Balancing Key Factors

🌎 Designing Cross-Cultural And Multi-Lingual UX. Guidelines on how to stress test our designs, how to define a localization strategy and how to deal with currencies, dates, word order, pluralization, colors and gender pronouns. ⦿ Translation: “We adapt our message to resonate in other markets”. ⦿ Localization: “We adapt user experience to local expectations”. ⦿ Internationalization: “We adapt our codebase to work in other markets”. ✅ English-language users make up about 26% of users. ✅ Top written languages: Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese. ✅ Most users prefer content in their native language(s). ✅ French texts are on average 20% longer than English ones. ✅ Japanese texts are on average 30–60% shorter. 🚫 Flags aren’t languages: avoid them for language selection. 🚫 Language direction ≠ design direction (“F” vs. Zig-Zag pattern). 🚫 Not everybody has first/middle names: “Full name” is better. ✅ Always reserve at least 30% room for longer translations. ✅ Stress test your UI for translation with pseudolocalization. ✅ Plan for line wrap, truncation, very short and very long labels. ✅ Adjust numbers, dates, times, formats, units, addresses. ✅ Adjust currency, spelling, input masks, placeholders. ✅ Always conduct UX research with local users. When localizing an interface, we need to work beyond translation. We need to be respectful of cultural differences. E.g. in Arabic we would often need to increase the spacing between lines. For Chinese market, we need to increase the density of information. German sites require a vast amount of detail to communicate that a topic is well-thought-out. Stress test your design. Avoid assumptions. Work with local content designers. Spend time in the country to better understand the market. Have local help on the ground. And test repeatedly with local users as an ongoing part of the design process. You’ll be surprised by some findings, but you’ll also learn to adapt and scale to be effective — whatever market is going to come up next. Useful resources: UX Design Across Different Cultures, by Jenny Shen https://lnkd.in/eNiyVqiH UX Localization Handbook, by Phrase https://lnkd.in/eKN7usSA A Complete Guide To UX Localization, by Michal Kessel Shitrit 🎗️ https://lnkd.in/eaQJt-bU Designing Multi-Lingual UX, by yours truly https://lnkd.in/eR3GnwXQ Flags Are Not Languages, by James Offer https://lnkd.in/eaySNFGa IBM Globalization Checklists https://lnkd.in/ewNzysqv Books: ⦿ Cross-Cultural Design (https://lnkd.in/e8KswErf) by Senongo Akpem ⦿ The Culture Map (https://lnkd.in/edfyMqhN) by Erin Meyer ⦿ UX Writing & Microcopy (https://lnkd.in/e_ZFu374) by Kinneret Yifrah

Women know it all, they just aren’t given enough chances! We love talking about “empowering women entrepreneurs,” but if we're being honest, most of it is just a saying. Behind every woman trying to build something are invisible barriers that men rarely ever have to climb. Only 2% of venture capital went to female founders in 2017 and that number hasn't changed much in years. That’s not just a funding issue but a mindset issue. If we genuinely want more women-led businesses, here’s what we need to do: → We need more funds that prioritize women-led businesses, not as a CSR model but as smart investments. Better loan terms, inclusive crowdfunding platforms and gender-aware grant systems can make a real difference. → So much of business happens in rooms women aren't invited into. We need to build ecosystems where women can connect with mentors, advisors and investors who see potential, not gender. → It's about putting women in positions where they lead like on boards, in CXO roles and as decision-makers. Representation matters, but power matters even more. This isn’t just about equality but economic growth. Women-led startups have proven to be more capital-efficient, more socially conscious and often more profitable. So why wouldn’t we want more of them? What do you think it will take to back women entrepreneurs not just in words, but in action? #womenentrepreneur #creatoreconomy

