I’m Caz, a product leader, digital creative, public speaker + coach.

Hey there

I’m a senior leader in product management, with an interest in human-centred leadership and behavioural psychology. I’m a trained coach, counsellor and facilitator. I work with empowered teams to create inclusive work culture and create impactful products that humans love.

I’m proudly bi + live in the UK.

Smartsheet 2022-now

I lead product teams across UK, India and US crafting platform, security, data integrations and automations for the world’s best SaaS workflow collaboration tool, ensuring people can sync, link & connect their data – simply, and easily. I also lead platform services, including: history and events, large data storage, encryption keys, identity and access, security. We’re also doing some exciting work on agentic experiences.

Steer73 2021-2022

I led a globally distributed team to make cool apps, platforms and other transformative software for companies ranging from SMEs to FTSE100 companies.

BBC 2012-2021

I worked at the BBC building – from scratch – a portfolio of over 150 enterprise web and mobile products. These ranged from the staff HR platform, broadcast critical broadcasting tools, through to building equality project 50:50. I led the department across the full spectrum: product management, design + UX, development, and delivery.

Coaching for Humans 2018-present

I offer services to those who want to unleash their potential and find their own authentic way into leadership, in a safe, open space.

Branding for Humans 2014-present

I primarily work with small businesses and charities, creating their websites, logos and branding, and book cover designs.

Chair of BBC Pride 2020-2021

I was proud leader of the BBC’s LGBTQ+ network.

A bit more about working with me.

If you’re here because you haven’t worked with me before, are interviewing with me, or are interested in knowing me a bit before we meet in a professional capacity, then let me share a bit about who I am and what I value.

My values

I talk about values a lot, as I think they underpin who we are and how we interact with others. These are three of the values that are most important to me.

Authenticity
Transparency
Openness

For me, authenticity isn’t just about being myself at work, it’s also about being openly reflective and vulnerable. I want to be able to bring my whole self to work, and for those around me to feel psychologically safe enough to be their authentic selves.

Transparency and openness are extremely important to me. If everyone knows the true state of play, you can make much better-informed decisions, and find realistic paths to getting things done. Openness is also about mindset; being open to new approaches and new ideas, and adapting to changing environments. Many years ago, an ex-boss and very good friend of mine introduced me to the “yes, and…” approach. It’s an improv comedy method built on accepting and expanding on a point. Openness is being able to take an idea or concept, accept it, and expand on it – rather than dismissing it, or coming up with reasons not to.

My working style

I’m flexible and flow between independent and proximity working styles. It means that as a leader, I value independent and unorthodox thinking – but appreciate regular updates, and alignment to the mission.

I prefer to default to action rather than waiting on something, and I value this in others. This looks like drafting documents instead of waiting on something. I’m open to change, and like to adapt when needed. So long as an idea meets the expected outcomes, I don’t mind how we get there.

I believe strongly in servant leadership – I am there to support and help you – and in open dialogue. And above all else, kindness. It’s great to challenge the status quo, and there’s no need for that to be anything less than exciting.

Working asychronously

I love async working, and will default to tools and documentation. I like to have things organised in a way that reduces duplication, and allows people to be able to work independently across projects.

Have you ever been in a 1-hour meeting covering something that could have been sorted out in one email? I have. Have you ever gone on mute and done some unrelated work whilst on a call, because you’re not needed? If we’re honest with ourselves, we all have. I think people mistreat meetings and use them in place of completing work, or to hold off taking action until the meeting is complete. I don’t think this is very healthy.

Meetings should be carefully considered, and are great for: first-time conversations, emotionally sensitive discussions, supportive calls, celebratory calls, introduction calls, and high-stakes decision points. For updates, process, agendas and information gathering, it’s much more effective to do this asynchronously. Let’s keep meetings there for the important stuff.

This isn’t just preference; there are plenty of benefits to async working. Companies that run async first report increased productivity, increased empowerment and autonomy, better mental health, and a more inclusive working environment. Distributed teams benefit from being able to work normal hours, and companies benefit from their expertise. I believe that async working is the real leveller.

My favourite books

Books can tell you a lot about someone, can’t they? Here are my five favourite reads for anyone working in product. The titles below all link directly to the books so you can find out a bit more.

What else might you need to know?

My preferred way of working is remote, but I absolutely value face-to-face for the more human meetings.
I’m a coffee snob so if I’m taking a break in the office and you need me urgently, I will be at the nearest fancy coffee shop. If you get there fast enough, I’ll buy you one too!
I switch my phone off at the weekends and in the evenings, but sometimes I get carried away in what I’m doing. This means that I might appear online at strange hours. This doesn’t mean I expect anyone else to be online.
I try to shape my day around my most productive times, and will try and maximise meetings for hours when I am at my best, so they’re most productive.
I am pretty laid back, and I assume good intentions.

That’s it, folks.

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn if you’re not already. You can also email me at any time, my inbox is always open to a good book recommendation, or a bad pun.

CONNECT ON LINKEDIN

EMAIL ME

I’m Caz, a product leader, digital creative, public speaker + coach.

Hey there

I’m a senior leader in product management, with an interest in human-centred leadership and behavioural psychology. I’m a trained coach, counsellor and facilitator. I work with empowered teams to create inclusive work culture and create impactful products that humans love.

I’m proudly bi + live in the UK.

Smartsheet 2022-now

Steer73 2021-2022

BBC 2012-2021

Coaching for Humans 2018-present

Branding for Humans 2014-present

Chair of BBC Pride 2020-2021

A bit more about working with me.

If you’re here because you haven’t worked with me before, are interviewing with me, or are interested in knowing me a bit before we meet in a professional capacity, then let me share a bit about who I am and what I value.

My values

Authenticity

Transparency

Openness

My working style

Working asychronously

My favourite books

Crucial Conversations by Grenny, Patterson, McMillan, Switzler, & Gregory

The Lean Product Playbook, by Dan Olsen

Don’t Make Me Think, by Steve Krug

Start With Why, by Simon Sinek

Radical Candor, by Kim Scott

Escaping the Build Trap, by Melissa Perri

What else might you need to know?

That’s it, folks.

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn if you’re not already. You can also email me at any time, my inbox is always open to a good book recommendation, or a bad pun.