Walks on West Cliff

Hardware has a way of humbling even the most experienced engineers. Getting a product from idea to shelf takes far more than a great design. It takes an ecosystem working together.

On a clear walk along West Cliff in Santa Cruz, I found myself reflecting on a role that is often misunderstood in high-tech hardware product development: The TECHNICAL PROGRAM MANAGER (TPM). Too often, TPMs are viewed as administrative coordinators who track schedules, update Gantt charts, and manage checklists. But in high-performing organizations, a seasoned TPM is something entirely different…

The tide was pulling back from Natural Bridges today, exposing slick kelp and the sharp geometry of barnacles. Walking West Cliff with Michael, we watched anemones retract at the slightest touch—a simple loop of stimulus, action, consequence refined over millions of years. It struck us that while we often discuss Behavior Design as a modern concept, we’re really just codifying what the [...]

What does minimum viable REALLY mean, and how minimum is too minimum? Most people think of an MVP as a minimum functional version of a product that’s good enough to test market demand, usability, or competitive positioning. But in regulated industries like medical devices, where product lifecycles can stretch 7 to 15 years, there is another MVP that matters just as much.

On a beautiful walk along West Cliff, Hardy and I explored an unexpected but powerful parallel: what healthy soil ecosystems can teach us about the future of hardware, design, and technology. Along the way, one theme kept surfacing.

As John and I walked a sunny West Cliff Drive, one theme kept surfacing from his depth of experience working with global manufacturing partners: even as technology accelerates, the core principles of building resilient supply chains remain largely unchanged.

This timeless wisdom captures something we often forget when building companies: success is a team journey, not a solo sprint. Behind every breakthrough are the people who make it possible—your teams, mentors, peers, and the unexpected heroes who show up when things get tough.

With the increasing uncertainties with global supply chains, it was a pleasure to reconnect with my friend (and PRG Partner) Sandeep Duggal, the CEO of Extron Inc. and global supply chain expert, for a walk on West Cliff Drive to reflect on how global supply chains continue to evolve amid a series of natural, geopolitical, and economic disruptions, from pandemics and floods to shifting [...]

One of the things I love about talking with people who are building the future is hearing how they turn imagination into execution. I had the pleasure of catching up with Dave Lyons, who joined Joby Aviation after a remarkable career including serving as Tesla's first Dir. of Eng., where he helped lay the groundwork for Tesla's powertrain technology.

During lunch with Orla Lacey, she shared insights on what it really takes to guide high tech hardware companies through the challenges of rapid growth and execution from a VP of Operations perspective.

On a recent walk on West Cliff with Robert Shinno, a Sr. Enterprise Account Executive at Aras Corporation, he shared insights on how supplier collaboration is becoming a defining factor in product success. The need to “shift-left" , ie. engaging suppliers earlier in design and manufacturing is no longer optional.

On a recent walk with Bob Machlin, Founder and Principal Consultant of GenAI Ignite, we discussed how AI is reshaping both operations and business growth for product development and manufacturing companies.