McDonald's failed in Iceland. Uber struggles in Germany. Amazon got iced out in Australia & South Africa. 😬🥶 What did they miss? The fundamental truth that a proven business model is only proven for the specific market it was built in. The relentless pressure to scale globally often leads founders to copy and paste a strategy that's completely out of sync with local realities. It's a quick path to failure, built on a dangerous lie: that all markets are created equal. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙙𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙥 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 - Mangrove 💚🌱 We learned this lesson perfectly from a simple observation: a cold drink in an emerging market can often cost more than a full meal. Think about the Tao Bin vending machines in Thailand. Starbucks saw a market and thought, "We'll build a café." But Tao Bin saw a different need. They realised that in a crowded, traffic-heavy city, the core value wasn't a comfortable cafe; it was instant, affordable convenience. They didn't compete with cafes; they provided a different kind of value, a high quality drink for 50% cheaper, instantly available in office buildings and hospitals. That's the core of operational resilience: understanding that true localisation isn't about fitting in; it's about providing a fundamentally different kind of value based on local pain points and behaviours. It's about building a business that's not just durable, but deeply relevant. Resilience is a framework for global growth. Here are some of the pillars we use at Mangrove to build businesses that can thrive in any market: 🕵 Core Identification: You must define your essential services. M-KOPA, an African fintech platform, didn't just sell solar panels. Its core offering was affordable, accessible energy via a pay-as-you-go model that matched customers' daily financial habits. They were selling a solution to a problem, lack of reliable power not just a product. 🗺️ Resource Mapping: Know your assets! When Uber launched in Germany, it faced legal challenges because its model of using non-licensed drivers clashed with local laws. They failed to map out the regulatory landscape, which became a major roadblock. A resilient business would have identified this early on and adjusted their model. 🤓 Continuous Learning & Adaptation: Build feedback loops. A company like Canva shows how this works on a global scale. They don't just translate their app, they create region specific templates and content based on local user feedback. A holiday card for Japan looks completely different from one for Brazil because they continuously adapt to cultural nuances. These aren't just survival tactics... they are your growth engine in disguise! By building a business around deep market understanding, user journeys and a flexible framework, you can become mission-focused and future fit. Let's start designing to thrive! #buildbetter #scalefaster #failless

Shiny on the outside, broken on the inside: How optics deceive in product management. Allow me to share a video that depicts this challenge perfectly. Picture this: A man visits a tailor to get a tailored shirt made. The tailor fits him with a shirt that looks great from the front. The man turns around, and the tailor rips the shirt from behind. Appearing satisfied, the man buttons it up from the front and turns to go. This humorous scenario highlights a common issue in product management: items that are shipped that appear to be well-maintained but are actually flawed. The Real World All of us who manage products have surely proudly displayed a finished good that hides significant flaws. Optics can be deceiving. Firsthand Experience We introduced a new app feature a few years back that made people quite happy. The user interface looked good, and reviews were good right away. But we quickly found that there were issues with the backend integration. Users started experiencing data sync problems and crashes. Even while the function was praised at first, people started to get frustrated with it. We had overemphasised the "front"—the user interface—rather than ensuring the "back"—the backend architecture—was solid. Although expensive, it lesson proved to be priceless. Key Takeaways for Product Managers 1/ Optics and functionality should always be balanced; make sure that what looks nice also functions well. 2/ Prioritise core functionality: Make sure your product properly solves the main problem before adding bells and frills. 3/ Transparent Communication: If there are any known difficulties, communicate them honestly to your users. Openness fosters trust. 4/ Continuous Improvement: Recognise usability problems before launch. Get user input on a regular basis while developing the project. 5/ Cross-Functional Collaboration: To fully understand the technical limitations and obstacles, meticulously collaborate with your engineering team. This partnership guarantees that the product's "front" and "back" are equally robust. We Product Managers, like the man with the ripped shirt, should be proud of our shipped features. However, product management is more than just delivering a shiny new feature; it is also about ensuring our products are solid all around in order to truly satisfy our users. I want to hear from you: Share your experience of shipping features you knew were like this man's ripped shirt. How did you manage to 'fix' the problem after launch? #ProductManagement #UserExperience #ProductDevelopment #ProductManagers #PM101

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from building businesses in Saudi Arabia is the power of what I call glocalization, which is the art of blending global strategies with local market insights. For brands to thrive in today’s interconnected world, they need to balance the strengths of global expertise while staying deeply connected to the local culture. Here’s how glocalization can help create a brand that resonates with Saudi consumers while positioning it for regional and global growth: 𝟏. 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭: Saudi Arabia is undergoing a rapid transformation, but local values and cultural nuances still drive consumer behavior. Understanding these insights allows you to tailor your offering to meet local expectations while leveraging global best practices. 𝟐. 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 & 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲: When I worked at Majorel and now with X-Shift, we focused on embedding our brand into the local fabric by being authentic and owning our Saudi identity. Localization is not just about the translation of material to Arabic, but about relevance and creating real connections with consumers. 𝟑. 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬: Don’t just import a strategy. Make it yours. While global frameworks provide a solid foundation, they need to be adapted to fit the unique needs of the local market. Successful brands take the best of both worlds. 𝟒. 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: Once you’ve built a strong local presence, you’re ready to scale. By aligning your brand with local needs, you set yourself up for expansion into regional markets with similar cultural touchpoints then later realize your global ambitions. There’s no universal formula for success, but the key is finding the perfect balance. My experience building businesses in Saudi Arabia has taught me that success comes from creating something that truly resonates with people where they are, all while thinking ambitiously. When you master this balance, you build a brand that is not only deeply connected to its local roots but also flexible and ready to thrive on the global stage. What strategies have you found most effective in balancing local relevance with global ambition? Share your thoughts in the comments! #business #global #local #growth #KSA #SaudiArabia

