What was the most challenging decision you have had to make recently and how did you approach it?

Context: One of the most challenging situations I had to deal with recently was deciding whether or not to expand features on a product we had just launched. The product scans our customers' websites periodically and reports on trackers and pixels that could jeopardize user privacy data. We assumed that customers would also want the ability to select trackers in the reports and implement blockers we provide. This feature would require significant engineering resources and effort, and I wanted to ensure we were building the right thing.

Decision process: To approach this decision, I consulted with stakeholders, conducted customer interviews, and collected data for analysis. This involved engaging with our product team, engineering leads, and a sample of our customers to gather diverse perspectives and validate our assumptions.

Outcome: Ultimately, we decided to proceed with the feature, but we scoped it just enough to gather more signals. This decision was difficult because, while early research showed potential, the evidence was not yet strong. We had to balance immediate resource allocation with other priorities. We managed to secure buy-in from the product team and other stakeholders based on our research findings. 

Learning: This experience taught me the critical importance of researching customer interests for product development. Being flexible with project scope and ensuring stakeholder buy-in were crucial for the project's success. In future, I would allocate more time for this research phase ahead of major decisions to ensure we are aligning our efforts with customer needs and organizational priorities.