What does true ownership look like in product management, and why do so many teams miss the mark?

In this episode of The Intentional Product Manager Podcast, I sit down with Kishore Narra, a product executive who's led high-impact teams at TaskRabbit, Coinbase, Meta, and more. We dive deep into what separates busy teams from effective ones, and how top product leaders drive clarity, impact, and alignment across the organization.

We cover:

• Why reducing user friction isn’t always the right move
• How to structure teams for real ownership and accountability
• The anti-patterns that stall progress and how to coach your way out of them
• Lessons from building platform, risk, and marketplace products at scale
• Why clarity on metrics and problem space is the foundation of any great team

Whether you’re managing a small squad or leading a large org, this episode is packed with tactical insights and mindset shifts to help you lead with intention.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:23 Guest Introduction: Kishore Narra

01:32 Early Career and First Product

02:53 Lessons from Early Experiences

03:04 Understanding User Friction

04:59 Effective Habits for Product Managers

06:01 Organizing Teams for Success

09:24 Challenges and Anti-Patterns in Team Management

13:43 Product Management Across Different Companies

17:50 Remote Work and Decision-Making at Coinbase

19:14 Differences Between Application and Platform Product Managers

20:29 Skills for Successful Platform Product Management

22:27 Metrics and Promotion for Platform PMs

25:09 Journey into Payments and Risk Management

27:34 Challenges and Strategies in Fraud Prevention

32:11 Lightning Round: Storytelling and Career Growth

34:31 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Follow Shobhit Chugh at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Follow Kishore Narra at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kishorenarra/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

If you’ve ever wondered what separates good product managers from great ones, the kind who shape technology platforms and drive innovation across entire ecosystems, this conversation will spark new ideas, mindsets, and possibilities.

In this week’s of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, host Shobhit Chugh reconnects with Ram Sangireddy, former VP of Product at Salesforce, who brings decades of experience leading in the world of platform and AI product management.

This conversation isn’t just about career advice, it’s about understanding how to truly stand out in today’s rapidly evolving product landscape. Ram shares how his journey from engineering to product leadership reshaped the way he thinks about innovation, strategy, and scaling teams. He dives into the critical mindset shifts that helped him succeed after business school, revealing how great product leaders balance vision with disciplined execution.

From defining what a technology innovation platform really is to unpacking the emerging world of LLM Ops, Ram offers rare, behind-the-scenes insights into how platform products get built, scaled, and sustained. You’ll hear how he drives project closure across complex organizations, structures product management teams for impact, and empowers engineers to become exceptional Product Managers.

Whether you’re an aspiring platform Product Manager or a product leader looking to sharpen your edge, this episode will challenge the way you think about AI platforms, product careers, and innovation at scale.

Episode Highlights

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:23 Guest Introduction: Ram Sangireddy

00:59 Ram's Career Journey and Insights

05:37 Defining Platform Product Management

13:21 AI Platforms and LLM Ops

25:58 Career Advice for Platform PMs

39:24 Breaking into Platform Product Management

42:44 Fun Questions and Conclusion

Follow Shobhit Chugh at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Follow Ram Sangireddy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-sangireddy/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Most product managers treat the job search like a to-do list and end up overwhelmed, overlooked, or stuck in roles that don’t fit.

In this powerful solo episode, Shobhit Chugh, founder of Intentional Product Manager, kicks off a groundbreaking series based on his upcoming audiobook The Principles of a Job Search.

He shares the exact system that's helping product managers and leaders land aligned, high-impact roles, without the burnout or guesswork.

🎯 You’ll discover:

• Why traditional job search advice no longer works
• The 7 core principles behind an intentional and effective job search
• How hiring managers actually make decisions and how to influence them
• What’s coming next in this must-listen series

Whether you're actively job hunting or just starting to explore what’s next, this episode lays the foundation for a smarter, more strategic approach to your product career.

Episode Breakdown
00:00 – Intro to The Intentional Job Search
00:35 – What’s broken about the way most PMs look for jobs
01:45 – The shift: from reactive to intentional
02:08 – The 7 Principles of a Successful Job Search
02:45 – Principle 1: The Split Second Principle
03:05 – Principle 2: Optimize a Job for Your Life
03:21 – Principle 3: The Business Case Principle
03:37 – Principle 4: The Hero’s Principle
03:51 – Principle 5: The Politician Principle
04:07 – Principle 6: The Energy Transfer Principle
04:25 – Principle 7: The Leverage Principle
04:40 – What to expect in the rest of the series
05:17 – Wrap-up and next steps

Connect with Shobhit Chugh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

The CPTO model is on the rise — but what does it really take to succeed when you're leading both product and engineering?

In this episode, Shobhit Chugh chats with Shobhit Jain, a seasoned Chief Product & Technology Officer, about how unifying these two functions unlocks innovation, accelerates delivery, and drives smarter AI-native strategy.

From shaping strategic roadmaps to scaling cross-functional teams, this conversation is packed with insights for PMs and tech leaders ready to grow into more strategic, high-impact roles.

