Prevented a poor MVP rollout by validating a key content gap and shipping an MVP copy system that reduced confusion and safety risk. That work led to standout member feedback.
TL;DR
- What: MVP launch of Training Plans (strength plans) in the Exos app
- Angle: Prevented a risky rollout by validating and fixing a critical content gap before launch
- Role: Director of Member Content (Member Experience) — MVP launch readiness
- Timeline: H2 2025 build. Planned Q4 2025 launch, delayed to Q1 2026 to ship the most important improvements while still capitalizing on January engagement trends.
The Problem
The MVP designs showed only exercise videos, with no written instructions.
- The video player screen read as unfinished
- Members would be more likely to misunderstand workouts
- Poor form risk increased (and with it, injury risk)
What Shipped
- Flagged the gap early: Advocated for written guidance as a safety and usability requirement, not “nice-to-have” copy.
- Created evidence, fast: When challenged, proposed and ran a short internal test to validate the need for written content.
- Testers were internal Exos corporate team members outside the initiative (e.g., People Ops, B2B Marketing) and did not work on the app.
- Testers completed a survey and logged issues via a structured form.
- Used the findings to unlock scope: Internal feedback was loud and consistent that the experience needed written guidance.
- 83% of issues logged were about language — almost all related to missing guidance and exercise instructions.
- Shipped an MVP copy system: Partnered with product design to add a lightweight but high-impact set of content to each exercise:
- Instructions
- Coach tip
- Modifications
- Designed for scale: Used AI to help format the copy system, test edge cases, and enforce long-term consistency (so cues and structure remain stable across exercise variants as the 1,200-exercise library expands).
Context
- Engineering migrated an internal library of 1,200 exercises into an admin tool.
- Methodology built 50+ strength plan variations based on experience level, workout length, frequency, and equipment access.
Cross-Functional Work
- Product: Scoped launch requirements, release sequencing, and go/no-go decisions
- Product Design: Defined the exercise detail experience and partnered on the MVP copy system structure (instructions, cues, tips, modifications)
- Engineering: Implemented the exercise detail UI and supported content ingestion workflows for a 1,200-exercise library
- Methodology: Validated exercise guidance requirements and ensured cues/modifications aligned with training intent and safety.
Outcomes (Early)
I’ve been using training plans for a few weeks now, and I have to say, it’s made a huge difference in my workout routine. Switching from my old Excel document to the Exos app has been such a relief. The app is super easy to use and makes tracking my workouts a breeze. The pre-set plans and exercise demos are fantastic – they’ve really helped me make sure I’m doing everything right.
Next Iterations
- Scale exercise copy across the 1,200-exercise library (workflows + QA)
- Standardize guidelines for exercise video reshoots
- Audit the library and add exercises informed by how coaches personalize plans