Ha Nguyen’s Post

⚡ Magic happens when people gather in person. ⚡ When we come together face-to-face, something special happens. We share more openly. We feel seen and heard. We have those little moments of serendipity when conversations take unexpected turns, relationships deepen, and ideas emerge that never would have otherwise. We walk away feeling not just inspired, but connected. Gatherings carry a special kind of energy, and being able to share that energy as a group is what makes in-person events so wonderful. There’s a sense of belonging and shared purpose that stays with us long after it’s over. Of course, this can only happen when we strike the right tone. We’re not just meeting to talk shop—we’re meeting to recharge, share our stories, laugh, gain new perspectives, and plant the seeds for meaningful relationships. Enjoyed meeting our Sidebar Denver community last night. It was so great to hear everyone’s life stories, the mountain we’re summiting, and what our peak is once we get there. And it was beautiful and deeply meaningful to share our leadership stories with each other (including moments of vulnerability & failure), what balance means to us, setting boundaries, and discussing energy-boosting (vs zapping) activities. We closed the evening and shared our key takeaways and commitments. Everyone committed to gathering our Sidebar Denver community together more regularly. Amazing to connect with these inspiring Sidebar leaders last night: Adrian Chernoff, Kat Benenati, Gideon H., Cris Chacon, Graham Keggi, Kristin Wegner Guilfoyle, phd, Charlotte McGuire, Jordan S. Pazian, MBA

Deborah Liu, CEO of Ancestry.com, and I are going to let you in on a parenting secret. 🤫 Although, we both have polar opposite parenting styles (Deb's a Tiger Mom and I have a laissez-faire parenting approach), there's one parenting philosophy we have in common. It takes a village to raise kids, and we shouldn't do it alone. 🙌 Enter Curious Cardinals! Curious Cardinals is an EdTech platform that's transforming learning through cutting-edge technology and personalized mentorship. As tech parents, we were impressed by Curious Cardinals' AI-powered approach: ✅ AI-powered learning reports: After each session, parents receive detailed AI-generated reports on their child's progress. Quarterly reports provide comprehensive insights into growth and areas for improvement. ✅ Data-driven mentor development: Mentors receive tailored AI-generated feedback, ensuring continuous improvement in their teaching methods. ✅ Beyond academics: Mentorship nurtures crucial 21st-century skills like critical thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurship through passion projects. ✅ Holistic development: It's not just about grades; Mentorship instills a genuine love for learning that extends beyond test scores and college applications. Deb and I are hosting a virtual event to showcase how Curious Cardinals is preparing our kids for the future - leveraging AI and personalized mentorship to foster the next generation of innovators and leaders. You'll also hear from Audrey Micay Wisch, Founder & CEO (and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree) about how mentorship has changed her trajectory as a founder and how she's committed to changing the trajectory of our kids' futures through Curious Cardinals mentorship platform. Link to RSVP in the comments. Hope you will be able to join us on Oct 29!

Thrilled to share that I’ve stepped into a new role as Sidebar’s Head of Community alongside my ongoing role as Sidebar's Chief Evangelist. I'm excited to continue to support Lexy Franklin's vision of "Everyone's Full Potential, Unleashed". This transition feels like a natural evolution of my passion for building spaces where people can thrive together. 🎉 In every role I’ve had—whether at eBay, Stella & Dot, Spero Ventures, or Swimply—I’ve seen that community is the heart of success. At Sidebar, I’m excited to help foster an environment of connection, learning, and shared growth. Together, we’ll build a community where each of us feels empowered, celebrated, and supported. 🙌 Quick note: I will continue my support of founders as part of NextStep Advisory & Consulting alongside my business partner Garrett Kelly, but will start shifting more into advisory rather than fractional roles. One of my greatest joys is and continues to be supporting mission-driven and values-aligned founders building world-changing companies.

