Chapter 1: The Power of Enterprise Questions

In journalism school, we were introduced to the concept of enterprise stories—narratives sparked by curiosity about familiar surroundings, driven by a straightforward inquiry, and unveiling previously untold tales.

My inaugural enterprise story appeared in the Montreal Gazette and began with the question, "Why are old shoes hanging from a tree in my neighborhood?" Conversations with locals revealed a fascinating narrative about the tree being a cultural landmark tied to a tradition for kids graduating from a local skateboarding academy.

Similarly, the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal originated from an enterprise question posed by Professor David Carroll, as illustrated in the documentary "The Great Hack." He inquired, "What data have you gathered about me for my voter profile?" This question unveiled one of the most significant ethical dilemmas in technology, leading to Mark Zuckerberg's congressional testimony and the conviction of Cambridge Analytica.

Shawn Seipler's creation of Clean The World, a social enterprise focused on improving hygiene for underprivileged children, also stemmed from an enterprise question. After spending 150 out of 365 days a year traveling for work, Seipler pondered, "What happens to leftover soap in hotels?" When he called a hotel front desk, the response was disheartening: "We throw it away. All hotels do."

After doing some quick calculations, he realized the staggering amount of soap discarded annually in the U.S. Seipler reached out to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with his proposal, but they declined. Undeterred, he devised a business model for a soap recycling program where:

• Hotels pay a nominal fee ($0.50 to $1 per room, monthly) to participate.
• They receive the necessary resources to facilitate donations and minimize waste, including storage bins, shipping, and staff training.
• They obtain impact reports detailing the social and environmental benefits of their contributions.

Today, Clean The World stands as the largest hotel soap recycling organization globally and has contributed to a more than 60% decline in child fatalities due to diarrheal diseases each year.

Numerous widely-used products originated from similar enterprise inquiries. For instance, Uber's inception traces back to Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp, who, stranded in Paris during a snowstorm, wondered, "What if we could summon a ride with a simple tap on our phones?"

Shopify was conceived when Tobi Lütke and Scott Lake asked, "How can we effectively sell snowboards online?" Velcro emerged when electrical engineer George de Mestral, after a walk in the Alps with his dog in 1941, inquired, "Why are burdock seeds sticking to my wool socks, coat, and my dog?"

Gatorade was formulated when University of Florida football coach Ray Graves sought medical advice from the school's medical college, asking, "Is there a remedy for replacing fluids and nutrients lost during physical activity?" This query led Professor Robert Cade and his team to develop the initial recipe that evolved into the Gatorade we know today.

These narratives share several common threads:

• An individual at the center of each innovation noticed something intriguing nearby.
• They took the initiative to seek additional information and dig deeper.
• They utilized the insights obtained to devise a plan to introduce something novel to the market.
• Their original concepts were refined over time as they learned more, leading to an improved final product (in short, they didn't get it perfect on the first try).

What potential products are lying dormant in your vicinity, waiting to be brought to life?

-Lisa

Follow me on Twitter: @lisazane15

Chapter 2: Learning from the Past

The first video covers six challenging yet common interview questions for product management roles and provides insightful answers, helping candidates prepare effectively.

The second video highlights the top ten questions frequently asked during product interviews, offering a valuable resource for aspiring product managers.