A Milestone Year for PROW 2024
This year, PROW—the leading conference for Western digital product professionals —brought together over 620 participants, including senior product managers, marketers, product designers, 25+ international speakers from leading companies such as Booking, APE Consulting, and Bolt, and renowned authors. The energy, the insights, and the connections made during PROW 2024 underscored one key theme: shaping tomorrow’s digital, one product at a time.
To truly capture the impact of this year’s event, we’re sharing reflections from two key perspectives: the organizers, who worked to create an environment for growth, and the participants, who walked away inspired, challenged, and equipped with actionable insights.
The Organizers’ Perspective: Building a Conference for Learning
For us, the organizers of PROW 2024, this year’s conference was about more than just logistics. It was about crafting an experience where ideas could spark, solutions could emerge, and the future of digital products could be discussed openly.
What We Learned as Organizers:
- The Value of a Curated Agenda
Bringing together global experts, including thought leaders, and authors, reminded us of the importance of diverse perspectives. Curating this content taught us that the right topics, at the right time, can empower entire teams to innovate. - The Power of Connections
PROW 2024 wasn’t just about the talks; it was about connections. We saw over 620 participants engage in meaningful exchanges during breakout sessions, networking events, and workshops. Professionals crave authentic, face-to-face conversations to solve shared challenges. - Adaptability is Key
Like product development, a great conference thrives on feedback. Throughout the day, we tuned to participant energy and interaction, tweaking sessions in real-time to keep the momentum alive. It was a powerful reminder: flexibility, responsiveness, and active listening are the foundations of success—whether building a product or hosting an event. - Above all, we learned that PROW has become more than a conference—it’s a growing community of forward-thinkers shaping the future of digital products together.
The Participants’ Perspective: Insights to Move Forward
For participants, PROW 2024 offered a good opportunity to step back, reflect, and engage with cutting-edge ideas. We spoke to attendees—senior product managers, marketers, designers—about their takeaways. Here’s what resonated most:
What Participants Learned
- AI is a Tool, Not the Answer
Across multiple sessions, speakers emphasized that AI is here to enhance, not replace, human creativity. Practical examples showed how teams use AI to improve decision-making, streamline workflows, and enable better design. For participants, this clarified a critical point: AI adoption requires intentionality and human oversight. - Product Leadership is About People
One of the strongest messages came from leadership-focused sessions: great products are built by empowered, motivated teams. Attendees were inspired to return practical frameworks to their organizations—whether for team alignment, prioritization, or cross-functional collaboration. - Customer-Centricity is Non-Negotiable
The conference reinforced that understanding users is central to every successful product strategy. Workshops on user research methodologies and sessions from top product designers pushed participants to reconnect with their customers’ needs and behaviors. - Collaboration is a Superpower
Beyond the content, participants highlighted the value of sharing challenges with peers. “Hearing how other teams tackle the same problems I’m facing gave me new perspectives,” one attendee shared.
For many, PROW 2024 wasn’t just a conference; it was an opportunity for growth. Attendees left with actionable strategies, renewed enthusiasm, and a sense of belonging to a larger community of product innovators.
The Speakers’ Perspective: Bridging Knowledge and Culture
This year’s speakers didn’t just bring their expertise to the stage—they became part of a cultural and professional exchange that extended far beyond the conference.
A Unique Experience in Romania
What set PROW apart this year were the efforts to create meaningful experiences for our speakers.
From the private Speakers’ Dinner, which facilitated conversations with key figures from the community, to the post-event Timișoara city tour and wine tasting at Recaș, the goal was to offer a glimpse of Romania’s culture and hospitality.
For returning speakers like Tania Nemes and Lisa Mo Wagner, PROW 2024 was both a heartfelt reunion with a familiar community and an exciting opportunity to share fresh insights and continue shaping the conversation around digital products.
These moments weren’t just about relaxation—they fostered deeper bonds among the speakers and strengthened their connection to PROW as a community. “It was a pleasure to discover Romania and its people through PROW,” shared one speaker. “The hospitality and cultural richness added a special dimension to the event.”
Looking Ahead: Building on PROW 2024
As we close this year’s chapter, the lessons learned together—both on stage and in conversations—will continue to influence our work. For us, it’s a challenge to create an even better experience next year. For participants, it’s an opportunity to turn ideas into impact.
To everyone who joined us at PROW 2024: thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’ve proven that shared learning and collaboration are the true drivers of progress in the digital product world.
Here’s to another year of innovation, growth, and connection. See you at PROW 2025!
