Katya Denike Product · London

Source: anonymised survey via talentstage.com · peers, reports, stakeholders.

A note: this focuses on my strong sides that seemed relevant. More than happy to elaborate on the full version.

“Extreme empathy and optimism.”

“Difficult stakeholder alignment & strategy, this is where I believe she comes alive the most.”

“Enthusiasm, drive, contribution beyond own area, seeking to innovate. Willingness to step up and take on new challenges.”

“An extremely humble leader, thought provoking, engaging and very technically astute. A true people person who deeply cares about others which allows us to inspire people on a individual level very effectively.”

“Katya has an infectious personality that naturally brings energy and positivity to the people around her. She has a remarkable ability to align a highly opinionated and complex executive team, navigating diverse viewpoints with skill and confidence. At the same time, she supports her own team with clarity, calmness, and consistency, creating an environment where people feel grounded and empowered.”

“Katya genuinely has passion to your area of expertise and creating value for the company. And she spreads this passion with energy and deep self-dedication across the whole organization. She does her best to see the problem holistically and understand the root of the problem before jumping into conclusions and solutions. She puts enormous effort and energy in advocating change across organisation utilising influence beyond her direct domain and responsibility (internal communication, additional events, internal education and other tools of driving change). She demonstrates resilience and patience that was and is crucial in long-term and sustainable changes at scale. She is an excellent story-teller, be it product, business or personal case.”

“Katya demonstrates excellent stakeholder-management and negotiation skills. She is able to navigate complex cross-functional environments with confidence and diplomacy. She invests meaningfully in developing talent and creating opportunities for people to grow, which has a strong positive impact on team culture. As a CPO, she brings strong peripheral knowledge across technology, finance, and broader business levers, enabling her to engage effectively in multi-disciplinary discussions. She has strong strategic instincts and naturally exhibits executive-level leadership traits, particularly in her ability to articulate vision and influence direction.”

“Katya is at her best in situations that require rapid action, clarity, and decisive leadership. When there is a pressing task or urgent challenge, she thrives moving at pace, cutting through noise, and focusing the team on what matters most. She is highly effective in fast-moving, reactive environments where others might feel pressure or uncertainty. Even in moments of urgency, she remains calm, composed, and solutions-oriented. She doesn’t panic or get flustered; instead, she brings stability and confidence to the team.”

“Crisis mode and when we need to quickly turnaround things. Especially for last minute exec asks.”

“Katya is an exceptionally strong people-focused leader. She knows how to communicate clearly, align teams around shared priorities, and create the conditions for them to deliver with flexibility and confidence. She consistently empowers people, celebrates their successes, and ensures they feel supported at every level of the organisation. One of her greatest strengths is her ability to remove noise, conflict, and political distractions so teams can stay focused on the work that matters. Her absence during maternity leave highlighted just how critical this “shielding” function is to the organisation and how much clarity and stability she normally provides. Katya also operates effectively with stakeholders at the most senior levels, managing expectations and driving alignment without losing sight of the needs of her team, right down to the most junior members.”

“Katya genuinely believes in empowering her team. She gives us the trust and autonomy to run the organisation effectively, while also setting clear expectations for high performance. This balance of trust and accountability helps us grow, take ownership, and deliver our best work.”

“Katya champions her team consistently. By advocating for their needs, celebrating their contributions, and creating an environment where individuals feel trusted, supported, and empowered. Her belief in developing people and fostering genuine collaboration is a core part of her leadership philosophy and shapes how she leads the Product organisation.”

“They are at their best when they are grounded in clear data and insights, enabling strong, objective decision-making; challenging the status quo and pushing the organisation to think differently or aim higher; leading from the frontline, setting direction through visible ownership and hands-on leadership at pivotal moments.”

“Katya can show her best in the situation of thinking about future innovation, customer propositions, organising agile ways of working, sharing her expertise, perspectives and creating momentum for the future growth, be it personal or business growth.”

“Katya demonstrates a very strong work ethic and a belief that effective leadership requires getting close to the detail when it matters. She values understanding the reality of the work, not just the high-level picture, and this enables her to make grounded decisions and support her teams in a meaningful way.”

“They are energised and personable. When they have the capacity, they listen well, seeking to understand, and can then support direction or change.”