If you had asked me five years ago whether product managers would need to worry about AI-generated job applicants or remote interviews with operatives from North Korea, I would've laughed you out of the room. But here we are. I recently sat down with Shannon Anderson, longtime recruiter and talent scout at Madrona Ventures, for an episode of the Fireside PM podcast. What started as a reaction to a viral LinkedIn post ended up being one of the most wide-ranging, eye-opening conversations I've had...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Ex-YouTube exec Ben Grubbs reveals how MrBeast, Good Good Golf, and Moonbug cracked the code—and what PMs can learn about strategy, defensibility, and AI's role in the next wave
May 14, 2025•59 min
We’re back with a Startup Spotlight episode on the Fireside PM podcast. It’s not every day you get to speak with someone who’s straddled the worlds of architecture, gaming, AI, and robotics—and managed to turn those disparate threads into a startup tackling one of the most important problems in our robotic future. Steven Ren, the co-founder and CEO of Palatial , joined me from Lower Manhattan to share the winding journey of his company—from Cornell’s architecture school to optimizing simulations...
May 12, 2025•57 min
I rarely read career books cover to cover. But when I listened to Search in Plain Sight by Somer Hackley, I was hooked. It wasn’t a blog post padded into a book—this was the real deal. Structured, thorough, and full of insights that I wish I had twenty years ago. Naturally, I invited Somer onto the Fireside PM podcast to dig deeper. What followed was a masterclass on how executive search firms actually work, what most job seekers get wrong, and how product managers (PMs) can be far more effectiv...
May 03, 2025•1 hr
What Lego, Apple, and a golf startup can teach Silicon Valley PMs about designing with—not just for—your users. https://jakemckee.com/
Mar 21, 2025•55 min
How to Avoid Career Pitfalls and Make Smarter Moves in Today's Job Market Early to mid-career product managers in Silicon Valley often dream of landing the perfect job—high comp, strong team, great product, and a clear path for impact. But what if I told you that sometimes the smartest move is walking away? That was the case for Elizabeth Haig, a seasoned marketing leader with two successful exits under her belt. She recently turned down a VP of Marketing role that came with a $350K offer, and h...
Mar 17, 2025•46 min
Lessons from the Fireside PM podcast on how to stop missing top-tier candidates and make your next VP or Director of Product hire a game-changer. Hiring a Great Product Leader Is Harder Than You Think Team, we’re back on the Fireside PM podcast, and today, I want to talk about a topic that keeps coming up: why even experienced executives struggle to hire strong product leaders. If you’re a CEO or CPO at a mid-to-late-stage company and you need to hire a killer Director or VP of Product, this pos...
Mar 08, 2025•31 min
Why revealing your thinking matters more than your final answer—insider secrets from Rodolfo, Senior PM at Spotify. https://rodolfodays.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile
Mar 06, 2025•49 min
n this episode of Fireside PM , I sit down with fellow ex-Googler and product consultant Mustafa Kapatiya to dive into how product managers can maximize AI for productivity, decision-making, and strategy. Mustafa shares real-world insights, including a live demo of AI-driven sentiment analysis, a breakdown of how top PMs leverage AI differently, and how organizations can use AI to do more with less. We also explore the future of product teams, AI's impact on PM career paths, and the evolving rol...
Feb 26, 2025•58 min
Join me for a Fireside PM conversation with Dave Lu, founder of Hyphen Ventures, as we dive into his incredible career journey, the challenges of the Bamboo Ceiling, and his powerful advocacy for AAPI representation in tech and venture capital. From working at top companies like Apple, Yahoo, and eBay to launching Hyphen Capital and championing AAPI entrepreneurs, Dave has been a driving force in breaking barriers. We'll discuss: ✅ His path from corporate tech to investing in the next generation...
Feb 26, 2025•45 min
Hey Fireside PM crew, I had a fantastic conversation in this week’s podcast with Priydarshan Jha (PJ), a seasoned Director of Product Management and product transformation consultant. PJ shared valuable insights from his journey, starting as a tech-focused developer, moving into product ownership at American Express, working with clients across industries at BCG, and now leading product transformations at EPAM. Here are the top takeaways: 1. Driving Product Transformation Across Diverse Organiza...
Feb 16, 2025•40 min
In this episode of Fireside PM , I sit down with Chris Vandermay, a veteran PM leader with experience at Google, Amazon, and Meta, to dive deep into the concept of controllable inputs . We discuss how top companies use these actionable metrics to drive real business outcomes, how to identify the right inputs versus vanity metrics, and why mastering them can make or break a product’s success. Chris also shares insights on how AI is reshaping the role of product managers and what PMs can do to sta...
