How would you make Headspace the go-to app for someone experiencing anxiety, instead of turning to YouTube to listen to podcasts by medical experts?

Certainly, I'll provide a detailed, strategic answer to the question about making Headspace the go-to app for someone experiencing anxiety, instead of turning to YouTube to listen to podcasts by medical experts. I'll structure my response as if I'm directly addressing the interviewer, using a first-person perspective and demonstrating deep product thinking and leadership.

Introduction

The strategic challenge we're addressing is how to position Headspace as the primary choice for individuals seeking anxiety relief, specifically competing against the current tendency to use YouTube for expert podcasts. Our key business objectives will be to increase user acquisition, improve retention, and establish Headspace as the authoritative platform for mental wellness, particularly in anxiety management.

To tackle this challenge, I'll outline a comprehensive strategy that includes:

1. Clarifying our strategic goals
2. Analyzing the market and competition
3. Defining our product vision and roadmap
4. Prioritizing key initiatives
5. Developing an execution plan
6. Establishing metrics and KPIs
7. Managing risks and planning contingencies

Let's begin by aligning on our strategic goals.

Step 1

Clarify the Strategic Goals (3-4 minutes)

• Based on the current mental health landscape, I'm sensing that anxiety management is a growing concern, especially post-pandemic. Could you help me understand where Headspace currently stands in terms of market share and user perception specifically for anxiety relief?

Why it matters: This will help us determine if we need to focus more on awareness, feature development, or repositioning. Expected answer: Headspace has a strong overall brand but is not specifically known for anxiety management. Impact on approach: If this is the case, we'll need to emphasize targeted marketing and feature development for anxiety relief.

• Considering the shift towards personalized digital health solutions, how does Headspace currently leverage user data and AI to provide tailored experiences?

Why it matters: This will inform our technological strategy and potential differentiation from YouTube's more generic content. Expected answer: Some personalization exists, but there's room for significant improvement. Impact on approach: We'll prioritize AI-driven personalization in our product roadmap if this is an underdeveloped area.

• Looking at user behavior, what's our understanding of why people currently prefer YouTube for anxiety-related content? Is it the variety, the perceived expertise, or something else?

Why it matters: This insight will guide our content strategy and how we position Headspace's expertise. Expected answer: Users value the diversity of perspectives and the ability to find relatable content quickly. Impact on approach: We'll need to focus on curating a wide range of expert content and improving discoverability within Headspace.

Based on these insights, our key strategic assumptions are:

1. Headspace needs to strengthen its position specifically in anxiety management.
2. There's an opportunity to leverage technology for more personalized experiences.
3. We need to compete with YouTube's content variety and accessibility while emphasizing our curated, expert-led approach.