Drawer 02 · 536 notes · 32 people · 2005–2026

Discovery & customer research

Customer interviews, opportunity mapping, validation, and jobs to be done

Q:
Answers from Discovery & customer research notes, cited
Lenny’s Podcast90 min

Lessons from one of the world’s top executive recruiters

Lauren Ipsen · Nov 3, 2022
Key learnings
  • Define the outcome and 90-day mandate for a senior product hire before starting the search, rather than hiring a head of product…
  • Be wary of chasing big-name executives; ask who is best for this specific role at this stage, since senior leaders may be far…
  • Decide whether the role is platform, core product, or specialist (growth, monetization, design) so you don't expect one leader to…
Lenny’s Podcast95 min

The social radar: Y Combinator’s secret weapon

Jessica Livingston · Jun 27, 2024
Key learnings
  • Watch how co-founders interact: whether they get along, finish each other's sentences, or let one partner dominate, since…
  • Treat defensiveness under questioning as a red flag; strong founders respond with "here's what I figured out" and engage in a…
  • Look for earnestness: founders who admit when they don't know an answer and who have a real personal connection to the problem…