You’ll learn:

• Why the CPTO model is gaining momentum — and what makes it work
• How to go from tactical PM to strategic, executive-minded leader
• How to align product and tech teams around systems, not silos
• What visionary leadership actually looks like in a fast-moving tech org
• The most common leadership traps — and how to avoid them
• How to level up your storytelling, stakeholder management, and influence
• What PMs need to understand about AI (and where most get it wrong)
  
  

Episode Timestamps:
 00:00 – Intro
 00:27 – Why the CPTO model matters
 00:51 – Meet Shobhit Jain
 02:13 – AI’s impact on product and tech
 04:03 – System-thinking in team building
 08:15 – Driving vision and shared goals
 11:24 – Scaling strategy beyond the roadmap
 13:24 – Short-term vs long-term tradeoffs
 16:06 – Earning stakeholder trust
 19:36 – Building your leadership narrative
 22:51 – Lightning round: fun & reflective questions
 29:26 – Wrap-up and takeaways

Listen if you want to:
✅ Step into more senior product or tech roles
✅ Become a more strategic cross-functional leader
✅ Learn how to drive outcomes—not just output

Connect with Shobhit Chugh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Shobhit Jain: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jshobhit/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode, Shobhit speaks with Jyothi Nookula, Director of Product Management at Netflix and a seasoned AI product leader whose career spans Amazon Web Services, Facebook AI, and Etsy. Jyothi is also the creator of the “Next Generation Product Manager Course” which helps product managers remain current in a rapidly evolving world. 

Together, they explore what it truly means to build AI-native products and why AI demands a fundamentally different approach to product management.

Key Takeaways

• AI-native products are defined by dependence on AI: If you remove the model and the product falls apart, it’s AI-native. Otherwise, it’s just AI-adjacent.
• Confidence ≠ Competence: Like AI systems, PMs must balance confidence with self-awareness. Overconfidence creates blind spots.
• Start with the user, not the model: Technical metrics mean little if they don’t map to user experience.
• Model evaluation is continuous: Feedback loops, test suites, and data drift monitoring must be designed into the product from day one.
• Leadership is about creating conditions for others to thrive, not driving every decision.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to the Show
00:25 – Meet Jyothi Nookula, Netflix Director of Product
01:13 – From Biotech to Big Tech: Jyothi’s Unconventional Path
02:58 – What Makes a Product Truly AI-Native?
06:58 – The Most Common Mistakes in AI Product Development
11:56 – Rethinking Success: How to Measure AI 
18:22 – Getting Teams Aligned on ‘What Good Looks Like’
20:09 – Leading the Shift: From IC to Director in AI Product
25:46 – Lightning Round: Books, Tools & Advice for Aspiring AI PMs

Connect with Shobhit on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Jyothi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyothinookula/

Become a Next Gen Product Manager: https://nextgenproductmanager.com/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

What do most PMs get wrong about pricing?
Why do so many teams struggle to turn vision into action?
And how do you build buy-in across the org when you're changing something as sensitive as price?

In this episode, Alo Mukerji  SVP of Product at U.S. Bank sits down with Shobhit to break down the real mechanics of product leadership, from high-stakes pricing decisions to translating customer insight into roadmap power.

Whether you’re working on a SaaS product, exploring new monetization strategies, or leading a team through ambiguity—this episode gives you the mental models and mindset shifts that actually work.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to align pricing strategy with customer segments and company goals
• How to use qualitative + quantitative data to drive high-conviction decisions
• Why “leadership through storytelling” beats raw logic in tough conversations
• How to build trust with stakeholders when you're recommending bold changes
• Essential skills PMs need to master beyond frameworks and features
• Alo’s biggest career lessons—and what she wishes she knew earlier

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:29 Meet Our Guest: Alo Mukerji 

01:12 Icebreaker Questions

03:58 The Importance of Pricing Strategy

07:47 Aligning Pricing with Customer Segments

10:21 Gaining Stakeholder Buy-In for Pricing Changes

12:38 Using Data and Customer Insights

17:39 Translating Vision into Strategy

23:03 Rapid Fire Questions

24:32 Conclusion and Farewell

Connect with Alo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alo-mukerji-9a7154/

Connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Even if you love your job — you should always be interviewing.

Not because you're planning to leave.
 But because staying sharp, visible, and connected is part of leading well.

In this episode, Shobhit sits down with Jennifer Moore — Chief Product Officer of Strategies that Spark consulting services — to unpack what it really means to lead with clarity in a messy, AI-shifting, emotionally charged environment.

This isn’t just about job strategy.
 It’s about protecting your leverage, knowing your value, and not waiting until you're burned out to explore what's next.

 In This Conversation:

• Why “always be interviewing” is a leadership strategy — not a job search tip
• How to build internal clarity by having external conversations
• What it looks like when product becomes the silent bottleneck
• How Jennifer disarms boardroom tension and brings teams into alignment
• Why visibility, repetition, and emotional resilience are non-negotiable skills in AI-era leadership
• What she asks herself regularly:
  
   “If I were replaced tomorrow, what’s the first thing the new person would fix?”
  
