I got super interested in Systems Thinking when studying for my MSc in Human-Computer Interaction at UCL. We learned about the theory, and applied it during a research project - but it wasn’t until later in my career that I found just how useful this topic was for my day to day work.

I was lucky enough to share my thoughts in a bunch of conferences talks, one tailored for a design audience, one for product managers. The lovely folks at the Mind The Product Engage conference in Hamburg recorded my talk at their event, and it’s the one I’m most proud of giving.

I frequently get asked if I can do more talking on the topic, and I’m totally up for coming to your company and giving a tailored version or workshop for you. I did this for Intercom in Dublin, and it was great fun!

I’m currently not planning to give the talk on a conference stage again. This recording is great, and I’m working on new content at the moment.

In one of the keynotes of this year’s MTP Engage Hamburg, Johanna Kollmann reviews established system thinking concepts and applies them to the world of today's product management. Johanna explains that everything around us is a system: Our development teams are a system and our products become one as soon as users interact with them… and systems can be mapped and modelled in incredibly powerful ways. More importantly, systems lend themselves well to a process of continuous improvement, so all product people can benefit from understanding systems, knowing how to map them, and knowing how to change or influence systems.