Darinka Burovska, Product Management Consultant & Associate Professor @ Arden University
Darinka Burovska — Product Management Consultant & Associate Professor @ Arden University
Episode Summary
In “The Art of Creative Problem Solving in Tech,” Darinka Burovska, Product Management Consultant and Associate Professor at Arden University, joins “The Executives: A Dialogue with Majid” to share insights from her experience spanning startups to Fortune 100 companies.
The episode explores tackling complex tech challenges with limited budgets, featuring detailed examples of creative problem-solving approaches. Darinka discusses how working across different countries, particularly in Asia, has enriched her problem-solving skills and contrasts European and Asian working environments.
She explains balancing academic theory with real-world tech challenges in her teaching, and provides guidance on anticipating market needs and adapting product strategy based on validation.
The conversation covers emerging technologies like AI and IoT, common product management pitfalls, and building team trust. Darinka also addresses bridging B2B and B2C product gaps, creating effective user personas, and offers practical advice for non-technical individuals transitioning into IT or Product Management.
Episode Chapters
🎙️ In This Episode, We Discuss:
00:29 Introduction
01:06 Darinka introduces herself
02:23 Introduction to the topic
03:08 The most challenging problem seen in Darinka’s experience
05:05 How do you fight against unforeseen circumstances?
07:09 How do you do product discovery when budget is limited?
10:30 What is creative problem-solving?
12:10 An example of creative problem-solving
15:40 Country hoping + working experience in Asia
17:20 How have cultural differences during the Asian tour enhanced your problem-solving skills?
21:10 Differences between Europe and Asia
24:40 How do you balance academic theories with real-world tech challenges when teaching students?
28:05 How can a Product Manager anticipate market needs in the changing tech landscape?
30:40 When should you decide on creating a review plan for strategy?
32:35 Can the strategy of the product/company change with validation received?
34:22 How do you ensure creative solutions align with user needs and pain points?
36:36 From AI to IoT, which emerging technologies do you believe have the most potential to redefine creative problem-solving in the tech industry?
38:45 How can a product manager use the power of AI to their benefit?
40:40 The Most unexpected thing from 3 years ago about AI
42:50 Competitors of chatGPT?
45:35 Common pitfalls or challenges you've observed in product management
47:10 How can founders trust their teams, especially product managers?
49:40 How do you convince yourself as a founder that the other person can be correct?
51:39 What is adaptability?
54:10 Bridging the gap between product types in B2B and B2C
55:50 How do you look and create user personas?
57:55 Darinka’s inspiration to become a product manager.
59:40 Can non-technical people be Product Managers?
01:00:27 Advice for someone who wants to switch to IT/Product Management
01:02:01 Conclusion
About the Guest
Darinka Burovska
Product Management Consultant & Associate Professor @ Arden University
Darinka Burovska is a seasoned Product Management Consultant, Tech Strategist, and Associate Professor at Arden University, known for her innovative approach to creative problem-solving in the tech industry. With a career spanning work with startups to Fortune 100 companies, Darinka blends academic insight with real-world execution to empower product teams and future leaders alike.Currently based in Berlin, Darinka brings a global perspective shaped by professional experiences across Europe and Asia. Her deep understanding of cross-cultural collaboration, combined with her expertise in AI, IoT, and emerging technologies, positions her as a thought leader in navigating complex tech challenges with creativity and clarity.In her teaching and consulting roles, Darinka emphasizes the fusion of academic theory and practical product strategy, helping organizations anticipate market needs and build user-centric solutions. She is a passionate advocate for diversity in tech and believes in the power of adaptability, trust, and team alignment in product success.As the founder of darinka.co, she also shares resources and mentoring to support aspiring and transitioning professionals especially those moving into tech and product roles from non-technical backgrounds.
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