Jon Odo on Roadmaps

The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast · 11 May 2022 · 56m

What this episode covers

Jon Odo, Practice Lead for Product Ownership at Liberty Mutual and former robotics engineer at GBO, explains that roadmaps are alignment tools rather than static plans, emphasizing the need to distinguish between hardware constraints and software flexibility. He argues that embedded roadmaps must explicitly state technical limitations, such as chip speeds or field of view, to manage high-stakes financial decisions and supply chain risks. Odo advocates for creating multiple, audience-specific roadmaps—one for engineers detailing board spins and another for executives focusing on margins and feature shipping—to ensure all stakeholders understand the product's purpose and priorities.

Mentioned

Companies
Liberty Mutual, GBO
Products
Kismet
Also
MIT media lab, Jeff Gable, Luca

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Circuit · 39m

    Episode 10: Semiconductor Investor Mindsets

    Hosts Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss the disconnect between semiconductor companies' engineering-focused messaging and the strategic, market-driven mindset of investors. Goldberg, a former sell-side analyst, explains that analysts are overwhelmed by coverage loads, forcing them to rely on simplified '2-3 sentence' theses that often miss the technical nuance companies try to convey. The conversation highlights how CEOs like Jensen Huang of Nvidia succeed by bridging this gap, while others struggle because they fail to connect technical roadmaps to tangible market opportunities and financial outcomes.

  • The Builder Circle · 1h 03m

    S2 E3: Strategic Planning for Hardware Success with Pete Blake

    Pete Blake, a strategy advisor at Sapphire Steel and Techstars All-Star Mentor, explains how hardware founders can leverage ecosystem partnerships to bridge the gap between research and productization. He emphasizes holding tight to the customer problem while keeping the solution light, using Pasteur's Quadrant to balance pure science with application, and defining a clear role in the value chain to avoid spreading resources too thin. Blake details the three threads of a product roadmap—product, commercial, and operational—and warns against the 'corporate petting zoo' where startups fail to secure committed pilot partners. Finally, he advocates for governance for growth, urging founders to build diverse, active boards that drive strategic milestones rather than just serving as status reports.

  • Embedded.fm · 58m

    122: Glue a Board to Your Resume

    Hosts Elecia White and Christopher White discuss the embedded job market, advising engineers to build hardware projects to demonstrate manufacturing knowledge. They explain bypass capacitors using a software buffer analogy, review development tools like Visual Studio and Visual Micro, and offer advice on contracting rates and contract terms. The episode also covers the VW emissions scandal, drone registration regulations, and the hosts' move to a new recording location.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 13m

    Focus, Dammit

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the debate between being a generalist versus a specialist in engineering, using Zephyr RTOS as a case study for focused expertise. They analyze Jay Carlson's comprehensive guide on building embedded Linux systems and the strategic importance of component obsolescence management, citing Raspberry Pi's eight-year supply guarantees. The conversation also covers the challenges of remote work for hardware teams, the downsizing of commercial real estate, and Dave Jones's personal transition to a new home lab setup.

  • Being an Engineer · 53m

    S7E19 Ryan Schoonmaker | How to Take A Structured Approach to Solving Engineering Problems

    Ryan Schoonmaker, founder of Tight Line Solutions and former Director of Mechanical Engineering at Beta Bionics, Dexcom, and BD, explains how to bring structure to chaotic product development. He emphasizes that successful execution requires clear requirements, robust assembly specifications, and early decisions on critical elements like component colors to avoid regulatory delays. Schoonmaker draws on his experience with the Dexcom G6 and G7 to illustrate how narrowing down system failures and managing technical debt differently at startups versus large enterprises leads to predictable outcomes.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.