BA Book Club: Behind the Pages of Product Discovery Thinking with Paddy Dhanda
Nov 17, 2026 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Join Paddy Dhanda and Annie Birchall for a one-hour conversation that goes beyond the pages. We’ll explore what sparked his motivation to write Product Discovery Thinking, uncover stories from the book, and hear about the experiences that shaped his ideas.
From the first spark of an idea to becoming a published author, Paddy will take us behind the scenes of his writing journey, sharing what it took to bring the book to life and what he learnt along the way.
Building faster only helps if we’re building something people need. Product discovery helps teams understand the real problem, test assumptions and validate ideas before committing time and effort to a solution. It brings customer needs and business value into focus, helping teams choose what is worth building, rather than simply delivering more features.
We also have Annie Birchall from Methods, who will explore discovery through an interesting lens: what happens when you’re solving the right problem, but at the wrong time? She’ll bring together perspectives on policy, adoption and technology.
For business analysts, Product Discovery Thinking offers a practical opportunity to move beyond managing requirements and strengthen their influence on what gets built and why. With techniques for exploring needs, testing ideas and engaging stakeholders, the book connects familiar BA skills - curiosity, questioning and facilitation, with a product mindset focused on meaningful outcomes. Whether you’re working in a product team or looking to bring discovery into your current role, it offers fresh ways to challenge assumptions and shape solutions that matter.
Already read the book? Come discover the stories behind it. Not picked it up yet? Let your curiosity lead the way.
Join us to meet the author and explore the thinking behind Product Discovery Thinking.
Speaker Details:
Author: Paddy Dhanda
Paddy Dhanda is the Director of Product & Agile Practices at one of Europe's largest technology training providers, shaping human and AI-powered product skills for some of the world's best-known brands. Previously, he spent two decades as a practitioner across sectors, including banking, telecoms and consulting. Paddy is an international keynote speaker, podcast host and guest lecturer on the University of Birmingham MBA programme, where he helps inspire the next generation of product leaders.
Speaker: Annie Birchall
Annie is a digital transformation specialist at Methods, with deep experience in product management and delivery across UK government. She has led discovery, delivery and service assessment activity in line with the GOV.UK Service Standard, working with multidisciplinary teams to design accessible, high‑value services for citizens and professional users. Annie is passionate about product mindset, mentoring and helping teams turn complex problems into clear, user‑centred outcomes that deliver value.
