Joining ADLAS as a Product Owner (PO)
I joined ADLAS in 2023 as a Product Owner. During my time in this role, I successfully managed two products, ensuring they were delivered on time and met all management requirements.
Promotion to Head of Product
Recognizing my achievements in delivering high-quality products, I was promoted to the role of Head of Product. In this capacity, I initiated and led a transformative shift toward a product-first organization.
Building a Product-First Organization
Previously, the company’s focus leaned heavily on technical topics, often prioritizing technical solutions before validating product ideas or market needs. This approach led to projects failing despite technical excellence. To address this, I championed the following changes:
- Market Validation First: Ensured product ideas were thoroughly defined and validated with potential customers before initiating technical development.
- Efficient Prototyping: Encouraged the use of no-code tools for prototyping when appropriate, avoiding the complexities of full-scale development for unproven concepts.
Restructuring the Organization
With the support of colleagues, I restructured the organization to align with product-first principles:
- Product Team Growth: Expanded the product team by hiring new talent aligned with the company’s evolving vision.
- Development Team Organization:
- Established chapters based on technical stacks (e.g., PHP chapter) led by chapter leads.
- Formed cross-functional squads focused on specific projects, managed by product managers.
Results Achieved in 2024
This new structure and culture led to:
- Timely Delivery: All projects in 2024 were delivered on the agreed timeline.
- Enhanced Team Culture: We built a culture based on taking responsibility, leading to improved performance and collaboration.
- Talent Optimization: We ended contracts with employees who didn’t fit the new culture and hired individuals better suited to drive the company forward.
These efforts have collectively strengthened ADLAS’s ability to innovate, deliver, and succeed in a competitive market.