Building a Product Team Inside a Scaling Organisation

The Starting Point

When I became Senior Product Manager at Kaizen Gaming, the sportsbook product function was still taking shape. We had talented people, but the structure, ways of working, and career paths weren't formalised. My job wasn't just to ship features — it was to build the team that ships features.

What Building a Team Actually Means

Hiring for the Right Qualities

In iGaming product, you need people who can navigate ambiguity in a regulated, high-stakes environment. I learned to interview for judgement under pressure, not just analytical ability. Can this person make a call when the data is incomplete and the stakes are real? That's what matters.

Establishing Ways of Working

Frameworks matter — not because they're perfect, but because they give teams a shared language. I introduced structured approaches across squads not as rigid processes, but as starting points that teams could adapt. The goal was consistency without rigidity.

Career Growth Paths

One of the most impactful things I did was create clear career frameworks for Product Analysts and Product Owners. When people can see where they're heading and what they need to develop, retention improves and ambition becomes productive.

The Hard Lessons

You can't mentor everyone the same way. Some people need space and trust. Others need tight feedback loops and regular check-ins. Learning to read what each person needs — and adjusting your style — is the real skill.

Shipping and team-building compete for your time. There were periods where I had to choose between unblocking a critical feature and having a career development conversation. Both matter. Scheduling discipline is the only answer I've found.

Your team's output is your output. As an IC, your impact is what you ship. As a leader, your impact is what your team ships. That mental shift takes longer than you'd expect.

Where We Got To

The sportsbook product function grew from a loosely defined group into a structured team with clear roles, established rituals, and people who are growing into their next career steps. That's the work I'm most proud of.