  

Whether you're actively job searching or just leading through noise, this episode will reframe how you think about career momentum — and what it really means to be ready.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:26 Meet Jennifer Moore: Product Strategy Expert

00:59 The Magic of Product Management

01:18 Quickfire Questions with Jennifer

04:49 Navigating Product Alignment

07:28 Managing Stakeholder Communication

13:39 Creative Communication Strategies

15:11 The Importance of Empathy in Product Management

16:40 Balancing Data and Human Stories

18:56 Handling Loud Customers vs. Meaningful Signals

21:31 Building Empathy Within Product Teams

24:35 The Future of Product Management with AI

27:04 Essential Skills for Product Leaders

29:05 The Role of Community in Product Management

30:17 Creating an AI-Proof Career Plan

34:39 Rapid Fire Questions

37:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Jennifer on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-r-moore/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit, founder of Intentional Product Manager, as he sits down with Karan M Gupta, CEO of Alice AI, to explore what it takes to lead and innovate in the age of AI.

In this candid and insight-rich conversation, Karan shares lessons from his journey through multiple IPOs, global product leadership, and founding a cutting-edge AI startup. You’ll hear his take on building product orgs that scale, hiring and coaching high-performing PMs, and why talking to customers is still the most important skill in the AI era.

Whether you're a rising PM or an experienced product leader, this episode is packed with actionable insights on navigating fast-moving tech, scaling AI-native products, and leading with clarity in a complex world.

You’ll Learn:

• How to stand out in your product career—especially in AI-first environments
• The biggest hiring mistake PM leaders make (and how to avoid it)
• Why voice AI is still misunderstood—and how Alice AI is changing that
• Karan’s unique coaching approach for growing strategic PMs
• Practical advice on building privacy-first products for enterprise
• How to adapt (and thrive) as technology evolves at breakneck speed

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 – Welcome + Introduction
00:30 – Meet Karan M Gupta, CEO of Alice AI
00:59 – Rapid-fire icebreakers
01:55 – Leading across cultures and continents
05:08 – How AI is shaping our daily lives
06:46 – Karan’s journey from engineering to product leadership
10:27 – The story behind founding Alice AI
13:59 – Common myths in voice intelligence
16:32 – Earning trust with large enterprise clients
18:23 – Building privacy into product DNA
9:04 – What Karan looks for when hiring PMs
21:10 – Coaching product managers for long-term growth
23:31 – AI’s accelerating role in product management
25:44 – Staying adaptive in a rapidly changing tech landscape
31:07 – Lightning round: leadership lessons & tools
33:25 – Final thoughts + Shobhit’s closing takeaways

Connect with Shobhit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/ 

Connect with Karan M Gupta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karanmg/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Shobhit Chugh sits down with Ajit Thupil, a seasoned product leader whose journey spans Amazon, McKinsey, and several high-growth startups—most recently as Chief Product Officer.

Ajit shares a refreshingly honest look into what it really takes to scale product with precision, whether you’re operating inside a tech giant or leading growth at a startup. He unpacks the frameworks, mindset shifts, and hard-won lessons that helped him evolve from an engineer to a product executive—and what aspiring PM leaders often get wrong when chasing their next role.

You’ll learn:

• What Amazon taught Ajit about focus, metrics, and decision-making
• How to align product, go-to-market, and revenue in fast-paced environments
• Why storytelling and strategic communication matter more as you grow
• How to navigate the leap from IC to product executive—and avoid common traps
• Advice for PMs who want to stand out and lead with impact

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 – Introduction to Ajit Thupil 
00:59 – Thoughts on remote vs. in-office work in a post-pandemic world
02:48 – Lessons from stepping into the CPO role for the first time
03:57 – Ajit’s winding career path and the inflection points that shaped it
05:53 – Moving from business development to product management
11:17 – Key takeaways from working at Amazon
15:41 – How to connect product strategy with go-to-market and revenue
19:13 – Advice for aspiring product leaders: what to build, how to grow
27:21 – Rapid-fire questions and wrap-up

Connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Ajit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajitthupil/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Toxic bosses. Gaslighting. Shattered confidence.

If you’ve been there — you’re not alone. And more importantly: you can bounce back stronger.

In this powerful episode, Shobhit Chugh (Intentional Product Manager) sits down with Sarah K. Ramsey — high performance coach and author of Becoming Toxic Person Proof — to unpack how product managers can rebuild after difficult work environments and get back to thriving.

Together, they explore:

• The long-tail impact of toxic workplaces on confidence
• How to spot red flags early in future interviews
• Strategies to rebuild self-trust and regain your voice
• Tools like the “Brag Book” to reframe your narrative
• Why healing means solving better problems — not staying stuck in old ones

Whether you're recovering from a toxic boss or just want to future-proof your career, this conversation is full of clarity, validation, and next steps.

