43: How AI Tools Are Changing Product Management Forever (with Don Stoddard)

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THE GUEST

Don Stoddard is a powerhouse product leader with over two decades of experience driving SaaS innovation across B2B and B2C markets. From scaling global platforms at Monster and SumTotal to launching AI-powered strategies through his consultancy, Blueprint Product, he is known for leading high-impact teams and unlocking product–market fit at scale. With a foundation in computer science and a career spanning enterprise tech, HR platforms, and martech, Don brings deep operational expertise and a passion for emerging technology. Now at the forefront of AI enablement, he helps companies modernize product strategy, execute with speed, and mentors the next generation of product leaders along the way.

THE SUMMARY

AI as a Force Multiplier for Product Leaders — Don shares how tools like Replit can deliver up to a 90% boost in efficiency for building and integrating AI features, from CRM hookups to mobile optimization, in minutes.

Avoiding “Vibe Coding” Pitfalls — While AI can rapidly generate code, Don stresses the importance of guiding it with prompts that explore multiple options first, preventing costly missteps like accidental site-wide navigation changes.

Turning AI into Actionable Insights — His site, BlueprintProduct.com, not only assesses product leadership skills but also uses AI to analyse industry newsletters, validate insights with a second model, and distil them into actionable trends.

Practical On-Ramps to AI — For senior product leaders new to AI, Don recommends building a custom GPT—whether to recommend conference sessions or decode the Marvel Universe—as a quick, hands-on way to learn.

AI Enablement Consulting — Don helps companies integrate AI into products so it’s relatable, user-aligned, and value-adding—bridging the gap between cutting-edge tech and real business goals.

THE SHOW

Weekly conversations with the AI’s top product leaders. Join Polly Allen as she discovers the paths to success in the world of AI.

THE LINKS

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Don Stoddard

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donstoddard

Website: https://www.blueprintproduct.com/

My links

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pollymallen/⁠ 

AI Career Boost: ⁠https://www.aicareerboost.com/⁠