This blog is dedicated to a “new thing called Product” – a “thing” I have been practicing for 30 years, since the first simple web browser (Marc Andreesen’s Mosaic) was released in 1993.

It wasn’t much to look at – but with the birth of that browser came the birth of a new discipline called Digital Product Management.

I want this blog to focus on the human side of digital product management – communication, empathy, teamwork, collaboration and buy-in – rather than the latest methodologies and tick list skills. The skills and methodologies change over time, but the inner-workings of people don’t. The best product managers love people more than machines. They love what machines can do for people, but people come first.

Who I am

My name is MB Christie. I am a recognised British/American digital leader with deep product, data & technology expertise. I have over 25 years of experience building and leading product/tech/CX teams across several sectors, including media, property, fintech, travel, ecommerce & entrepreneurial education. I was named one of the “Top 100 Women to Watch” by Cranfield School of Management.

Background

I’ve run my own tech start-up in Prague for 8 years, led product for two scale-ups (QXL, Rightmove) through to their IPOs, led product for two large public corporations (Financial Times and TUI), COO at a high-profile government-backed organisation (Tech Nation), and CPO at a fast-growth B-corp fintech (Simply Business). I understand the unique financial, leadership and governance pressures at each stage in a company’s evolution and how to navigate stakeholders and staff through the inevitable growing pains that come with digital growth.

My interests

I’m focused on the human side of technology. What is the problem we are trying to solve for the customer? What assumptions are we making about the customer? How will our great idea be adopted by them? Will they value it? How does this idea align with the company’s strategy, vision, and portfolio of work? I use agile and unique collaboration techniques to break down silos, collide ideas, and create fresh strategies to capture customer opportunities through emerging tech and data. I embed disciplined practices to help teams get clear decisions from senior stakeholders at key junctures in development. I am a focused leader who sets high standards for myself and the teams I work with. I’ve consistently built team cultures where openness, integrity, creative collaboration, influencing skills, strong data evidence, and effective pitching are the keys to unlocking trust, investment, and authority.

I’m available on a fractional basis as a Chief Product Officer (or equivalent), Chief Product & Technology Officer, COO and CEO.