PM GPT

Direct reports need access to my product thinking, but I'm not always available:

• They had questions about feature prioritization while I was in meetings
• Needed guidance on product decisions when I was out of the office
• Wanted to understand my decision-making framework for similar situations
• Blocked waiting for me when they could move forward with the right context

The bottleneck isn't their capability. It is access to the mental models and frameworks I use for product decisions. They needed a way to "ask Lauren" even when I wasn't there.

Built a custom GPT trained on my product approach, decision frameworks, and past decisions:

• Product philosophy: Core principles for how I think about product strategy
• Decision frameworks: How I evaluate trade-offs and prioritize features
• Past decisions: Real examples with rationale for why we chose X over Y
• Common scenarios: How to handle frequent situations (scope creep, competing priorities, etc.)

The GPT doesn't replace me, but it provides a starting point. Direct reports can test their thinking, get unstuck, and move forward faster. Then we can review together rather than waiting for me to unblock them.

Custom GPT built on OpenAI's platform with curated knowledge:

• Custom GPT: Configured with specific instructions and personality
• Knowledge base: Documents covering product philosophy, frameworks, and decisions
• Custom instructions: Prompts to ensure responses align with my approach
• Iterative refinement: Updated based on team feedback and new patterns

The GPT is trained to think like I do about product problems, but always encourages the user to bring their own perspective. It's a thinking partner, not a decision oracle.

Team Tool

The results have been powerful:

• Unblocked team members: They can get guidance immediately instead of waiting for my calendar
• Better async decisions: Use the GPT to test thinking, then share their proposal for review
• Consistent frameworks: Everyone has access to the same decision-making approach
• Scaling myself: My product thinking is available 24/7, even when I'm offline

This is giving the team a scaffold to build their own product thinking. And when we do connect, conversations are more productive because they've already worked through the basics.