. The exciting opportunities for companies that adopt AI tools effectively [14:32]
  6. Why internal transformation is the key competitive advantage [17:27]
  7. Advice for professionals building a consulting business [21:13]
  8. How peer relationships enhance transformation [24:51]
  9. Helping people navigate the turmoil of adopting new AI technologies [26:03]

Learn more about Jim at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmorrisstanford/ and https://productdiscoverygroup.com

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About Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau shares stories and strategies from corporate refugees: mid-career professionals who’ve left corporate life to build something of their own.

Each episode features a candid conversation with someone who has walked this path or supports those who do. Guests offer real strategies to help you build a sustainable, fulfilling business on your terms, with practical insights on positioning, growth, marketing, decision-making, and mindset.

Woven throughout are powerful reminders of how community can accelerate your success.

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