You are given a team of 10 engineers at Google. What would you build?

Certainly. I'll provide a detailed, strategic answer to the question "You are given a team of 10 engineers at Google. What would you build?" from the perspective of a seasoned VP of Product interviewing for a senior product leadership role. I'll structure the response as requested, demonstrating deep product thinking and leadership.

Introduction

Thank you for this intriguing question. As a product leader at Google, with a team of 10 engineers, we have a unique opportunity to create significant impact. Our key business objectives would be to drive user engagement, expand Google's ecosystem, and potentially open new revenue streams.

I'll approach this challenge by first clarifying our strategic goals, then conducting a market and competitive analysis. From there, I'll define our product vision and roadmap, prioritize initiatives, outline an execution plan, establish key metrics, and address risk management. Let's dive in.

Step 1

Clarify the Strategic Goals (3-4 minutes)

• Based on Google's position as a leader in search and AI, I'm sensing an opportunity to leverage these strengths in a new product area. Could you help me understand if there are any specific strategic priorities or gaps in Google's current product portfolio that this team should address?

Why it matters: Determines if we should focus on enhancing existing products or exploring new territories Expected answer: Focus on AI-driven products that complement our existing ecosystem Impact on approach: Would prioritize AI integration and cross-product synergies

• Considering Google's vast user base, I'm curious about our target audience for this new initiative. Are we looking to address needs of our current users more effectively, or are we aiming to attract new user segments?

Why it matters: Influences our product strategy and feature prioritization Expected answer: Focus on enhancing value for existing users while attracting new segments Impact on approach: Would balance familiar interfaces with innovative features

• Given the rapid advancements in AI and machine learning, I'm wondering about our technological focus. How central should cutting-edge AI capabilities be to our product strategy?

Why it matters: Determines the level of AI integration and innovation required Expected answer: AI should be a core component, leveraging Google's expertise Impact on approach: Would prioritize AI-driven features and user experiences

Based on these insights, our key strategic assumptions are:

1. We should leverage Google's AI capabilities to create a product that enhances our existing ecosystem.
2. Our target audience includes both current Google users and potential new segments.
3. AI and machine learning will be central to our product strategy.