Gibson Biddle

Gibson Biddle is a product leader and educator, formerly VP of Product at Netflix (2005–2010) and CPO at Chegg (2010–2014). Currently teaches product strategy and prioritisation via workshops, talks, and the Ask Gib newsletter. Has reached an estimated 500,000–1,000,000 PMs through teaching. Background in marketing (naming/branding) and early career at Electronic Arts and creative software startups before moving to product.

Key ideas

• DHM model: product strategy = hypotheses about how to delight customers in hard-to-copy, margin-enhancing ways. Every proposed strategy is evaluated on all three axes simultaneously.
• JAM force-ranking: the #1 source of startup misalignment is implicit, unresolved priority between Growth, Engagement, and Monetisation. Force-rank them explicitly.
• SWAG methodology: take a provisional position rapidly, share one-to-one with informed stakeholders, iterate, then present. Beats paralysis and consultants.
• Two-way door discipline: most product decisions are small in magnitude and reversible. Explicitly checking both before treating anything as high-stakes.
• Personal board of directors: deliberately cultivate peers + senior mentors; find ways to be useful to them before asking for anything.

Appearances

See also

• Gibson Biddle on Product Strategy
• DHM Model
• JAM Model
• Deb Liu on Career and Product
• April Dunford on Product Positioning