The Relative Velocity Framework
by Varun Parmar • Chief Product Officer at Miro
Varun Parmar is the Chief Product Officer at Miro, leading the product strategy for the visual collaboration platform used by over 50 million users. Prior to Miro, he served as the CPO at Box and held leadership roles at Adobe, bringing over two decades of experience in the collaboration and productivity software space.
🎙️ Episode Context
Varun Parmar discusses Miro's unique "AMPED" product organization structure and how they maintain innovation while scaling globally across 12 hubs. He details their competitive strategy, the specific P-stage product development process, and how they balance speed with high-quality design using unique calibration rituals. The conversation also covers how Miro bridges Product-Led Growth (PLG) with enterprise sales.
Problem It Solves
Combats complacency by reframing product development as a constant race against competitors and market expectations.
Framework Overview
Products are never static; with every code push from you or your competitor, your relative position improves or declines. The goal isn't just to move fast, but to be the first to 'hit the brick wall'—to invalidate wrong hypotheses faster than the competition. Strategy is defined by what the competition allows you to do.
🧠 Framework Structure
Zero-Sum Mindset on Quality: Every re...
Hit the Wall First: Prioritize speed ...
Monitor Competitors implicitly: Use c...
When to Use
In highly competitive markets (Red Oceans) where features are easily commoditized.
Common Mistakes
Ignoring competition completely under the guise of 'customer obsession', failing to realize customers constantly compare solutions.
Real World Example
Varun's experience at Adobe and Box, seeing how Microsoft's entry into a category drastically changes the growth trajectory, forcing clear differentiation.
Success of a company is a direct relation of what the competition allows you to do... Products never remain same.
— Varun Parmar