How LinkedIn became interesting: The inside story | Tomer Cohen (CPO at LinkedIn)
Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | GrowthSummary
Tomer Cohen, Chief Product Officer at LinkedIn, shares insights into the platform's transformation into a more engaging and socially-driven space. He emphasizes the importance of shifting the company’s focus to an AI-first mindset, which has been pivotal in enhancing user experience. Cohen discusses how LinkedIn evolved from a promotional feed to a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, driven by a clear vision and strategic objectives.
Cohen's mantra, "We might be wrong, but we are not confused," reflects his approach to leadership and decision-making. He advocates for clarity in both thought and execution, encouraging teams to focus on solving specific problems rather than getting bogged down by the fear of being wrong. This mindset has helped foster a culture of experimentation and innovation within LinkedIn, allowing the company to adapt and thrive in a competitive landscape.
The conversation also touches on the challenges of transforming entrenched processes within a large organization. Cohen highlights the necessity of carving out dedicated teams and resources to explore ambitious projects without the constraints of existing metrics. By doing so, LinkedIn has successfully engaged millions of users daily, positioning itself as a vital tool for professionals seeking to connect and share knowledge.
Show Notes
Tomer Cohen is the chief product officer at LinkedIn, responsible for setting the company’s product strategy, leading product development, user experience design, business development, content creation, and customer operations. He also hosts the Building One podcast, where he interviews exceptional builders across various disciplines. In our conversation, we discuss: • How LinkedIn transformed its feed into an engaging content and social platform • Tomer’s famous “We might be wrong, but we are not confused” mantra • The importance of conviction and passion in product leadership • LinkedIn’s approach to experimenting with and implementing AI features • Lessons from Tomer’s rapid career progression at LinkedIn • Strategies for embracing AI in product development — Brought to you by: • Gamma—A new way to present, powered by AI • WorkOS—Modern identity platform for B2B SaaS, free up to 1 million MAUs • Merge—A single API to add hundreds of integrations into your app — Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-linkedin-became-interesting-tomer-cohen — Where to find Tomer Cohen: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomercohen/ • Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-one-with-tomer-cohen/id1726672498 — Where to find Lenny: • Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com • X: https://twitter.com/lennysan • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/ — In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Introduction to Tomer Cohen and his role at LinkedIn (02:28) The mantra “We might be wrong, but we are not confused” (06:45) Clarity of thought and focus (13:03) Setting ambitious goals and overdelivering (16:18) Transforming LinkedIn’s feed: strategy and execution (22:03) Running experiments at scale (26:24) Goal setting and identifying opportunities (30:58) AI’s role in LinkedIn’s evolution (35:38) The AI-first mindset at LinkedIn (35:38) Developing an AI-first mindset (44:49) Letting go of your roadmaps and allowing room for exploration (49:12) Career growth and personal insights (55:01) Takeaways (56:39) Lightning round and final thoughts — Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]. — Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.
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