The Minimum Viable Process (MVP) Protocol
by Eeke de Milliano • Head of Product at Retool
Eeke is a product leader who spent six years at Stripe, starting as one of their first employees and PMs where she helped build foundational products like Stripe Connect and Radar. She now leads product at Retool, bringing deep expertise in scaling technical products and high-performance cultures.
🎙️ Episode Context
Eeke de Milliano dissects the tension between process and innovation, arguing that while process reduces variance, it often stifles the highest performers. She shares actionable frameworks for scaling Stripe-like cultures, including how to structure 'crazy ideas' into launched products, how to build a diversified talent portfolio rather than hiring clones, and why companies should aim for a 'Minimum Viable Process.'
Problem It Solves
Prevents bureaucratic bloat that stifles high performers and creativity while still maintaining necessary organizational standards.
Framework Overview
A philosophical approach to process implementation that acknowledges process reduces variance (both bad and good). It aims to standardize the average while allowing high performers to bypass strictures to achieve exceptional results.
🧠 Framework Structure
Acknowledge the trade-off: Process ra...
Embed 'Escape Hatches' in templates: ...
Empower managers as gatekeepers: Mana...
Differentiate by stage: Early stage (...
When to Use
When a company is scaling from early-stage to growth-stage and feels the urge to implement heavy frameworks like SAFe or complex OKRs.
Common Mistakes
Forcing top engineers/PMs to adhere to rigid templates that slow them down, resulting in 'regression to the mean' for talent.
Real World Example
Eeke writes on Retool templates: 'If this doesn't work for what you're trying to explain, don't use it. But just know that this is the minimum viable thing.'
Process, by definition, is variance reducing... The cost of that is obviously, while you are reducing the standard and bringing folks up to the average, you're also bringing other folks down to the average.
— Eeke de Milliano