Episode Guide:

00:00 – Introduction
00:21 – Understanding the impact of a toxic boss
00:45 – Meet Sarah K. Ramsey
01:35 – How toxic environments erode confidence
04:16 – Spotting red flags at work
06:15 – Practical steps to rebuild confidence
16:38 – Daily habits that create momentum
18:49 – Re-entering the job search with intention
22:16 – Interview tips for spotting better managers
25:46 – Final thoughts
26:29 – Wrap-up & call to action

Connect with Shobhit https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Sarah https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-k-ramsey-m-s-n-l-p-0912ba97/

Learn to become Toxic Person Proof here. https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Toxic-Person-Proof-Ramsey/dp/1641845961

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit Chugh from Intentional Product Manager as he hosts Shub Agarwal, Senior Vice President of AI at US Bank, professor at USC, and author of the new book Successful AI Product Creation: A Framework for Turning Research into Real-World Value, on the Intentional Product Manager Podcast.

In this episode, dive deep into the rapidly evolving world of AI product management — exploring major shifts in AI technology, the unique challenges of deploying AI solutions, and the frameworks that drive real success. Shub shares insights from his new book, including his proven nine-step methodology for bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI research and tangible, impactful products.

Discover key lessons learned from years leading AI initiatives, understand why AI is reshaping the very definition of user experience, and learn what skills future AI product managers will need to thrive.

Episode Highlights:
 00:00 — Introduction to the Podcast
 00:27 — Meet the AI Expert: Shub Agarwal
 01:20 — Major Shifts in AI Product Development
 02:40 — AI as the New UX
 04:15 — How AI Product Management Differs from Traditional Product Management
 07:18 — The Nine-Step Framework for AI Product Creation
 17:08 — Critical Skills for Future AI Product Managers
 21:31 — Lessons from the Frontlines of AI Product Leadership
 25:11 — Final Takeaways and Book Information

Connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Shub on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shub/

Get Shub’s book. https://www.amazon.com/Successful-AI-Product-Creation-Framework/dp/1394337841

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit Chugh, founder of Intentional Product Manager, in a powerful conversation with BJ Hillabush — a seasoned product leader and career coach — as they break down the most common mistakes product managers make during their job search… and how to avoid them.

From unclear positioning to “silver medal syndrome,” BJ shares practical strategies to help you stand out in a competitive market. You'll learn how to:

• Craft a resume that clearly shows your impact
• Customize your applications without wasting time
• Avoid the “spray and pray” trap
• Network more effectively and authentically
• Prepare for interviews with intention
• Handle rejections with resilience
• Negotiate compensation like a pro
• And most importantly: take full ownership of your job search
  
  

Episode Breakdown:
00:00 – Intro
00:22 – Meet BJ Hillabush
00:52 – The most common job search mistakes
01:38 – Why positioning matters more than you think
02:51 – Resume pitfalls and how to avoid them
05:44 – What’s wrong with “spray and pray”
09:19 – A better way to prep for interviews
15:53 – How to actually network effectively
20:18 – Compensation and negotiation tips
26:52 – Owning your job search process
30:46 – Final thoughts

Connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode, Shobhit Chugh and Will Lowrey from Intentional Product Manager pull back the curtain on the exact system our clients use to stand out in a crowded product market and land senior roles faster.

What you’ll learn:

• The state of the PM job market and why companies are still hiring, negotiating, and choosing from strong pipelines
• Angle of Mastery positioning, and how it makes you the obvious hire, not just another candidate
• Why a narrative-first approach beats resume tweaks and keyword stuffing
• The behaviors that move you forward daily without burnout
• How to get “pre-sold” before the interview with the right kind of networking
  
  

Who this is for:
Product managers and product leaders aiming for Director, VP, or C-suite roles who want a clear, repeatable way to differentiate, interview with confidence, and negotiate from strength.

Real wins we discuss:

• Final rounds for multiple executive roles at once
• Two competing offers within 24 hours
• Exceeding comp goals after one focused week on the right activity
• Alumni coming back for executive strategy support after landing C-suite roles

Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Introduction
01:11 – Celebrating Recent Wins
04:39 – Insights on the Current PM Job Market
09:26 – Misconceptions About Job Search
15:12 – Personalizing Job Search Strategies
21:12 – Behind the Scenes at Intentional Product Manager
26:59 – Tailoring Strategies for Senior PMs
30:30 – Client ROI and Success Stories
36:49 – Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

Follow Shobhit Chugh at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Follow Will Lowrey at https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamlowrey/ 

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, host Shobhit talks with Rahul Nath, Chief Product Officer at Accel, about his unconventional path through the product world—from McKinsey to Google, scaling fintech at Drip Capital, and now driving innovation at the intersection of venture capital and technology.

Rahul shares candid reflections on what it takes to succeed across vastly different environments—consulting, Big Tech, startups, and now VC. You’ll hear how he adapted his product mindset at each stage, the challenges he didn’t expect when leaving Google, and how product leadership can be a force multiplier inside a VC firm.

Whether you're navigating a job transition, exploring startup roles, or thinking long-term about your impact as a product leader, this episode is packed with grounded insights and tactical advice.

Episode Highlights
00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast
00:28 – Meet Rahul Nath: Career Journey
02:13 – Transitioning from Google to Startups
06:53 – Product Leadership in Venture Capital
17:44 – Navigating Job Search in a Tough Market
21:48 – The Future of Product Management
25:32 – Rapid Fire Questions + Conclusion

Tune in for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about product strategy, career growth, and how technology is reshaping venture capital.

Connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Rahul on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulnath18/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Shobhit sits down with Shishir Narula—seasoned product leader and now a highly respected product coach—to explore the mindset traps that hold PMs back in their job search and career growth.

Shishir shares the pivotal moments that shaped his transition from big tech to coaching, and dives deep into how mental clarity, self-awareness, and intentional action make all the difference—especially in a tough market.

Whether you're burned out from final-round rejections, second-guessing your skills, or wondering what is next, then this is a must listen. 

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Intro to the Podcast
00:26 – Meet Shishir Narula: From Big Tech to Coaching
01:06 – Career-Defining Moments and Shifts
03:06 – Why Mindset is the Game-Changer in PM Careers
05:33 – What Makes a High-Impact PM
06:00 – Growth Mindset: What It Really Means
14:32 – Navigating Mindset During the Job Search
18:50 – Building Confidence That Lasts
20:52 – Dealing with Imposter Syndrome in Product
21:15 – The Mentor's Dilemma: Why Even Top PMs Get Stuck
23:55 – The Traits of Truly Successful Product Managers
32:14 – Visualization & Meditation as Career Tools
34:08 – Confident Networking (Even if You're Introverted)
36:06 – Final Thoughts and Takeaways

🎧 Listen now to learn how to take back control of your job search, rebuild your confidence, and approach your career with intention.

Connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Shishir on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shishir-narula/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager podcast, Shobhit Chugh sits down with Aindra Misra, Director of Product for Data, AI, and Cloud Platforms at Bill, to explore the world of platform product management.

They break down what makes platform PM different from traditional PM, the importance of horizontal thinking, and why scalability and cross-functional collaboration are critical to success. Aindra offers valuable insights into AI’s role in enterprise tech, the unique challenges platform PMs face, and what engineers need to know when transitioning into product roles.

Packed with real-world examples and actionable advice, this conversation is essential listening for anyone aiming to grow as a product leader.

Episode Highlights: 

00:00 – Introduction
00:22 – What makes platform PM unique
01:58 – Building scalable, foundational systems
03:43 – Driving collaboration across teams
05:05 – Why horizontal thinking matters
05:46 – Real-world examples from Aindra’s work at Bill
13:23 – Navigating common platform PM challenges
17:23 – How AI is reshaping enterprise tech
25:16 – Tips for transitioning from engineering to product
29:48 – Aindra’s career journey and key advice
33:40 – Wrap-up and how to connect

Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/
Aindra Misra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aindra-misra/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Job searching can feel overwhelming, but what if you could make every step easier? In this episode, Shobhit from Intentional Product Manager sits down with Aniket Vaidya, a product leader at Atlassian and former Group PM at Google, to break down exactly how to streamline your job search. From building genuine connections that lead to opportunities to positioning yourself as the obvious choice in interviews, Aniket shares practical strategies to eliminate friction in the hiring process—just like a great product manager would.
Discover how to leverage your network effectively, make recruiters your allies, and gain insider knowledge to tailor your approach. Learn why practicing mock interviews, understanding the hiring manager’s mindset, and following up strategically can significantly boost your chances. If you're looking to land a top PM role or level up your career, this episode is packed with expert advice to help you navigate the competitive job market with ease.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Mastering Networking – How to build genuine connections, make it easy for others to help you, and direct you toward the right opportunities.
✅ Cracking the Interview Process – Why deep research, leveraging recruiters, and insider knowledge can be game-changers.
✅ The Power of Mock Interviews – How early feedback can transform your preparation and make interviews feel effortless.
✅ Understanding Hiring Manager Mindsets – Insights from Aniket’s experience reviewing resumes and selecting top candidates.
✅ Post-Interview Best Practices – Why following up, staying connected, and adding value after the interview can give you a competitive edge.

Aniket also shares candid stories from his own career, including how a failed mock interview opened his eyes to what it really takes to succeed. His advice goes beyond generic tips—it's a blueprint for standing out in a competitive job market.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:22 Meet Aniket Vaidya: Product Leader at Atlassian
01:01 Journey to Group Product Manager at Google
01:31 Building Real Identity Infrastructure at Google
02:33 Transitioning to Product Management at Google
03:05 Navigating the Ladder Transfer Process
14:51 Key Projects and Missions at Google
18:43 Transition to Head of Product AI at Atlassian
19:25 Positioning Yourself for AI Roles
26:28 Mindset of Hiring Managers
30:13 Interview Advice for Product Managers
35:56 Conclusion and How to Connect with Aniket

Find out more about Intentional Product Manager and connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn.

Connect with Aniket on LinkedIn.   

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

How Top Executives Land Their Next Big Role

Want to break into executive product leadership or transition into venture capital? This episode is packed with insider strategies from Alex Klein, founder of Nucleus Talent, a leader in executive search and recruiting.

