End of Year Reflection - All Things Product Podcast with Teresa Torres & Petra Wille

Listen to this episode on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

In this episode of All Things Product, Petra Wille and Teresa Torres dig into their end-of-year reflection practices — the ones they've refined over decades of product work, personal growth, and plenty of nerdy experimentation.

They compare how their processes started, how they’ve evolved, and why both of them have moved away from rigid annual goal-setting in favor of something more flexible, values-driven, and joyful. From “what went well” lists to 100-wish exercises to decade-level themes, they share practical ways to close out a year with clarity and set up the next one with intention.

If you’re looking for inspiration to design your own reflection ritual — or you’re simply curious how two product veterans think about continuous improvement in their personal and professional lives — this one’s worth a listen.

We’d love to hear how you approach end-of-year reflection. What habits or questions help you close out the year and set up the next one? Share your process with us.

What We Cover:

  • Why annual reflection matters for product people

  • How Petra and Teresa each started their reflection habits

  • The evolution from rigid goals to values and themes

  • How paper notebooks, art projects, and “Dear Data” shaped Petra’s approach

  • The influence of Chris Guillebeau’s annual review process on Teresa

  • The difference between outcome goals and process goals

  • How reflection helps uncover unrealistic expectations (and let them go)

  • The “100 wishes” exercise — why it’s powerful and surprisingly difficult

  • How to recognize patterns across years to guide future decisions

  • Building in spaciousness vs. over-scheduling

  • What to do when the year doesn’t go to plan (and why that’s normal)

  • Why your reflection process should flex with how you learn and stay motivated

  • The role of values, themes, and decade-level intentions

  • Balancing public sharing with private processing

Resources & Links:

Mentioned in the episode:

Petra Wille