Stepping into Just Product conference in Munich this year always reminds us why we love what we do. The buzz of hundreds of product people in one space is always energising, but this time there was a playful, hands-on twist: workshops where we experimented with different AI tools to really try things out. It wasn’t just talk about the future of product work - we could touch it, break it, and learn from it on the spot.
What struck me most, though, wasn’t the tech. It was the human theme running through every session. Let’s dive into that below.
Slowing down to speed up
Orly Stern Izhaki spoke about inheriting products in trouble and the dangers of rushing in. Pressure, doubt, and fear can spiral into what she calls “the Fear Loop,” where frantic action makes things worse.
Her advice was simple but powerful: pause.
Understand the past before reshaping the future. Bring people in early. Rebuild trust. Focus on clarity, not speed. It’s something I’ve seen time and time again - a little patience up front can save weeks of wasted effort later.
Digging deeper than metrics
Radhika Dutt reminded us that numbers only tell part of the story. Teams often focus on stats without understanding the underlying problem.
Her introduction of OHLs (Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings) encourages staying longer in the problem space, questioning assumptions, and seeking meaning before chasing a number.
There’s a balance to be had here. Too much time in the problem space thinking, without any validation or testing, is a quick way to fail. However, it’s a mindset I love: challenge the metrics, stay curious, and make sure your goals match reality.
Scaling without losing focus
Thomas Hartmann and Dr Christian Sprinkmeyer shared lessons on scaling product teams. From “egg organisations” stuck in firefighting mode, to the story of how tonies® reshaped its operating model to launch its biggest innovation yet, the message was clear: growth isn’t about frameworks, it’s about alignment.
Small, empowered teams with clear missions make more impact than any process ever will. At thoughtbot, this is something we practice every day with our clients.
Trying, failing, learning
Julia Bastian’s live vibecoding demo was a reminder that experimentation is messy; and that’s okay.
When Loveable went down mid-presentation, she adapted, improvised, and carried on. Her message to the room was simple: just start. You don’t need perfect knowledge to begin. I loved this. It’s the kind of mindset that keeps product work exciting and innovative.
Final reflections
Just Product 2025 wasn’t really about tools or frameworks, it was about people: how we lead, collaborate, and adapt in times of uncertainty. The biggest takeaways were about slowing down when it matters, staying curious longer, and trusting the team to find the right solutions together.
And no, the solution isn’t always ‘let’s add AI’.