We are taught that great businesses are built on process, management, and roadmaps. But my guest today says that this exact mindset is what kills innovation and drives your best people to quit.

Marty Cagan is the "Godfather of Product." He is the founder of the Silicon Valley Product Group and has worked with the giants that defined the internet, including Hewlett-Packard, Netscape, and eBay. He is the man the world’s most successful CEOs call when they stop growing.

In this conversation, Marty exposes the "Feature Factory" trap that 90% of companies fall into, explains why you should never hire a "Mercenary," and reveals the specific leadership secrets used by Apple, Amazon, and Netflix to dominate their industries.

If you are a CEO, a founder, or a leader who wants to build something that actually matters, this is the warning you need to hear.

How do you take a free language app and turn it into a multi billion juggernaut that users are literally addicted to?

In this episode of TruthWorks, Jessica and Patty sit down with Cem Kansu, the Chief Product Officer at Duolingo. Cem has spent nearly a decade architecting the product strategy that grew Duolingo from a struggling startup into the world’s #1 education app.

This isn’t just a conversation about "product-market fit." It’s a raw look at the operational culture required to run thousands of A/B tests a year without losing your soul. Cem pulls back the curtain on Duolingo’s famous "unhinged" marketing, the reality of managing a "freemium" model that actually makes money, and why they decided to make their AI mascot, Lily, a depressed teenager.

Key topics discussed include:

• The "Mini-CEO" Mindset: Why Duolingo empowers product managers to run their own P&Ls and how that changes the culture of accountability.
• Monetization vs. Mission: The hard conversations and trade-offs involved in making money while keeping the core product free for millions.
• The Truth About Gamification: How to use streaks, leaderboards, and "passive-aggressive" notifications to drive retention without burning out your team (or your users).
• Hiring for Taste: Why data is critical, but product intuition is what actually builds a brand people love.
• Navigating the AI Shift: How Duolingo is integrating GenAI to teach effectively, not just efficiently.

Whether you are scaling a product team or trying to build a culture that embraces experimentation, Cem offers a transparent look at the machinery behind the owl.

In this episode of Truthworks, Jessica sits down with Guillaume Moubeche, the founder and CEO of Lempire and the creator of Lemlist. Known for building one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the world, Guillaume joins the show to unpack the operational and strategic realities of scaling a business from an idea to a global enterprise.

Moving beyond financial headlines, this conversation explores the practical mechanics of growth. Guillaume shares his unique approach to B2B sales, the power of community-led growth, and how modern founders can leverage personal branding to drive tangible business results.

Key topics discussed include:

• The "Community-First" Strategy: How to build a loyal user base that acts as your marketing team.
• Redefining B2B Outreach: Why traditional sales tactics are failing and how to personalize at scale.
• Operational Excellence: The challenges of managing a rapidly growing team and maintaining company culture.
• Founder Evolution: Transitioning from a hands-on builder to a strategic CEO.

Whether you are an early-stage founder or a seasoned executive, this episode offers a transparent look at what it takes to build a sustainable, high-growth technology company in today’s market.