In a recent discussion, Jason Harmon, CTO at Stoplight, emphasized the importance of treating APIs as business assets rather than mere technical tools, highlighting their role in fostering growth and competitive advantage in the digital landscape. Drawing from his experience with companies like PayPal and Expedia Group, Harmon outlined how APIs should be managed as products, focusing on customer-centric development, thorough documentation, and automated testing to ensure quality and adoption. He stressed the importance of recognizing the diverse roles of API consumers, including partners and internal teams, to build strong business relationships and align API strategies with business goals. The discussion also touched on different platform approaches, emphasizing the significance of modular architecture and marketplace dynamics, and concluded that successful API management requires a comprehensive strategy that integrates business alignment, user-focused design, and robust documentation to fully leverage APIs as strategic business assets.