Navigating Product Leadership Through Acquisition: Lessons from Shipt and Target

In this episode, Cristina Flaschen, CEO of Pandium, speaks with Bani Malhotra, a seasoned product leader with experience at Walmart, Shipt, and Narvar. They discuss the complex realities of scaling products, leading through acquisition, and aligning teams around shared goals.

Bani’s Background and Product-Driven Mindset

Bani transitioned from investment banking and venture capital into product management. She has spent over a decade building and leading teams, including serving as the first product manager at Shipt during its $550M acquisition by Target. Her approach combines clear communication, deep context, and a strong focus on solving the right problems with the right metrics.

Acquisition, Alignment, and Long-Term Thinking

At Shipt, Bani led the integration of its same-day delivery platform into Target’s ecosystem. The project involved technical re-architecture, stakeholder alignment, and careful cultural navigation. Bani and her team made early decisions to build a retailer-agnostic infrastructure, allowing for long-term flexibility while preserving the values of Shipt’s marketplace.

Building Trust Across Teams and Cultures

Bani shares her approach to leading cross-functional teams through major change. Her framework—credibility, communication, and context—helped her build trust across both Shipt and Target. From navigating concerns around cannibalization to advocating for shoppers on the ground, she focused on building alignment without compromising core principles.

Using Metrics to Drive Clarity

Bani emphasizes the importance of grounding teams in clear, outcome-focused metrics. She shares lessons on defining success, phasing launches to reduce risk, and staying focused on quality over vanity KPIs. Metrics, she explains, can unify teams and reduce emotional friction in high-stakes environments.

Leading with Precision

This episode offers practical insights for anyone leading through complexity, whether during M&A, product expansion, or organizational change. Bani’s perspective on product leadership is execution-oriented, making this a valuable listen for product and partnership leaders at any stage of growth.

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Connect with Cristina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-flaschen/

Connect with Bani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bani-malhotra-07615615/

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