Join Shobhit from Intentional Product Manager as he and Alex break down:

• 🔍 The hidden job market for senior executives—why top roles are rarely posted online
• 🚀 How to position yourself for high-impact leadership roles
• 🤝 Executive hiring strategies—what companies really look for in top-tier product leaders
• 📈 How venture capital hiring is evolving—and why product leaders are making the leap into VC
• 🔑 Networking & career acceleration tips to land your next executive role

Whether you're an experienced product leader, a startup founder, or an aspiring VC, this episode will give you the tools to stand out and move up.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Introduction: Product leadership & executive recruiting
 00:26 – Meet Alex Klein: His journey from TrueSearch to founding Nucleus Talent
 01:04 – The Hidden Job Market: Why top executive roles require a different strategy
 04:11 – Common Job Search Mistakes: How to navigate executive search and avoid costly errors
 06:57 – Executive Search 101: Key differences at the leadership level
 07:56 – Contingency vs. Retained Search: Which is right for you?
 09:27 – Alex’s Early Career & Transition to Executive Search: Lessons from building teams and leading practices
 16:23 – Insights from TrueSearch: The key differences in executive search across industries
 19:12 – Winning Leadership Strategies: How to accelerate your career with the right people and mindset
 23:51 – The Evolution of Venture Capital Hiring: The shift toward technical, entrepreneurial leaders
 27:55 – Breaking into VC: Ideal candidate profiles, networking, and insider tips
 30:11 – How to Leverage Your Network in VC: School connections, prior experience, and social media
 31:50 – Choosing the Right First Company: Why working at world-class startups accelerates success
 35:01 – Fast-Tracking Your Career Through Startups: How high-growth environments propel leaders
 36:38 – Hiring the Best PMs Today: What companies look for in product leaders
 38:17 – How to Become a Top Product Leader: The skills that make a difference
 39:30 – Staying Relevant in Venture Capital: Learning from investors and industry trends
 43:13 – The Role of Scout Programs in VC: How to get exposure to deal-making and advisory networks
 48:19 – Final Thoughts & Connecting with Industry Leaders

🎧 Tune in to learn how to navigate executive hiring, product leadership, and the venture capital world!

Connect with Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn and find out more about Intentional Product Manager here. 

Connect with Alex Klein on LinkedIn here. 

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Want to be hired as an AI Product Manager? This might be the most valuable 40 minutes you spend this week!

Join Shobhit from Intentional Product Manager as he sits down with Mahesh Yadav, an AI Product Manager at Google with 17+ years of experience in AI, including roles at Amazon and Meta. Mahesh has worked at the forefront of AI innovation, from building intelligent systems at top tech companies to shaping the future of AI. Mahesh also runs an amazing course teaching product managers about how to use AI responsibly. 

This episode covers:

• How to position yourself so companies come looking for you
• The fundamentals of AI agents and how they power real-world products
• A deep dive into what hiring managers are looking for in AI PMs
• The biggest challenges in AI product development and how to solve them
• How to build responsible AI products while managing risk and compliance
• The technical skills that will set you apart as an AI PM
• How AI is reshaping product management—and what you must do to stay relevant

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast  

00:39 – Meet Mahesh Yadav: AI Specialist at Google – Experience at Google, Amazon, and Meta  

03:06 – Mahesh’s career journey in AI: How he navigated roles at top tech companies  

06:09 – How to get companies to come looking for you: Staying ahead of AI trends and making yourself the talent they seek  

07:40 – AI Agents 101: What they are, how they work, and how they “think”  

09:38 – How to get hired as an AI PM: What hiring managers actually look for  

14:24 – The roadmap to becoming a top AI PM: Key experiences, interview strategies, and storytelling  

19:07 – Understanding evaluations  

20:34 – When AI goes wrong: The hilarious (and frustrating) side of AI failures  

21:36 – Challenges in shipping AI products: Moving from subjective to objective evaluation  

22:30 – The AI Act: What PMs need to know about compliance and accountability  

23:12 – Building responsible AI: Avoiding risks, clear communication, and PMs as the last line of defense  

26:35 – The accountability checklist: What every AI PM must showcase in interviews  

28:32 – How AI is reshaping product management: More technical, more hands-on, more customer trust  

31:28 – The must-have technical skills for AI PMs: System diagrams, model recommendations, and prompt engineering  

33:29 – What’s possible with AI: Selling your ideas to engineers and staying ahead of the competition  

34:52 – Adoption challenges and real-world AI product examples  

36:38 – AI’s impact on major tech companies: Why understanding AI is now non-negotiable  

39:17 – Conclusion & final takeaways  

Connect with Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn and find out more about Intentional Product Manager here. 

Connect with Mahesh on LinkedIn and find out more about his course on responsible AI. 

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager podcast, Shobhit Chugh sits down with Satyajeet Salgar, Director of Product and UX at Google AI, to explore how product managers can align their careers with their passions and leverage AI to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of product management. Satyajeet shares his journey at Google and offers actionable insights on what it takes to be a top performer at the best companies, build high-performing teams, and create product strategies that drive lasting impact.

Find out more about Intentional Product Management here. Connect with Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn here. 

Connect with Satyajeet Salgar on LinkedIn

Key Takeaways:

• AI in Product Management: Learn how AI is reshaping the role of product managers by making them more specialized and efficient.
• Mastering Product Intuition: Strong product instincts are essential for success, and trusting your gut when making decisions is key.
• Google Grit: Persistence and resilience are crucial for overcoming challenges and achieving success at scale.
• Building Effective Strategies: Focus on solving real-world problems and aligning strategies to make a long-lasting impact.
• Leading High-Performing Teams: Empowering your team, clear communication, and removing obstacles.

