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Share | Learn | Grow
Welcome
As we approach the end of another successful year, we're thrilled to bring you this action-packed edition of The OPMMA Pulse.
This month, we highlight the moments, people, and organizations that have made 2024 an outstanding year for Sharing, Learning, and Growing together.​
I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to support us as we enter 2025!
​Wishing you a joyful holiday season and looking forward to seeing you in the new year!​
Andrew Faulkner
December Event | 'tis the season to be social!
We’re closing out the year with a festive Holiday Social at LowerTown Brewery this December.
It’s a great chance to connect, unwind, and celebrate the season -look out for the invite.
January Event
Looking ahead to January, mark your calendar for our session with leadership coach Julia Borgan on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. In this inspiring session "You Are the Product: Building the Best Version of You" will help you set the tone for the new year.
Registration isn’t open yet, but we’ll keep you posted.
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In This Issue​
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Event Reviews: A review of our fantastic Fall 2024 sessions and an invitation to our festive December Social.
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Community Corner: Introducing a new feature spotlighting updates and stories from our vibrant member network.
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Sponsor Spotlight: Learn more about the incredible work our sponsor, Bluwave.ai, is doing to shape the future of energy optimization.
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Volunteers in Focus: Meet Jhalak Gupta, a dedicated OPMMA volunteer and advocate for professional growth through our community.
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ProductCamp 2024 Retrospective: A look back at the insights and energy from April’s 10th Ottawa ProductCamp and a call to action for the 2025 event.
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Our Survey Says: Your feedback is shaping the topics and formats for 2025.
ProductCamp 2024 | Recap
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In April 2024 the Ottawa product community got together to celebrate OPMMA’s 10th Ottawa ProductCamp unconference. It was attended by over 100 participants at the prestigious Brook Street Hotel at Kanata. Special thanks to Wesley Clover for providing the space and Encore the audio-visual equipment for this unique annual event in our community.
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Morning Sessions
The space was buzzing with energy throughout the day brought on by the audience interaction, keynote panelists, and 12 session leads. The day started with coffee and delicious continental breakfast. Followed by the opening morning panel a Fireside chat about a success story of the Assent product team shared by Echo Bell, VP of Product Management and Krystal Cameron, VP of Solution Engineering and was brilliantly facilitated by David Mennie, Chief Product Office, Klipfollio.
The morning panel was followed by a networking break and two sets of three parallel sessions from local leaders voted in by the audience. At noon everyone converged on the lobby for a delicious lunch and networking.
Afternoon Sessions
The afternoon panel focused on a pressing topic: AI Why? And How? Panelist included leading local organizations using AI in their daily work they included Kari Simpson-Anderson VP of Product Management at Giatec; Alex Linchieh Director of Product Management at Bluwave-ai, and Gregory Quirk, Product Marketing Lead at Kinaxis, and was again brilliantly facilitated by David Mennie, Chief Product Office, Klipfollio.
The afternoon panel was followed by a networking break and another 2 sets of 3 parallel sessions from local leaders voted in by the audience. The day was wrapped up with a draw for valuable gifts from Pragmatic Marketing and Ottawa University and OPMMA merchandise. ​
Thank you to the OPMMA Team!
Special thanks to OPMMA’s Executives (about us) and all Ottawa ProductCamp volunteers for organizing and delivering such an interactive and unique Ottawa event. Can’t wait to see you at the next one!!!
When is the next one you ask?
We started planning the next Ottawa ProductCamp. The proposed date is Saturday April 26. We are looking for a generous host, potential speakers, sponsors and much more. This year looking to engage you early in the planning process to help us tailor the program for you our precious audience.
If you are interested in presenting at ProductCamp we would love to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill in our session presentation form.
The sooner we get your feedback the more chances we have to incorporate them in the program, so don’t be shy and engage with us. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Impress at ProductCamp
Play your part in Show | Learn | Grow by sharing your knowledge/skill/expertise at ProductCamp Ottawa 2025.
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Please take a moment to apply to present by filling out our application form: Don't worry, we will walk you through the next steps and set you up (if needed) a ProductCamp supporter.
Volunteers in Focus
My name is Jhalak Gupta
Hi, I’m Jhalak Gupta from the Sales and Marketing Department at Multiview. After moving to Ottawa three years ago, I connected with OPMMA through Hala at the Tons Of Demos event.
Attending OPMMA’s monthly meetups introduced me to a community focused on learning from industry experts and expanding professional networks.
Rewarding Volunteering Experience with OPMMA
Through OPMMA, I gained valuable insights that have helped me in my job, built strong connections, and found mentors who provide guidance when needed.
Volunteering at OPMMA’s May workshop was a highlight—it allowed me to attend a highly educational session and meet inspiring industry leaders. The experience broadened my understanding of startups and business operations, and I thoroughly enjoyed the new ideas shared.
Overall, my OPMMA involvement has been a fantastic way to grow professionally, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such an engaging community.
Community Corner
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In this first edition of Community Corner we visit the Ottawa Little Theatre, where our very own Hala Hawa has an art exhibition. Check out the recent article featured on the theatre's website below.
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Have news or insights to share? We’d love to feature your contributions in the next edition—let us know! Thank you for being part of our community.
Our Survey Says
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At the end of every OPMMA event, we survey attendees to gather candid feedback—what you liked, what you didn’t, and how we can enhance your overall experience.
We’re excited to share that two of your ideas have already been put into action:
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Name tags were introduced at our last event, making it easier to connect with fellow attendees.
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In January, we’re rolling out a focused session on soft skills, addressing a key area many of you identified as important.
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Here’s a deeper look into what we learned from our recent survey:
Topics of Interest to You
The most-requested topics included:
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Product Management and Human Resources,
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Sales Management,
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Collaboration and Cross-Pollination,
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Product Launch and Marketing, and
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Soft Skills such as communication, leadership, and conflict resolution.
What Is One Thing We Could Improve?
Attendees shared some great suggestions, including:
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Introducing name tags (done!),
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Creating more networking opportunities, and
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Finding ways to introduce each participant at our events.
We’re Listening!
We are thrilled to see such thoughtful suggestions from our community, and we want to assure you that your voice matters. While we can’t jump on every idea right away, each one is thoughtfully reviewed as we shape future events.
We are committed to creating a better experience for everyone, and your input is helping us achieve that goal.
Keep the feedback coming—together, we’re making OPMMA even stronger!
The Lighter side of PM
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Customer swings
My grandfather owned a restaurant on Main Street in Saint John, NB, where he ran the checkout with a certain flair. On the inside of the clear glass case that held the cash register, he displayed an assortment of newspaper cartoons. As customers paid their bills, they couldn't help but notice the clever drawings. One cartoon in particular has stuck with me over the years—it's strikingly similar to the one below. Looking back, I realize how perfectly it captures the art and craft of Product Management (PM).
One of the toughest parts of being a PM is bridging the gap between what the customer says and what they truly need. This communication challenge doesn’t end there—it’s further magnified as you explain those needs to internal teams, each interpreting the message differently. Misaligned understanding can lead to results as disjointed as the swings in the cartoon.
The Pulse Editorial Team
Ian Paul Graham
Editor in Chief
Sara Shouldice
Online Experience Manager
Andrew Faulkner
President
Bergen Wilde
Marketing VP