How I use 7 SEO/CRO tips to increase product page profits. 7 examples to put 8-figures through PDPs: There's no secret or hack to a winning product page. We HAVE to test for incremental gains. CRO helps SEO. SEO helps CRO. Here's 7 product page tips: 1. Crush Product attributes: (Most DTC brands struggle with this) - Audit competitor product pages - Use data research tools for digging - Improve on ranking factors like titles & descriptions - Find and fill content gaps 2. Customer reviews built trust with DTC purchasing: (Increase conversions with reviews) - Encourage reviews for social proof - Show off your customer ratings - Google crawls reviews - Build credibility with authentic testimonials 3. Invest in high-quality digital assets: (Conversions are built on visuals) - Use and rank your photos & videos - Create engaging product videos - Optimise images for customers & search engines - Use visuals to create a "wow" effect 4. Use 101 sales psychology: (Create urgency, authority, proof) - Use urgency -> limited time offers - Create authority with influenced UGC - Display scarcity -> low stock warnings - Use social proof  -> popular items, reviews 5. Cut your jargon: (Focus on solutions, not hype) - Address customer problems directly - Offer clear product benefits - Avoid overhyped language or buzzwords - Use simple language -> like this post 6. Build in your value proposition: (Highlight unique product benefits) - Showcase how your product solves problems - Show your unique selling points - Align product benefits with customer needs - Focus on outcomes, not just features 7. Use segmented FAQs: (Answer key customer questions) - Address common customer concerns - Include product-specific FAQs - Reduce buyer friction with clear answers - Keep FAQs easy to find and click through SEO is ranking for transactions. That's it. Extra tip in the comments 👇 ----- No brand should have stagnant product pages. Brands have changed the game with product pages. Your brand needs to keep up with customer demands. 9-figure DTC brands spend big budgets on testing. Nothing is saying you can't take a little inspo 😉 Spending your marketing budget on acquiring customers is just one part of your marketing strategy.  You now have to work on increasing conversions 💳 What would you add to increase product page engagement? P.S. I like to visualise and map out systems. #Shopify | #SEO | #ecommerce

Quality v/s Quantity the reality….. Many are falling into the toxic trap of prioritizing post quantity over quality on LinkedIn. But this short-sighted approach is a way for failure. Posting low-quality filler content just to hit some likes does more harm than good. It affects your personal brand and trains your audience to tune you out as noise. The cold hard facts: → Posts with <300 words get 60% less engagement → Void of insights/opinions, they disengage 89% of viewers → Only 19% find value in regurgitated, unoriginal content Instead, you need to engage your audience with thoughtful, VALUE-DRIVEN content that showcases your expertise. A single masterpiece > dozens of mediocre pieces. By focusing on quality over quantity, the benefits are staggering: → 92% higher conversion to leads/clients → 54% more social selling opportunities   → 3X more engagement per post → Solidify yourself as an authority figure Don't play checkers while your competitors play chess. Create content that leverages: ✅ Unique, well-researched insights  ✅ Compelling storytelling/hooks ✅ Real data visualizations ✅ Thought-provoking questions Quality is the new currency to grow on LinkedIn. Prioritize quality over post count, and you'll see exponential rewards. P.S. Struggling to produce A+ content daily? I've helped hundreds of professionals 10X their LinkedIn growth through high-impact personal branding and content strategy. Book a FREE consultation by clicking the link in the first comment!

