Mihika Kapoor is a design-engineer-PM hybrid at Figma, where she was an early PM on FigJam and is now spearheading development on a new product at the company that’s coming out this June. She’s known as the go-to person at Figma for leading new 0-to-1 products, and, as you’ll hear in our conversation, beloved by everyone she works with. Her background includes founding Design Nation, a national nonprofit focused on democratizing design education for undergraduates; spearheading product launches at Meta; and community building within the NYC AI startup scene. In our conversation, we discuss:
• How to effectively take ideas from 0 to 1 at larger companies
• How to craft a compelling vision
• The importance of vulnerability and feedback
• The role of intuition and product sense in making decisions
• How to practically communicate your vision
• How to balance collaboration and strong opinions
• Advice for building a strong team culture
• Pivoting with grace and enthusiasm
• The current AI revolution and its impact on PM
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Find the transcript at: <a href="https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/vision-conviction-hype-mihika-kapoor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/vision-conviction-hype-mihika-kapoor</a>
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Where to find Mihika Kapoor:
• X: <a href="https://twitter.com/mihikapoor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://twitter.com/mihikapoor</a>
• LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mihikakapoor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mihikakapoor/</a>
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• LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/</a>
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In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Mihika’s background
(04:29) Core attributes of great product managers
(07:34) Crafting a compelling vision
(12:12) The vision behind FigJam 
(18:25) Delivering a vision without design or engineering skills
(21:52) Creating momentum
(26:36) The importance of strong conviction
(27:45) Direct communication
(32:48) Building hype
(42:20) Immersing yourself in user insights
(47:16) Operationalizing user insights  
(50:33) Caring deeply about what you build
(54:01) Finding passion in your work
(57:00) Building a strong culture
(01:07:07) Pivoting with grace and enthusiasm
(01:11:48) Design Nation
(01:13:15) Mihika’s weaknesses
(01:16:07) Building new products at larger companies
(01:20:50) Coming up with a great idea
(01:22:49) The key to going from 0 to 1
(01:26:47) Spreading the idea across the company
(01:29:15) Closing thoughts
(01:32:11) Lightning round
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Referenced:
• Figma: <a href="https://www.figma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.figma.com/</a>
• Sho Kuwamoto on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shokuwamoto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/shokuwamoto/</a>
• The Medici Effect: What Elephants and Epidemics Can Teach Us About Innovation: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Medici-Effect-Preface-Discussion-Guide/dp/1633692949" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.amazon.com/Medici-Effect-Preface-Discussion-Guide/dp/1633692949</a>
• FigJam: <a href="https://www.figma.com/figjam/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.figma.com/figjam/</a>
• Cognition: <a href="https://www.cognition-labs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.cognition-labs.com/</a>
• Devin: <a href="https://www.cognition-labs.com/introducing-devin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.cognition-labs.com/introducing-devin</a>
• David Hoang on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhoang2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhoang2/</a>
• Replit: <a href="https://replit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://replit.com/</a>
• The Making of Maker Week at Figma: <a href="https://www.figma.com/blog/the-making-of-maker-week/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.figma.com/blog/the-making-of-maker-week/</a>
• Yuhki Yamashita on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuhki/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuhki/</a>
• Jeff Bezos’ Simple Decision-Making Framework Will Give You Clarity, Conviction, and Courage: <a href="https://medium.com/illumination/jeff-bezos-simple-decision-making-framework-will-give-you-clarity-conviction-and-courage-adf8d0183625" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://medium.com/illumination/jeff-bezos-simple-decision-making-framework-will-give-you-clarity-conviction-and-courage-adf8d0183625</a>
• Alice Ching on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceching/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceching/</a>
• Karl Jiang on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-jiang-4a07424/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-jiang-4a07424/</a>
• Kris Rasmussen on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopherrasmussen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopherrasmussen/</a>
• Config: <a href="https://config.figma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://config.figma.com/</a>
• Dev Mode: <a href="https://www.figma.com/dev-mode/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.figma.com/dev-mode/</a>
• Asana: <a href="https://asana.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://asana.com/</a>
• Julie Zhuo on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-zhuo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-zhuo/</a>
• StrengthsFinder test: <a href="https://www.gyfted.me/personality-quiz/strengthsfinder-test-free" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.gyfted.me/personality-quiz/strengthsfinder-test-free</a>
• Dylan Field on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanfield/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanfield/</a>
• Vishal Shah on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishalnshah/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishalnshah/</a>
• Design Disruptors: <a href="https://www.invisionapp.com/films/design-disruptors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.invisionapp.com/films/design-disruptors</a>
• Daniel Burka on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dburka/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dburka/</a>
• Jamie Myrold on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemyrold/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemyrold/</a>
• Design Nation: <a href="https://dn.businesstoday.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://dn.businesstoday.org/</a>
• Stuart Weitzman on X: <a href="https://twitter.com/StuartWeitzman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://twitter.com/StuartWeitzman</a>
• Joe Gebbia on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgebbia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgebbia/</a>
• Building a long and meaningful career | Nikhyl Singhal (Meta, Google): <a href="https://www.lennyspodcast.com/building-a-long-and-meaningful-career-nikhyl-singhal-meta-google/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.lennyspodcast.com/building-a-long-and-meaningful-career-nikhyl-singhal-meta-google/</a>
• Jambot: <a href="https://www.figma.com/community/widget/1274481464484630971/jambot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.figma.com/community/widget/1274481464484630971/jambot</a>
• Hestia: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hestia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hestia</a>
• Harry Potter series: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Books/dp/0545162076" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Books/dp/0545162076</a>
• Pachinko: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pachinko-National-Book-Award-Finalist/dp/1455563927/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.amazon.com/Pachinko-National-Book-Award-Finalist/dp/1455563927/</a>
• Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Expanded-Overcoming-Inspiration/dp/0593594649" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Expanded-Overcoming-Inspiration/dp/0593594649</a>
• The Overstory: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Overstory-Novel-Richard-Powers/dp/039335668X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.amazon.com/Overstory-Novel-Richard-Powers/dp/039335668X</a>
• Severance on AppleTV+: <a href="https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/umc.cmc.1srk2goyh2q2zdxcx605w8vtx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/umc.cmc.1srk2goyh2q2zdxcx605w8vtx</a>
• Dune on Max: <a href="https://www.max.com/movies/dune/e7dc7b3a-a494-4ef1-8107-f4308aa6bbf7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.max.com/movies/dune/e7dc7b3a-a494-4ef1-8107-f4308aa6bbf7</a>
• Dune: Part 2: <a href="https://www.dunemovie.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.dunemovie.com/</a>
• Arc browser: <a href="https://arc.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://arc.net/</a>
• Pika: <a href="https://pika.art/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://pika.art/home</a>
• The power of recognition: Why you should celebrate your employees | Josh Miller: <a href="https://www.lennyspodcast.com/videos/the-power-of-recognition-why-you-should-celebrate-your-employees-josh-miller/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.lennyspodcast.com/videos/the-power-of-recognition-why-you-should-celebrate-your-employees-josh-miller/</a>
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Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.
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Vision, conviction, and hype: How to build 0 to 1 inside a company | Mihika Kapoor (Product at Figma)

Mihika Kapoor is a design-engineer-PM hybrid at Figma, where she was an early PM on FigJam and is now spearheading development on a new product at the company that’s coming out this June. She’s known as the go-to person at Figma for leading new 0-to-1 products, and, as you’ll hear in our conversation, beloved by [&hellip;]