David Fradin understands what makes products successful. As a former executive at Apple and Hewlett-Packard, he’s spent decades refining the art of product management. He led the Apple III product line, overcoming complex challenges to deliver profitable results that supported the development of future innovations like the Macintosh.
Today, David Fradin shares his deep expertise through books, consulting, and workshops designed for executives, product managers, and teams committed to creating standout products.
Lessons from Apple and Hewlett-Packard
At Hewlett-Packard, David Fradin mastered the fundamentals of product management during HP’s period of rapid growth. Apple recognized his talent and hired him to bring groundbreaking products to market, including the first hard disk drive for personal computers. He later managed the Apple III line, turning around critical product issues and driving profitability.
His hands-on experience with over 75 products across 11 startups has given him unique insights into what works and doesn’t. He distills these insights clearly in his acclaimed books. His time at Apple also taught him how strong values and focused leadership shape lasting product ecosystems.
“The Apple III had a rocky start, but with the right leadership, we turned it into a product that not only helped fund the Macintosh but kept over a thousand Apple employees working. We had to operate independently and push back against the internal resistance to keep it alive.” – David Fradin said during our interview.
“Building Insanely Great Products” – Why Products Succeed
David Fradin’s book, “Building Insanely Great Products,” identifies key reasons why products succeed or fail. He introduces the practical “SPICE” framework, which guides companies through:
- Strategy – Defining clear market positioning and goals.
- Process – Creating repeatable, efficient product development processes.
- Information – Using accurate data to drive informed decisions.
- Customers – Understanding real customer needs and behaviors.
- Employees – Building skilled, cohesive teams aligned around shared values.
This framework eliminates guesswork and aligns every stage of product development with market realities, significantly increasing success rates.
David Fradin emphasizes that over 35% of all new products fail, costing the economy over a trillion dollars annually. His mission is to reduce that waste by teaching teams how to avoid the most common—and most expensive—mistakes. One of his core principles is that product managers must deeply understand what customers want to accomplish, not just what they say.
“Organizing and Managing Insanely Great Products”
In “Organizing and Managing Insanely Great Products,” David Fradin goes deeper into organizational strategies that turn product concepts into commercial successes. He emphasizes:
- Building focused leadership teams.
- Integrating innovation throughout your company.
- Creating a culture of collaboration and agility.
- Aligning employee competencies with product goals.
David Fradin shares examples from his consulting work, showing how a lack of internal alignment can lead to canceled product lines and wasted investments. A bank killed a product after a single executive’s opinion swayed leadership—despite no supporting data. Fradin helps teams prevent these missteps with decision frameworks like DACI (Decision Maker, Approver, Consulted, Informed).
He explains how values-driven management at HP and Apple enabled teams to make faster decisions, maintain alignment, and focus on delivering results. Companies that adopted these values thrived, while those that didn’t disappeared.
Practical and Actionable Insights
David Fradin advises businesses to observe what customers do rather than relying solely on what they say. Practical observation identifies unmet needs, informing innovative solutions that customers genuinely want.
For product managers, he recommends these immediate actions:
- Create a product market strategy using the 32 components he outlines in training.
- Map decisions to roles using DACI to clarify authority.
- Build empathy interviews into your customer research.
- Don’t just iterate—observe. Focus on behavior over feedback.
- Ask better questions. Replace “What do you want?” with “What are you trying to accomplish?”
He also highlights common product development pitfalls:
- Unclear priorities.
- Building for features, not outcomes.
- No shared understanding of customer needs.
- Teams operating in silos.
David Fradin provides clear, actionable advice on avoiding these mistakes. His approach combines strategy, behavioral insight, and a laser focus on execution.
Who Benefits Most from David Fradin’s Expertise?
His insights are tailored to:
- Executives responsible for product strategies.
- Directors and VPs of product management and marketing.
- Leaders seeking to align company values and product vision.
- Companies struggling with product-market fit.
Teams working directly with David Fradin gain clear frameworks for identifying customer needs, streamlining development processes, and delivering products that excel in competitive markets.
His experience spans Fortune 500 firms, startups, nonprofits, and political campaigns. He’s worked in every major product category: hardware, software, SaaS, internet, mobile, advertising, online education, and more. He has trained thousands of professionals worldwide, helping them go from theory to execution in just days.
Engage Directly with David Fradin
Beyond his books, David Fradin offers customized training programs and consultancy for organizations looking to enhance their product management capabilities significantly. His workshops and direct consulting sessions have empowered thousands of managers worldwide, providing them with the tools to drive consistent product success.
He delivers:
- In-person and virtual workshops
- Keynotes and internal training events
- Private executive coaching
- Corporate strategy and process audits
He often watches participants experience a breakthrough in training: “You see the moment they realize how to apply what we just discussed to their product or market,” he says. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Transform Your Product Management
If your organization wants to eliminate product failures, refine its market strategy, and consistently develop exceptional products, connect with David Fradin. Whether through his insightful books or direct engagement, his approach is proven to deliver real-world results.
David Fradin knows what it takes to build “insanely great products.” He shares those secrets clearly, directly, and effectively—just as you’d expect from someone who thrived at Apple and Hewlett-Packard. Book David Fradin for consulting or training, or explore his books on Amazon.