Stop demonizing outputs. I’ve seen this argument too many times: “It’s not about outputs, it’s about outcomes.” But the truth is, we need both. Outputs (like features, updates, and improvements) are how we deliver value. The problem isn’t shipping things. It’s when we ship without understanding what we’re trying to achieve. Imagine your team as a car factory. Cars (outputs) roll off the line, but if they don't drive customers to joy and your business to success (outcomes), you’re stuck in the build trap. Every feature shouldn’t just hit the road, it should hit a target. Outcome-focused product management is not blind to outputs. It just ensures those outputs drive toward clear goals and deliver real value. So the next time someone says “we need a new feature,” ask: “what are we trying to accomplish?” That’s how you build with intention and avoid the build trap. Keep those outputs coming, just make sure they lead to places worth going!

Have you heard: "focus on outcomes, not outputs"? If you're a product manager, there is a high chance you have. This is good advice, but it is incomplete For the following reasons: 1. Some PMs don't understand 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 are outcomes 2. Some don't know 𝘸𝘩𝘺 it is imp. to focus on outcomes 3. Some might not know 𝘩𝘰𝘸 to be outcome driven Let's answer all three questions: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀) Outputs are the deliverables or products that a team produces Outcomes refer to the impact or the value that these outputs have on the customers and the business. Example: you're a PM for a food delivery app;  responsible for increasing retention. You're launching a feature that will increase retention by 5% 👉 If you launch the feature on time without issues, that is an OUTPUT 👉 If you ensure that the retention increases by 5% either through the same feature or any other feature, that is an OUTCOME. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 1. Prioritizing outcomes over outputs shifts the focus from just delivering features to delivering value. 2. It ensures you align your efforts with the overall business goals 3. That enables your products to create the desired impact 4. Alignment between product and business goals makes decision making and prioritisation more impactful 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 (𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀) 1. 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 Set the right goals -- goals that are tied to value. Then, do whatever it takes to achieve these goals. 2. 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽𝘀 Focus your roadmap on impact that the product aims to achieve. This ensures that the team prioritises value over on-time delivery 3. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 Proactively and repeatedly inform others about your outcome-based goals. That will make expedite collaboration and make it easier to achieve the outcomes. 4. 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿 All effort, resources, and bandwidth the team spends should ALWAYS lead to net positive value creation for the user. Every 3-6 months: stop whatever you're doing, and ask "will these things create more value for the user?" Yes? Let's keep investing in it. No? Stop and focus on other things. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗱 Outputs are a required prerequisite for creating impactful outcomes. The timely delivery of features and products is essential for achieving the desired impact on users and the business. A good output-outcome balance ensures that the pursuit of driving value is grounded in a practical approach that considers the delivery and execution of products and features. -- That is it. A short, but an important guide to help PMs understand the meaning and importance of outcomes Do you focus on outcomes or outputs?

Every task that comes to me is urgent and important. Sound familiar? This is a challenge many of us face daily. Early in my career, prioritization was relatively straightforward—my manager told me what to focus on. But as I grew, the game changed. Suddenly, I was managing a flood of requests, far more than I could handle, and the signals from others weren’t helpful. Everything was “important.” Everything was “urgent.” Often, it was both. To handle this effectively, I realized I needed to develop an internal prioritization compass. It wasn’t easy, but it was transformative. Here are 6 strategies to help you build your own: 1/ Be crystal clear on key goals Start by understanding your organization’s goals—at the company, department, and team levels. Attend organizational forums, departmental reviews, or leadership updates to stay informed. When in doubt, use your 1:1s with leaders to ask: What does success look like? 2/ Deeply understand KPIs Metrics guide decision-making, but not all metrics are equally valuable. Take the time to understand your team's or function's key performance indicators (KPIs). Know what they measure, what they mean, and how to assess their impact. 3/ Be assertive to protect priorities Not every task deserves your attention. Practice saying “no” or deferring requests that don’t align with key goals or metrics. Assertiveness is not about being inflexible—it’s about protecting your capacity to focus on what truly matters. 4/ Set and reset expectations Priorities change, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is working on misaligned tasks. Keep open communication with your manager and stakeholders about evolving priorities. When new demands arise, clarify and reset expectations. 5/ Use 1:1s to align with your manager Leverage your 1:1s as a strategic tool. Share your current priorities, validate them against your manager’s expectations, and discuss any conflicts or challenges. 6/ Clarify the escalation process When priorities conflict, don’t let disagreements linger. If you can’t agree quickly, escalate the issue to your manager. This avoids unnecessary churn, ensures trust remains intact, and keeps momentum focused on results. PS: You won’t always get it right—and that’s okay. Treat each misstep as an opportunity to refine your compass. What’s one tip you’ve used to prioritize when everything feels urgent? --- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for daily Leadership and Career posts.