Naomi loves the analogy of a metronome—a tool that keeps musicians in rhythm. For PMs, this means establishing a consistent cadence for meetings, updates, and decision-making. She shared that she often gives her PMs literal metronomes as a playful reminder to keep their teams on track.

For example, she ensures that every project has a weekly operational meeting where teams share updates, flag blockers, and make decisions. This cadence prevents chaos and ensures progress is steady and predictable.

Key Insight: Consistency is key. A predictable rhythm helps teams stay focused and reduces the need for constant check-ins.

Actionable Tip for SMEs: Establish a regular cadence for team meetings and updates. Whether it’s weekly, biweekly, or daily, consistency will help your team stay on track without micromanagement.

The Disagreeable Giver: Encouraging Healthy Conflict

One of Naomi’s most striking insights is the importance of disagreeable givers—people who challenge ideas for the sake of the company, even if it means being difficult. She learned this framework from Adam Grant and applies it to her leadership style.

In the context of the conductor mindset, disagreeable givers are like the musicians who point out when the tempo is off or when a section is out of tune. They’re not trying to be difficult—they’re trying to make the performance better.

Naomi shared a story about a time when she disagreed with a decision Mark Zuckerberg was making. Instead of staying silent, she pushed back, presenting data and a clear rationale for her perspective. While it was uncomfortable in the moment, her input ultimately led to a better outcome for the company.

Key Insight: Healthy conflict is essential for growth. Encourage your team to challenge ideas and speak up when they see something that could be improved.

Actionable Tip for SMEs: Foster a culture where disagreement is seen as a sign of commitment, not conflict. Reward team members who speak up with data and constructive feedback.

The First-Party Perspective: Synthesizing Diverse Viewpoints

While the conductor doesn’t play the instruments, they do have a unique perspective on the music as a whole. Similarly, a PM must develop a first-party perspective—a clear, independent opinion on what’s best for the product and the business.

Naomi shared that she often schedules deep work blocks in her calendar to think through complex problems. During these blocks, she synthesizes input from her team, analyzes data, and forms her own perspective. This allows her to make informed decisions and provide clear direction.

Key Insight: A great PM doesn’t just gather input—they synthesize it into a coherent strategy.

Actionable Tip for SMEs: Set aside dedicated time for deep thinking. Use this time to analyze data, reflect on feedback, and develop your own perspective on key decisions.

The Standing Ovation: Celebrating the Team

Naomi shared a heartwarming story about her transition from marketing to product management at Facebook. When she officially became a PM, she moved her desk from the third floor (where the business teams sat) to the second floor (where the product and engineering teams worked). As she walked in with her box of belongings, the entire team stood up and gave her a standing ovation.

This moment stuck with her because it symbolized the importance of celebrating the team. Just as a conductor takes a bow at the end of a performance, a leader’s job is to shine the spotlight on their team’s achievements.

Key Insight: Leadership is about elevating others. Celebrate your team’s wins and give credit where it’s due.

Actionable Tip for SMEs: Regularly recognize and celebrate your team’s contributions. Whether it’s a shout-out in a meeting or a handwritten note, small gestures can go a long way.

3. Retention Over Acquisition: The Growth Playbook

Naomi was part of Facebook’s legendary growth team, which pioneered many of the growth strategies now standard in tech. One of their key insights was the importance of retention over acquisition.

• Activation Metrics: Facebook’s growth team identified that users who added 7 friends in 10 days were far more likely to stick around. This became their North Star metric, guiding their efforts to improve onboarding and engagement.
• Data-Driven Decisions: The team spent months instrumenting their product to collect data on user behavior. This allowed them to identify drop-off points in the user journey and optimize accordingly.

Actionable Tip for SMEs: Focus on retention, not just acquisition. Identify your own “activation metric”—the moment when users realize the value of your product or service—and optimize your onboarding process to get them there faster.

4. Lessons from Mark Zuckerberg: The Learn-It-All Leader

Naomi has worked closely with Mark Zuckerberg for nearly two decades. Here are some leadership lessons she’s learned from him:

• Learn-It-All, Not Know-It-All: Zuckerberg is a voracious learner. Whether it’s mastering Mandarin or upskilling in negotiation, he’s constantly pushing himself to grow. This mindset has been key to his evolution as a leader.
• Direct Feedback: Zuckerberg values honest, direct feedback. He’s built a culture where disagreeable givers—people who challenge ideas for the sake of the company—are celebrated.

Actionable Tip for SMEs: Embrace a learn-it-all attitude. Encourage your team to give and receive direct feedback. Create a culture where challenging ideas is seen as a sign of commitment, not conflict.

5. Simplifying Complexity: The Art of Breaking Down Problems

Naomi is known for her ability to take on complex, gnarly problems and simplify them. Here’s her approach:

• Start at the Kindergarten Level: When tackling a complex problem, Naomi starts by breaking it down into its most basic components. This allows her to build a shared understanding before diving into the details.
• School Pyramid Framework: She uses a “school pyramid” to structure her thinking. The base is the kindergarten level (basic concepts), followed by elementary, high school, college, and finally the PhD level (advanced details). This ensures everyone is on the same page, regardless of their expertise.

Actionable Tip for SMEs: Use the school pyramid framework to simplify complex problems. Start with the basics and gradually add layers of complexity. This will help your team stay aligned and focused.

6. Personal Habits for Peak Performance

Naomi’s success isn’t just about her professional skills—it’s also about her personal habits. Here are some of her tips for staying at the top of your game:

• Exercise as a Non-Negotiable: Naomi works out every morning, often in her workout clothes. She views exercise as essential for both physical and mental health.
• Sleep Hygiene: She’s a big believer in the importance of sleep, using tools like blackout shades and eye masks to ensure quality rest.

Actionable Tip for SMEs: Prioritize your health. Schedule regular exercise and invest in tools that improve your sleep. A well-rested, energized leader is a more effective leader.

7. Surfing and Life: Standing Up Into Fear