EcoVadis Fmr CPO on Scaling to Multi-Product & GM

How do you evolve from a focused product team to a global, multi-product organization? In this episode hosted by Barbara Bermes, former EcoVadis CPO Madhur Aggarwal shares how he helped scale the company’s product organization, tripled revenue, and transitioned toward a General Management model. Madhur dives into what it takes to expand a product suite, lead cross-functional teams, and bridge the cultural divide between U.S. and European operations—offering actionable insights for product leaders navigating complex growth.

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Show Notes

1. Develop a maniacal focus on business outcomes and delivering customer value every quarter
2. Spend 20-30% of your time talking directly to customers, partners, and competitors
3. Read customer feedback thoroughly, even across different languages and regions
4. Understand the importance of keeping customer promises in product development
5. Recognize the evolving responsibilities across product leadership roles (Director, VP, CPO)
6. Consider combining CTO and CPO roles to create better organizational alignment
7. Transition from single-product to multi-product requires a deep understanding of customer workflows
8. Rethink product packaging based on customer outcomes, not just feature sets
9. When expanding product lines, focus on embedding deeper into customer processes
10. Develop a portfolio management approach when approaching 50-70 million in ARR
11. Create clear measurement frameworks when transitioning to a General Manager model
12. Understand that the best General Manager might not always come from a product background
13. Spend time in big tech to understand global scale and operational complexities
14. Actively mentor potential A-players through stretch assignments and regular check-ins
15. Create dedicated time (like a “Coffee Corner”) for team members to engage with leadership
16. Consider external experiences outside of product to broaden perspective
17. Align with board and C-suite on role definitions and expectations
18. Focus on team topology and ensuring the right mix of talent at every level
19. Develop a strategy for expanding product suite that goes beyond just increasing revenue
20. Prioritize understanding customer needs over internal technical considerations