00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast:  Shobhit introduces the episode and welcomes Satyajeet Salgar.

00:20 – Meet Satyajeet Salgar: Product Leader at Google Research: Satyajeet shares his background and experiences leading product teams at Google.

01:06 – Succeeding as a Product Leader at Google: Satyajeet discusses the importance of product intuition and pushing through your ideas is needed to succeed at scale.

02:34 – The Importance of Grit and Determination: Satyajeet talks about how grit helps product leaders navigate challenges and push for meaningful success.

04:35 – Satyajeet’s Journey at Google: A look at Satyajeet’s career trajectory at Google, including his insights on balancing passion with practicality and discovering what excites you in your career.

10:07 – Helping Your Team Succeed: Satyajeet shares how to coach team members, remove roadblocks, and create opportunities for success, while emphasizing empathy for both the product and the team.

11:47 – Finding Happiness in Your Career as You Move Up the Ladder: Advice for PMs as they advance in their careers, including the importance of clear communication with senior leadership and understanding your role at different stages.

12:20 – The Volume of Leadership: The role of product leaders in managing organizational health and motivating teams to work toward shared goals.

13:40 – Managing UX and UX Research: How to communicate effectively with UX teams and define what “good” looks like in terms of user experience.

16:20 – Avoiding Bad Product Strategy: Discussing the pitfalls of rushing product strategies, the importance of insight, and ensuring alignment between the why and the real problem being solved.

19:45 – Winning Strategy Development: Satyajeet offers insights on developing winning strategies, defining success early, and communicating openly with your team.

21:33 – Creating High-Performing Teams: The importance of adapting your leadership style to help different team members succeed and optimize for excellence.

25:00 – AI and the Future of Product Management: How AI is changing the role of product managers.

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Can being too nice hurt your leadership style? 

Join Shobhit Chugh from Intentional Product Manager as he sits down with veteran product leader and coach, Phil Hornby, to discuss what it takes to be a great leader. In this insightful conversation, we discover the power of "kindness" in leadership and how to manage tough conversations for growth.

We also dive deep into the complexities of product management, covering everything from effective decision-making frameworks to navigating leadership challenges and understanding the future of AI in the industry.

Phil shares his personal experiences and hard-earned wisdom, offering actionable advice for both aspiring and seasoned product managers. Whether you’re looking to elevate your leadership skills or adapt to the evolving job market, this episode will provide valuable insights to help you thrive.

Learn more about Shobhit Chugh at intentionalproductmanager.com and connect on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Phil Hornby and connect with him on LinkedIn and find out more about For Product People here. 

00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast

 00:21 – Meet Phil Hornby: Product Leader and Author

 01:07 – Common Roadmap Mistakes:
 A discussion on the foundation of product work, building consensus around your roadmap, and how visuals can transform roadmap conversations.

04:27 – Decision Making in Product Management:
 Great product managers are great decision makers. Learn how to refine your decision-making approach and how large companies manage critical choices.

08:32 – The History of Product Management:
 Discover how product management evolved and Phil’s journey from product management practitioner to coach.

12:46 – Challenges for New Product Leaders:
 Common struggles faced by product managers stepping into leadership roles, balancing ambition with effective leadership, and how to clear obstacles for your team’s success.

14:23 – Being Nice vs. Being Kind:
 What does it mean to be a great leader? Phil talks about having tough conversations, offering feedback that helps people grow, and when to choose kindness over niceness.

16:43 – Characteristics of a Great Product Leader:
 Key traits of successful product leaders—knowing when to ask the right questions, embracing the unknown, and deciding when to lead or delegate decision-making.

19:45 – Coaching Product Leaders:
 The art of meeting individuals where they are, identifying the growth needs of product managers, and finding strategies for success.

24:56 – Counterintuitive Lessons from Coaching:
 The unexpected outcomes of strategic decisions, aligning teams when things aren’t working, and the importance of effective implementation.

26:31 – Changes in Product Careers:
 A look at how product management roles have shifted, the growing importance of profitability, and the skills needed to articulate your value.

29:00 – AI’s Impact on Product Management:
 Discussing how AI is transforming the relationship between engineers and product managers, the potential for AI to drive value, and its impact on product management’s economic value.

31:15 – Advice for Product Managers in Today’s Market:
 Insights on navigating the uncertainty of today’s job market and the role of politics in decision-making.

32:26 – Conclusion and Final Thought

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this insightful episode of the Intentional Product Manager podcast, Shobhit sits down with Lauren Mytton, Group Product Manager at Google Play, to explore impactful strategies for career growth and job search success. Lauren shares her inspiring journey—from studying theoretical physics to transitioning through roles in finance, telecom, and tech before landing in product management at Google.

They discuss key lessons learned, including managing the balance between parenthood and professional success, making tough career decisions, empowering teams, and mastering communication to drive influence. Lauren's honest and practical advice offers valuable takeaways for both aspiring and experienced product managers looking to level up their careers.