Feb 05, 2025•56 min
In this episode of Fireside PM , I tackle one of the most pressing questions from my Backchannel PM Accelerator: What does the future of product management look like, and how can PMs prepare? We explore the compression of career ladders, the rise of AI-native products, the evolving importance of trust and safety, and the shifting dynamics of startups. Whether you're an early-career PM or a seasoned leader, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you thrive in a rapidly changing i...
Jan 28, 2025•27 min
In this episode of the Fireside PM podcast, I sit down with Karl Isaac, a branding expert and former Microsoft manager, to explore the intersection of product and brand. Karl shares insights from his transformative career at tech giants like Microsoft, Apple, and Adobe, where he spearheaded groundbreaking campaigns, redefined brand strategies, and led cultural shifts. They discuss the evolution of branding in tech, lessons from campaigns like “I’m a PC,” and how integrating brand with product ma...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 9 min
In a recent Fireside PM podcast episode, I shared insights inspired by a coaching conversation with a senior PM at a FAANG company. * She was navigating a significant challenge: adapting to a new manager with a starkly different style than her previous one. This conversation resonated with me deeply because it highlighted a universal truth in the workplace: a manager’s style can significantly impact your day-to-day experience—sometimes even more than the company you work for.
Dec 20, 2024•21 min
The 8 different types of PM leads, their pros and cons, and best fit companies to work at.
Dec 15, 2024•23 min
In my recent Fireside PM podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Brian Goffman, a repeat guest and one of the most insightful voices in the product management (PM) space. Brian's career spans decades of innovation, from his time at LinkedIn, SmartThings, and Adobe, to his current role leading McKinsey's Software Excellence Practice. His unique vantage point—working across Web 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and now AI—makes him a treasure trove of lessons for anyone navigating the tech landscape. In th...
Nov 26, 2024•51 min
Welcome back to another episode of Fireside PM! Today, I want to share some hard-earned lessons that have shaped my career as a Product Manager (PM) and PM leader. These lessons, grounded in experience, have been instrumental to my journey and are relevant whether you’re early in your PM career or already leading teams. Let’s dive into these five lessons that, while challenging, are essential for sustained growth and success in product management.
Nov 01, 2024•20 min
Unlock the secrets of demand generation from Rory Braatvedt, who shares essential frameworks for entrepreneurial product managers and startup founders ready to move beyond their personal networks.
Oct 10, 2024•56 min
Lessons from the Frontlines of Silicon Valley: How to Recognize Common Pitfalls and Stay Focused on What Really Matters
Oct 08, 2024•20 min
John Gusiff on brand experience.
Oct 04, 2024•52 min
Adam Sheppard from The Shep Report on AI solopreneur tools like bubble.io
Sep 26, 2024•1 hr 18 min
Raquel Hirsch is a seasoned marketing executive and demand-generation expert who helps B2B and B2C clients achieve measurable revenue growth through data-driven strategies and solutions. She is the Founder and Lead Consultant at GoDemandGeneration Inc., a boutique consultancy that offers outsourced VP-level expertise and growth-acceleration services to clients who need to get there fast. With over 25 years of experience in turnarounds and fast ramp-ups, Raquel has a proven track record of buildi...
Sep 13, 2024•47 min
Nancy Chu and I talk about PM interviews. Follow Nancy on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancychu/ Check out my PM classes on Maven https://maven.com/toml Check out my free lightening webinar on AI strategy https://maven.com/p/ceba54/ai-crossroads-strategic-decisions-for-product-managers?utm_medium=ll_share_link&utm_source=instructor
Aug 23, 2024•55 min
More info on this class at https://maven.com/toml 1:1 and Team Coaching at https://tomleungcoaching.com
Aug 21, 2024•21 min
From Aniket Saoji: "After spending some time exploring the latest AI advancements, I realized the potential impact on the enterprise software landscape deserved a more nuanced analysis. Here is a deep dive on why established enterprise SaaS leaders can afford to take a measured approach to AI integration. My take: While AI is transforming the technology landscape, AI is not an immediate existential threat to enterprise SaaS market leaders. In fact, they are well-positioned to approach AI integra...
Aug 16, 2024•1 hr 13 min
Katie Durham from Climate Capital and I talk about a co-investment and some she shares tips and advice about getting involved in climate tech.
Aug 15, 2024•36 min
In my recent Fireside PM podcast interview with Rahul Mehendale , an old friend and former classmate, we delved deep into the transformative impact of AI across various sectors. Rahul’s diverse background—ranging from his early work in quantified skin health to his recent ventures in AI—gave us a lot to discuss.
Aug 14, 2024•59 min
5 things you can do to make sure you make a great hire for your PM director role. Learn more at tomleungcoaching.com
Jul 29, 2024•17 min
Tom and Ed Biden from HustleBadger.com talk about the challenges product leaders face when things aren't going awesome.
Jul 23, 2024•42 min
