Leadership Professional Development - 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 dive deep into the often-overlooked topic of professional development for product leaders. Drawing from their own experiences and coaching practices, they explore why leaders struggle to invest in themselves, what the real blockers are (spoiler: it’s not just budget), and how to navigate growth despite uncertainty and overwhelm.

From frameworks like the Learning Menu to the uncomfortable truth about leading during downturns, this episode is both a rallying cry and a practical guide for any product leader ready to take their development seriously. Vulnerability, coaching, reflective practices, and skill-building—all on the table.

Whether you're a head of product, a seasoned CPO, or simply a product leader feeling stuck—this one's for you.

Topics Covered:

  • Why the Product at Heart leadership event in Barcelona was canceled—and what it taught us

  • The hidden stigma of coaching for leaders

  • Vulnerability as a leadership skill

  • The Learning Menu framework: how to invest in your development at any budget level

  • From free resources to high-ticket coaching—how to choose the right growth path

  • Reflection, journaling, and emotional resilience in product leadership

  • The importance of finding your learning “dojo”

  • How conferences offer more than just talks (think: peer benchmarking and teaching tactics)

  • Ethical coaching boundaries and what happens when coaching reveals misalignment

Resources & Links:

Mentioned in the episode:

Petra Wille