Building Your Product Roadmap Through a DEIB Lens

DEIB is not the cherry on top — it’s baked into the recipe from the start. What this means for product management is that there are many opportunities to build DEIB into a product from the beginning, including within the product roadmap. In this talk with PowerToFly’s Amber Brown, senior director of product management, she’ll discuss how to build your product roadmap through a DEIB perspective, and what that means for your overall DEIB strategy.

Amber Brown, MBA

Bridget Finkeldey

I’m not your average Product Leader, I’m a thought leader and product advocate who is committed to transforming the way organizations approach inclusive products. The last 8 years, the HR Tech & FinTech industry, has opened my eyes to the shift that’s occurring right now. There is a clear lack of direction when it comes to enabling diversity and inclusion in a product portfolio.

Here’s where I step in, I’m not the Product Leader who just wants to create a roadmap to follow - that’s the easy part. I’m the Inclusive Product Expert that’s paving the way and passing along a backpack of all the tools you’ll need to arrive at your final destination. I’m rooting for not only my clients' successes but their colleagues, their families and their localities too.

I’m a community builder and problem solver at my core, so spending my time brainstorming ways to uplift the underrepresented comes naturally. Breaking digital bias and disrupting Artificial Intelligence algorithms requires grit and is kind of my thing. How does this happen you ask? Well let’s rewind a bit… being able to look at SaaS and PaaS with a diversity lens takes strategic thinking, plans of execution and the ability to roll up your sleeves and jump into the weeds when needed. All of which ignites the passion that I hold for this space and new technologies itself.

Outside of working you can find me running outdoors (yes, even in the winter), nestled with my latest book and a cup of coffee or intentionally getting lost within the aisles of Home Goods.

If you have any questions or want to talk about ways to elevate DE&I in your company’s product tech stack or personal career development feel free to direct message me!

Meg Alexander

Bridget Finkeldey

Meg Alexander joined the PowerToFly community as a job-seeker in 2014, eventually landing her first remote role working for PowerToFly's Delivery Team. Her professional experience includes roles as a Talent Advocate, Head of Purchasing for a window factory, audiobook publishing, & more than 5 years as a paralegal. She has a bachelor's degree in Art History from Indiana University (mint condition, never been used!), where she also earned a varsity letter for Women's Rowing. She loves DIY projects and will never say no to french fries. She lives in Toledo, OH with her husband Aaron, an engineering technician, and their dogs, Radar & Cake.

Did you know 40% of Americans can’t afford a $400 emergency? Want to reduce this percentage but not sure how? Neighborshare's CEO & Co-Founder is here to answer those questions! Gather around as we understand how you can help your neighbors stay on their feet.

Diana Zhang

Bridget Finkeldey

Diana Zhang is the CEO and co-founder of NeighborShare, a rapidly-growing direct giving approach that empowers our communities' frontline heroes to help families through critical moments of need of $400 or less. Prior to that, she spent 15 years in strategy and operations as an executive at Bridgewater Associates, a premier asset management firm with $150 billion AUM. Outside of work, Diana is passionate about food (@zhangstah_eats) and advocating on behalf of those who lack access to it. She serves on the Board of the Connecticut Food Bank / Foodshare.

Start the day right with a virtual networking hour where we pair you with another attendee using the latest “Gatheround” technologies. If you're shy, we understand. That’s why we're doing the work to make the intro happen, and we'll help the conversation flow with questions too. And perhaps you'll be paired with one of our amazing (hiring) sponsors!

Wouldn’t it be amazing to leave virtual meeting attendees feeling energized, rather than drained? If this sounds like something you’d like to achieve, join John Chen, CEO of Engaging Virtual Meetings, to learn the 6-step ENGAGE method to solve your virtual meeting challenges. In this talk, John will discuss how to solve the problem of attendees talking over each other, how to look good virtually, how to use virtual tools to get work done, and how to powerfully close meetings while taking steps to make your next meeting even more engaging.

John Chen

Bridget Finkeldey

He’s the author of the #1 Amazon Hot New Book Release, Engaging Virtual Meetings. He’s been meeting virtually for over 35 years. He has produced over 4,000 virtual meetings including an EIGHT language meeting and the only 100% LIVE virtual conference in the training industry.