Karmel Graham, Belkin, Product Manager
“You have to be able to take some level of risk in your products, and you have to have a product that’s innovative.”
Karmel Graham believes that you must be comfortable taking risks if you’re going to launch successful products. “This applies to legacy companies more than their younger counterparts, which are more nimble and agile,” she says. “You have to be able to take some level of risk in your products, and you have to have a product that’s innovative. You may not get a return on your investment in that product, but you’re continuously showing the market that you’re a top contender. You’re always showing that you’re on top of your game, you’re on top of innovation, you’re on top of ideas, and you’re on top of technology. As long as you have just one product always in that bucket, you’ll stay on top or in front of the pack,” she says.
Of course, taking a risk also means that not every product makes it to market, let alone succeeds. Even in these cases, your company can still enjoy some surprising benefits from having tried something innovative. “Sometimes, the product may not even see the light of day. Customers may not be ready for it; buyers may not be ready for it. At the end of the day, they’ll remember that you did it, and they’ll eventually come back to you,” she explains.
Of course, taking a risk also means that not every product makes it to market, let alone succeeds. Even in these cases, your company can still enjoy some surprising benefits from having tried something innovative. “Sometimes, the product may not even see the light of day. Customers may not be ready for it; buyers may not be ready for it. At the end of the day, they’ll remember that you did it, and they’ll eventually come back to you,” she explains.
This is an excerpt from 7 Experts on Product Leadership. The eBook was generously sponsored by Workfront.
