Building Mission-Driven Products in Regulated Industries: Lessons from 20 Years in Product Management
October 23, 2025
Building successful products requires a delicate balance of innovation, regulation compliance, and customer-focused development, especially in highly regulated industries.
In this episode of How I Grew This, hosts Amanda and Adam chat with Patrick Wesonga, Senior Product Leader, who shares his 20-year journey in product development across various industries and company stages, from startups to enterprise organizations.
Ever wondered how to navigate product development in highly regulated industries while still driving innovation? Join Amanda and Adam as they chat with Patrick Wesonga, Senior Product Leader, who shares two decades of invaluable product management wisdom. From hypothesis-driven development to building mission-driven products, discover how to balance regulatory compliance with rapid innovation, the key traits of exceptional product managers, and why curiosity is the cornerstone of product success. Whether you're an aspiring product manager or seasoned professional, this episode delivers practical insights on making impactful product decisions while staying true to your mission.
- Balancing innovation with regulatory requirements in healthcare and fintech
- Creating successful products across B2B, B2C, and B2B2C models
- Transitioning from engineering to product management
- Building mission-driven products that make a real impact
- Essential traits and skills for successful product managers
- Navigating the future of product management in the age of AI
What You'll Learn:
- How to navigate product development in regulated industries without sacrificing innovation
- The key differences between B2B, B2C, and B2B2C product development approaches
- Why hypothesis-driven product development is crucial for building successful products
- How to leverage data to challenge executive decisions and validate product strategies
- The essential qualities to look for when hiring product managers include curiosity and technical acumen
- Why understanding both the spirit and letter of regulations leads to better product outcomes
- How to balance mission-driven work with business sustainability
- The future impact of AI on product management roles and responsibilities
- Why product success requires focusing on both emotional and functional customer needs
- The advantages and challenges of working in early-stage versus mature companies
Episode Resources:
- Patrick Wesonga on LinkedIn
- Spring Health on LinkedIn
- Spring Health Website
- Amanda Vandiver on LinkedIn
- Adam Landis on LinkedIn
- Branch on LinkedIn
- Branch Website
- How I Grew This on Apple Podcasts
- How I Grew This on Spotify
- How I Grew This on YouTube