#3 Melissa Appel - Aligned: Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders

Episode notes

Welcome to the Product Masterclass Podcast ! In this episode, Thomas Hartmann sits down with Melissa Appel , co-author of Aligned with Bruce McCarthy, to discuss one of the most critical challenges in product management: stakeholder alignment . Melissa shares practical strategies for building trust, managing relationships, and fostering alignment to deliver valuable product outcomes. She dives into the essential skills product managers need—such as influence, persuasion, negotiation, and collaboration —to navigate complex stakeholder environments, especially when none of the teams report directly to them. Whether you're a seasoned product leader or just starting out, this episode offers actionable insights to help you manage stakeholders and drive successful products.