When 99% of the people doubt you, you are either gravely wrong or about to make history

When I think about visionaries, it’s easy to call to mind figures like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, or Jeff Bezos. But let’s not forget that many of the most impactful innovations are happening in areas that don’t always make headlines—like environmental conservation and citizen science. Visionary thinking isn’t always reserved for space exploration or tech gadgets; it’s equally relevant to solving critical issues like biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and climate change

When I think about the products that I have worked on, especially those that aim to create a more sustainable future, the work can often feel unclear. That said, whether I’m developing a small feature for a single functionality or going for the moonshot that could disrupt an entire industry, it all starts with having a compelling vision. In my journey as a product manager, I’ve found that this vision is not just about the bottom line—it’s about creating solutions that benefit people and the planet

Visionary product leaders have a compelling vision due to an inherent curiosity about the world and a deep desire to address problems at the root. Whether you’re building an app to engage citizen scientists or developing data-driven tools to track changes in ecosystems, vision starts with truly understanding the issues. In product management, this means digging deep into customer pain points, but in the realm of sustainability, it’s about recognizing the intersection between technology, conservation, and human impact.

Vision Starts with Understanding Problems

Visionary product leaders have an inherent curiosity about the world and a deep desire to address problems at the root. Whether you’re building a birdwatching app to engage citizen scientists or developing data-driven tools to track changes in ecosystems, vision starts with truly understanding the issues. In product management, this means digging deep into customer pain points, but in the realm of sustainability, it’s about recognizing the intersection between technology, conservation, and human impact.

In my experience, the most powerful visions aren’t just about improving a product—they’re about improving lives. Visionaries in sustainability take the time to deeply understand the challenges our world faces and craft solutions that can make a tangible impact. Think about the power of citizen science platforms like eBird or iNaturalist, which allow everyday people to contribute to critical environmental data. These tools have the potential to help us better understand the world’s biodiversity and fight against habitat loss.

Understanding these broader problems comes from gathering diverse perspectives. Whether you’re speaking with birdwatchers who report changes in species sightings or collecting data from climate scientists, it’s essential to build a system of feedback that informs your product decisions.

Visionaries Take Risks, Even When the Path Isn’t Clear

Taking calculated risks is part of the journey. The path to creating meaningful, sustainable products often involves navigating ambiguity. You may not always have clear answers, but you have to be willing to test your assumptions—whether that’s through citizen science data, customer feedback, or experimentation.

For example, in my work on birdwatching technology, I’ve seen firsthand how leveraging real-time data from users can guide product decisions that not only improve user experience but also contribute to environmental conservation. Understanding how species populations shift over time, or how climate change affects migration patterns, can lead to innovations that have far-reaching implications.

Taking risks isn’t about being reckless. It’s about listening to the data and having the courage to act on what you learn, even if it challenges the status quo.

Visionaries are Effective Storytellers and Collaborators

Whether you’re leading a team building the next generation of sustainability tools or educating the public through citizen science, communication is key. You need to bring stakeholders on the journey with you—whether that’s your product team, your customers, or the broader community.

One of the most effective ways to communicate vision is through storytelling supported by data. One of my recommended reading books is Storytelling with Data. In my case, building a tool for tracking bird populations, for instance, can tell a story showing how the data reveals trends in species decline due to habitat loss. Paint a picture of how your product can make a difference not just for the end user but for the world at large. This approach not only builds buy-in but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility for the planet’s future  

Empathy: The Core of Visionary Thinking

At the heart of any visionary product is empathy. To create impactful products, you must understand and care about the end user’s experience—and when you’re working on sustainability initiatives, that user is often both people and the environment.

Empathy goes beyond simply addressing customer needs—it’s about understanding the larger context in which your product operates. James Dyson didn’t just invent a vacuum; he solved a deeper problem—how to create a product that reduced waste and delivered a better experience. In the same way, we need to think about how our products can solve both immediate user problems and broader environmental challenges

Most of what we have learned in this business is that we are here to address customer problems; “love the problem not the solution” as famous Silicon Valley Author Marty Cagen puts it. While that rings true, I think it’s often overlooked where customers experience true delight when using a specific product or service. Jack Ma, the founder of Ali Baba is someone who has described himself as NOT a tech guy, but he has an uncanny ability to see through the eyes of the customer. Jeff Bezos has famously come up with the “Work Backwards” approach at Amazon starting with the customer. At the root of it is understanding what frustrates/delights the end user.

Applying Vision to Sustainability and Citizen Science

Building a sustainable future requires visionaries who can bridge the gap between technology and nature. Whether you’re developing a new tool for environmental monitoring or optimizing technology to combat habitat loss, it’s crucial to think about the long-term impact of your work. Visionary thinking in product management isn’t just about solving for today’s problems—it’s about anticipating tomorrow’s challenges and creating solutions that will endure.

For those of us working at the intersection of digital transformation, sustainability, and citizen science, our role is to harness the power of data, technology, and human engagement to protect the planet. We may not be Musk or Bezos, but with empathy, curiosity, and a relentless commitment to solving meaningful problems, we too can make history

Building Vision for a Better World

Having a compelling vision isn’t a one-time event—it’s a journey that requires constant learning, empathy, and courage. Whether you’re developing products that address sustainability, biodiversity, or citizen science, the key is to stay grounded in the problems you’re solving and remain open to the possibilities that technology offers.

So I leave you with the assurance that we all can have a compelling vision if we work hard at it and put in the frameworks of establishing a system of feedback from our customers. Try to think in terms of having a growth vs. a fixed mindset. With time and practice, doing effective research, and taking calculated risks, we can get there too.

Happy vision hunting—and may your next product leave the world a little better than you found it!