Failure Friday #5: Lessons from a SaaS Design Failure
Summary
In the early days of SaaS, Harry Max was hired to design a pioneering consumer finance app. Instead of starting with the founder’s vision, he dove into a methodologically-heavy process, hoping rigorous persona development would reveal the answers. It didn’t—progress was slow, clarity never emerged, and the strategy never materialized. Join Harry to explore how neglecting vision can lead to a painful failure, and why aligning with leadership from the outset is crucial for innovation and success in uncharted territory.
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