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No Hacks
The Optimizer’s Playbook: Expert Strategies for Digital and Real-Life Success
Great experiences, whether digital or in everyday life, don't happen by accident—they’re crafted with care, creativity, and a deep understanding of behavior. No Hacks Podcast, hosted by industry veteran Slobodan (Sani) Manić, is dedicated to exploring the nuances of marketing, conversion optimization, and user experience, both in the digital realm and beyond.
Each episode brings together top minds from across the tech and business worlds to share their stories, challenges, and breakthroughs. We offer listeners an inside look at what it takes to create strategies that not only perform seamlessly online but also enhance and transform personal and professional lives.
Join us as we decode the art of exceptional experiences, one episode at a time, providing expert strategies for both digital and real-life success.
We dive into the technical details, the psychological principles, and the real-world case studies that show how theory meets practice. But we don’t stop at just discussing best practices—we question, we critique, and we push the boundaries of what’s possible in the digital space. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and tools to think differently about your work, to solve problems more creatively, and to ultimately deliver better online experiences.
Whether you’re a developer, a designer, a marketer, or anyone involved in the digital ecosystem, No Hacks is here to inspire and inform. We cut through the noise of quick fixes and hacks to bring you strategies that are rooted in deep understanding and long-term success. Join us as we explore the art and science of making the web a better place, one episode at a time.
No Hacks
Aligning Business Goals with OKRs & Experimentation Strategies with Bjarn Brunenberg
In this episode of the No Hacks Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Bjarn Brunenberg, Experimentation Lead at TomTom. Bjarn has a passion for turning big ideas into actionable steps, and in this conversation, we get into the nuts and bolts of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), how they differ from KPIs, and why they’re a game-changer for teams and businesses alike.
Bjarn shares some incredible stories from his time at TomTom, where he’s been helping the company shift from their famous hardware devices to innovative software solutions. We also talk about how OKRs can help bridge the gap between ambitious company goals and the day-to-day work that teams do.
Here’s a glimpse of what we covered:
- The difference between OKRs and KPIs (and why getting this right matters).
- How to avoid common OKR mistakes, like setting vague objectives or misaligning teams.
- Practical tools like the KPI Tree and Opportunity Solution Tree that make complex goals feel achievable.
- Lessons from experimentation failures (including a pricing test with unexpected results).
- How Bjarn applies the principles of OKRs to his personal goals, like learning Portuguese and becoming a keynote speaker.
Whether you’re a leader, part of a product team, or just someone looking to bring more structure and focus to your goals, there’s something here for you. This conversation is full of relatable insights, practical advice, and a good dose of humor about the challenges we all face in trying to “get it right.”
Chapters:
00:00 Understanding OKRs and KPIs
01:33 Bjarn's Role at TomTom
03:02 Challenges with OKRs
04:01 Aligning OKRs with Business Goals
06:46 Frameworks for Clarity
10:37 Common Pitfalls in Product Development
12:54 Rapid Fire Questions
13:18 The Humor in Testing Failures
14:13 The Ethics of Pricing Tests
14:56 Lessons from Professional Mistakes
16:44 Favorite Optimization Tools
17:36 Applying OKRs to Personal Life
22:17 Real-World Applications of Product Development Strategies
25:04 Final Thoughts and Season 2 Wrap-Up
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