✨ What is culture really? Is it your values on a wall or something deeper? 🤔 In my 20+ years as a leader at places like eBay, Oodle, Stella & Dot, Spero Ventures, and Swimply, I’ve discovered that culture is the invisible force that shapes how we show up for each other every single day. 🙌 Culture is: 🔑 The decisions made when no one’s watching 💬 The conversations that happen in the hallways (and Slack channels) 🌟 The energy that fuels how we show up for each other At its core, culture is what you practice, not just what you preach. It reflects the values you live every day, especially when things get tough. Culture isn’t just a feel-good concept—it’s the glue that holds everything together. I saw this firsthand at Swimply, where we intentionally created a culture built on celebration, belonging, and empowerment. 🎉 I’ve always believed that culture is a mirror, reflecting leadership’s behaviors—whether intentional or not. If the tone from the top is cutthroat or dismissive, it trickles down. If it’s empathetic and inclusive, people feel seen, heard, and valued. 💛 The culture we create doesn’t just help teams thrive—it builds the legacy we leave behind. 💡 As leaders, we need to ask ourselves: What kind of culture are we reflecting? If we’re not intentional about the example we set, our teams will mirror behaviors we may not even realize we’re showing. Culture isn’t just about “what” you do—it’s about “how” you make people feel. And when you get that right, your legacy is more than just your projects or goals—it’s the environment that empowers people to thrive long after you’re gone. 🌱 If you want to dive deeper into how to create a culture that lasts, check out my latest blog post, “Culture as a Mirror: What Your Leadership Reflects About Your Company.” Link to the blog post below. 👇 If this resonates, feel free to leave a comment below: ❓ What culture are you reflecting as a leader? ❓ How do you ensure your actions align with the values you want to see in your organization? ❓What have I left out?

For those who missed Andres Glusman’s workshop at this year’s Product Leader Summit, it was top rated so we decided to have Andres do a repeat workshop for our Sidebar community. Please join us if you’re free on Wed!

When you're not sure how to start your morning, you start it with a dance party! 💃 🕺 Shake It Off, friendship bracelets, and Swifties at this year's Product Leader Summit! Vidya Dinamani, Sarah Bernard, Gibson Biddle, Dan Olsen, Rae Zelalem

Could not have said this better! 💯 I haven’t applied to a job since 2000 (when I got my first tech job at eBay). And I have never had to go outbound to find clients. They have all come to me or been introduced to me. Building and investing in your network is everything! Don’t wait until you are out of a job — although honestly, it’s never too late to start. If you are serious about investing in your network, you know where to find me. I am deeply connected to Sidebar’s mission of catalyzing everyone’s extraordinary success by helping them build their Board of Directors and professional network. Together, we can Connect, Learn and Achieve! 🥳

What do you get when you bring a diverse group of growth-minded people together in person? 💕 You get magic! 💕 A gift to yourself of being fully present in the moment. 💕 You find your people. 💕 You get to connect, learn & grow together. 💕 You breathe in energy and wisdom. 💕 You build friendships with folks who will continue to support & cheer you on throughout your journey. Another amazing Sidebar community dinner was hosted last night by Vidya Mahabaleswar. We shared life stories, the mountain we are climbing, and the peak when we get there. And we gained wisdom over meaningful facilitated dinner conversations with a few laughs in between. So great to connect with so many old and new Sidebar friends: Padmini Chelluri, Tianyue Yu, Ph.D., Juhi Ranjan, Ph.D., Ben Rounds, Andrew Warren, LP Peterson, Glenn Block, MBA 🍉 (he/him), Tanjina Shapiro, MBA, Rob Hall, Debarati Goswami, Will Murphy, Nupur Thakur, Neelam Chakrabarty, Vidya Mahabaleswar, Mansey Amin, Vidya Hegde and me! :) If you are a Sidebar member and want to host or co-host a dinner with me, please do reach out! And if you're not yet in Sidebar, what are you waiting for? 🤔 😁

1 in 2 seasoned product leaders in my network are out of jobs. 😩 And 1 in 2 have been in transition 6+ months. 😱 I'm astounded by this shocking stat. I believe more than just macroeconomic conditions and the age of austerity and efficiency are in play. AI is removing the need for some of these historically white collar, high in-demand jobs. In the next 10 years, I predict that PM hiring will shrink by 50% or more. What are the skills needed that will stand the test of time? ✅ Entrepreneurial (people who see the world differently and will identify new market opportunities & build the future) ✅ Strategic & Complex decision-making (executives who are world-class at strategy, excellent at decision-making, and can lead organizations to win) ✅ Strong EQ (leaders who can inspire and lead with empathy. who can navigate complex organizations and understand human dynamics) ✅ Relationship builders (people who build and tap their networks to unlock new opportunities. Think business development professionals, community builders and super connectors.) Do you agree with this thesis? What did I leave off? I am working hard to remain relevant in 10 years. How are each of you thinking about your career futures? I'd love to hear your thoughts! This post was inspired by my convo this morning with my dear friend Payal Maheshwari who as a leadership coach really gets it.