S3E5: The Truth About Roadmaps: Why Dates Don't Deliver with Janna Bastow
In this insightful episode, Karl Abbott sits down with Janna Bastow, co-founder of ProdPad and founder of Mind the Product, to explore the evolution of product roadmaps. Janna shares the origin story of the Now-Next-Later Roadmap, a flexible and strategic alternative to traditional date-driven roadmaps. Together, they unpack how this approach empowers product teams to communicate more honestly, prioritize effectively, and adapt to change.
Key Topics Discussed
- The Birth of Now-Next-Later
- Why Traditional Roadmaps Fail
- Strategic Communication
- Balancing Flexibility and Commitment
- The “So What?” Test
- Janna’s Journey from PM to CEO
- AI and the Future of Product Management
Key Quotes
- “Roadmapping is a strategic communication exercise—not a delivery promise.”
- “If everything on your roadmap has a date, you’re not doing product management—you’re doing project delivery.”
- “AI won’t replace product managers, but it will replace the grunt work.”
- “Good product management isn’t just done by a product manager sitting in the corner… it’s their job to surround themselves with people in the team and ask really good questions and be transparent about the direction of the product.”
Learn More
Connect with Janna
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannabastow/
Janna Bastow
Janna Bastow is the inventor of the Now/Next/Later roadmap and is co-founder and CEO of ProdPad, product management and roadmapping software for product people. Janna is also co-founder of ProductTank and Mind the Product, the global community of product managers. She often starts and stops conversations with the question: “What problem are you trying to solve?”