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    Who are the most influential voices in Product operations?

    Updated October 21, 2026

    Key takeaway

    Google AI Mode and ChatGPT lead with Melissa Perri; Gemini favors Denise Tilles, citing foundational work. Copilot instead leads with ADP’s Shailja Gupta on awards, so the answers do not establish a shared top 10. Gemini and Google AI Mode both emphasize foundational literature, frameworks and industry leadership, placing Melissa Perri and Denise Tilles ahead of everyone else. ChatGPT also puts them first but does not explain its ranking.

    Mostly agree

    John Cutler belongs in the top 10.

    Where they differ

    Who deserves the highest rank

      Product operations specialists versus broader product leaders, with companies kept separate

        What evidence supports influence

          Verdict

          Melissa Perri and Denise Tilles lead ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Mode, with Perri first in ChatGPT and Google AI Mode and Tilles first in Gemini. Copilot alone names a different set led by Shailja Gupta, with no name shared with the other engines.

          What engines actually searched

          The sub-queries each engine actually searched before answering.

          Cited, but not mentioned

          13 sites cite this answer without naming anyone

          Full responses

          5 of 5 engines that answered. Full stored text as captured, with dashes shown as hyphens. Nothing is summarised.

          ChatGPT173 characters · October 7, 2026
          1. Melissa Perri
          2. Denise Tilles
          3. Blake Samic
          4. Antonia Landi
          5. Graham Reed
          6. Shintaro Matsui
          7. John Cutler
          8. Lenny Rachitsky
          9. Holly Hester-Reilly
          10. Chris Butler
          Gemini logo Gemini3,172 characters · October 7, 2026

          Here is the ranked list of the top 10 most influential individual voices and pioneers specializing specifically in Product Operations (Product Ops) , ordered from most to least influential based on their foundational literature, framework development, and industry leadership:

          1. Denise Tilles How to make product ops indispensable | Jonathan Sheffi

          2. Melissa Perri How to make product ops indispensable | Jonathan Sheffi

          3. Christine Itwaru Understanding the role of product ops | Christine Itwaru (Pendo)

          4. John Cutler Top 200 Creators · Product Management Leaders · Worldwide

          5. Matt LeMay How to make product ops indispensable | Jonathan Sheffi

          6. Sarah Marshall Building Product Operations from Scratch | by Sarah Marshall

          7. Jonathan Sheffi How to make product ops indispensable | Jonathan Sheffi

          8. Phil Hornby How to make product ops indispensable | Jonathan Sheffi

          9. Danielle Logiudice Product Operations Masterclass | Product Institute

          10. Pranamya Nagaprasad Product Operations Masterclass | Product Institute

          Understanding the role of product ops

          This video is relevant because it features an in-depth discussion on the core responsibilities, evolution, and strategic impact of product operations within modern organizations.

          Google AI Mode5,114 characters · October 7, 2026

          Here are the top 10 individual people ranked from most to least influential as key thought leaders, authors, and practitioners shaping the discipline of Product Operations:

          1. Melissa Perri - Co-author of the landmark book Product Operations and founder of Produx Labs, widely recognized as a primary foundational voice scaling the discipline. Product Operations: How successful companies build betterBookThe ultimate guide to product operations | Melissa Perri and
          2. Denise Tilles - Co-author of Product Operations alongside Melissa Perri , executive consultant who helped define the structural framework and operating models for product ops at scale. Product Operations Masterclass | Product Institute
          3. Chris Butler - Co-founder of the Product Ops Alliance and prominent product ops leader across tech giants like GitHub and Google. Introducing the Product Ops AllianceChris Butler | Product Operations WorldHow does productops create the right environment for product
          4. Christine Itwaru - Early pioneer and advocate for Product Operations at Pendo, defining much of the initial tool-stack and data-driven taxonomy for the movement. Understanding the role of product ops | Christine Itwaru (Pendo)
          5. Jenny Wanger - Noted product operations consultant and transformation advisor who frequently publishes definitive frameworks on product team operational maturity and operating models. Product Operations Assessment and Template from AvenirSpeakers | Product Operations Summit | San Francisco
          6. Phil Hornby - Co-host of the Talking Roadmaps deep-dive series on Product Operations and active global product strategy facilitator. What's the roadmap for product operations? | Justin WoodsPhil Hornby - Passionate global product leader in complex B2B, driving commercial impact through strategy, not features. Coach | Speaker | Facilitator | Podcaster | Writing “It’s on the Roadmap” | LinkedIn
          7. Kate Leto - Executive coach and organizational development specialist who writes and speaks extensively on product culture, EQ, and operational infrastructure. What to Expect at Product at Heart 2024: A First GlimpseKate Leto's Post - LinkedIn
          8. Büşra Coşkuner - European product leadership coach, keynote speaker, and prominent voice focusing on metric-driven product organizations and team structures. Product at Heart 2023: CHANGE and Co-Creating the FutureTop 50 Product Management Influencers to Follow in 2024 | The Awards Magazine 🏆 | 30 commentsHow to Nail Your Product Team Structure | ProdPad
          9. Grant Hunter - Prolific community builder, enterprise transformation strategist, and contributor to early Product Ops Alliance frameworks regarding planning and scaling. Grant W. Hunter - Head of Outsell IntelligenceProduct Management's True Job: Managing the Organization's
          10. John Cutler - Product R&D analytics expert at Amplitude whose extensive writing and diagramming heavily influence how the community visualizes product operations and systems workflows. 30 product management thought leaders to follow | Productboard

          If you would like, I can provide:

          • A summary of the core pillars advocated by these specific leaders.
          • Recommended podcasts or articles published by them.

          Let me know how you'd like to proceed!

          Perplexity129 characters · October 21, 2026

          Allie Nolan(instant.expert)

          Copilot logo Copilot2,870 characters · October 7, 2026

          Here’s a ranked list of the top 10 most influential individual voices in Product Operations (2025), based on recognition from the Product 50 Awards and the Product-Led Awards, which highlight leaders shaping product operations, growth, and management globally:

          🔝 Top 10 Influential Voices in Product Operations (2025)

          1. Shailja Gupta – AI/ML Platform Product Manager, ADP (Most Admired Product Leader) Recognizing the Top 50 Product and Growth Leaders Around the World

          2. Elena Leonova – ex-Chief Product Officer, Spryker (Chief Product Officer of the Year) Awards 2025Product-Led Awards 2025 winners

          3. Colin Hili – Head of Product, Jumbo Interactive (Best Data-Driven Product Leader) Announcing the 2025 Product 50 Award winners! | VentureBeat

          4. Janani Narayanan – Senior Director, Head of Product Data Cloud, Salesforce (Best Digital Transformation Leader) Announcing the 2025 Product 50 Award winners! | VentureBeat

          5. Jana Debusk – Senior Product Operations Manager, Applied Systems (Product Operations Rising Star) Awards 2025

          6. Dan Dalton – Director of Product Management, Sage (Product-Led Rising Star) Awards 2025Product-Led Awards 2025 winners

          7. Cameron Adams – Co-founder & Chief Product Officer, Canva (Most Admired Product Leader finalist) Recognizing the Top 50 Product and Growth Leaders Around the World

          8. Víctor Díaz-Roig – VP of Product, Scopely (Most Admired Product Leader finalist) Recognizing the Top 50 Product and Growth Leaders Around the World

          9. Tony Pagliocco – VP of Product, Aldar Properties (Most Admired Product Leader finalist) Recognizing the Top 50 Product and Growth Leaders Around the World

          10. Burak Sargut – Chief Product Officer, Sipay (Most Admired Product Leader finalist) Recognizing the Top 50 Product and Growth Leaders Around the World

          ✅ These individuals are recognized for their thought leadership, operational excellence, and influence in shaping product operations and management practices across industries.

          Would you like me to also include their social media handles (LinkedIn/Twitter) so you can follow their insights directly?