27 March 2026 13:15 - 14:15
Panel: Bridging the divide: Mastering cross-cultural alignment for global product success
As product organizations scale internationally, cultural misalignment becomes the silent killer of global growth velocity. Differences in time zones, communication styles (high-context vs. low-context), and market-specific expectations can cripple launch timelines and dilute product quality.
This session moves beyond simple localization to debate the complex challenge of global product governance and leadership. We will discuss:
- Designing an operating model that balances global consistency with local autonomy (the "Glocal" strategy).
- Establishing strategic empathy across decentralized teams to ensure the roadmap addresses core regional needs, not just HQ's priorities.
- The product leaders role in using data to mediate cultural differences and depoliticize roadmap decisions.
- Creating a common, high-bandwidth communication framework to ensure strategic goals are interpreted and executed uniformly across continents.