Key Moments & Takeaways

00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to the podcast and today’s guest, Lauren Mytton.

00:21 – Lauren’s Career Overview: From theoretical physics ambitions to diverse roles in finance, telecom, and tech.

01:12 – Finding Product Management: How intellectual curiosity and adaptability guided Lauren to PM roles.

06:34 – Joining Google: Insights into Lauren’s transition to product management and the challenges faced.

07:40 – Balancing Motherhood & Career: Embracing career success as a role model for children and the importance of pursuing work you love as a parent

11:40 – Downleveling to Level Up: Making short-term sacrifices for long-term career goals and trusting your decision-making through uncertainty

14:13 – Becoming a Group Product Manager: Managing PM teams and representing domains to stakeholders and crafting narratives and empowering team members

17:40 – Letting Small Fires Burn:Learning to prioritize and outsource effectively and focusing on high-value problem-solving

18:40 – Upleveling Communication: The power of clear, strategic communication and developing cohesive narratives to drive faster decision-making

23:44 – Differences Between Group PM & Senior PM Roles: Communicating at the executive level and creating healthy, impactful organizations

25:55 – Working at Google Today: Adapting to a constantly evolving company and finding joy in collaborative innovation

30:13 – Final Thoughts: Lauren’s practical advice for PMs navigating career growth and workplace challenges

Find out more about Intentional Product Manager here. Connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn here. 

Connect with Lauren Mytton on LinkedIn here. 

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join host Shobhit Chugh on The Intentional Product Manager Podcast as he chats with Ram Rajagopalan, a seasoned product leader with 15+ years of expertise in AI and customer experience. Together, they explore the transformative role of generative AI in product management, strategies for building innovative products, and tips for transitioning organizations to AI-driven operations. Ram offers actionable insights on identifying impactful AI use cases, managing data privacy, and using AI tools to futureproof your career. This episode is a must-listen for both aspiring and experienced product managers looking to thrive in the age of AI!

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast

• Get ready to dive into a conversation about scaling AI in product management.

00:22 – Meet Ram Rajagopalan: A Seasoned Product Leader

• Discover Ram’s impressive journey in product leadership and his passion for AI innovation.

01:16 – Ram’s Career Journey and Experience

• From leading AI-driven initiatives to enhancing customer experiences, learn how Ram built his career at the intersection of technology and customer value.

02:37 – Diving into AI in Product Management

• Understand why AI is reshaping the role of product managers and how to stay ahead.

03:46 – Building AI-Powered Products: Challenges and Strategies

• Redefining the role of product management in the AI era.
• Engaging sales teams in the product journey to tackle complexity.
• Shaping company culture to embrace AI and deliver business value.

05:47 – A Customer-Centric Approach to AI Product Development

• Identifying high-impact use cases.
• Maximizing customer insights to outpace competitors.
• Elevating product offerings through feedback and iteration.

08:37 – Navigating Stakeholder Approvals and Pricing

• Driving change in the face of resistance.
• Aligning stakeholders with a holistic perspective.

11:53 – Unique Considerations for AI Products

• Partnering for global scalability.
• Ensuring transparency in data handling.
• Addressing AI legalities and ethical challenges.

16:17 – Balancing Build vs. Partner Decisions

• How to determine when to build in-house or collaborate with external partners.

19:16 – Transitioning from B2C to B2B Product Management

• Leveraging strengths from B2C roles.
• Embracing unlearning to succeed in B2B.
• Job market shifts and predictions for product management in the AI era.

23:44 – Futureproofing Your Product Role in the Age of AI

• Using AI tools to streamline product management tasks.
• Conducting competitive research with AI.
• Positioning yourself for long-term career growth.

28:24 – Closing Thoughts and Contact Information

• Final reflections on scaling AI in product management and how to connect with Ram.

Find out more about Intentional Product Management here. Connect with Shobhit Chugh on Linkedin here. 

Stay in touch with Ram Rajagopalan and explore more of his insights on LinkedIn: Connect here.

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this insightful episode of the Intentional Product Manager podcast, Shobhit from Intentional Product Manager speaks with Gina Pasqua-Abeles, Senior Director of Product Management at Robinhood.

They delve into Gina’s career journey from her beginnings in SEO to leading trading products at Robinhood. The conversation covers three key themes: the work habits of top-performing product managers, the use of narrative for alignment, and shifts involved when transitioning from product management to managing product managers. 

The episode also touches on practical advice for product managers looking to advance, effective storytelling for stakeholder alignment, and hiring and leadership tips in the product management space. 

Gina offers valuable perspectives on continuous learning, low-ego participation, and the importance of contributing beyond one's immediate role. 

This episode is a treasure trove of practical wisdom for anyone looking to excel in product management.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:24 Guest Introduction: Gina Pasqua-Abeles
00:58 Gina's Journey into Tech
01:52 First Product Decision and SEO Lessons
03:46 Growth vs. Core Product Management
05:12 Daily Habits for Success
06:13 Career Development and Top PM Traits
09:03 Managing Ambiguity in Product Management
12:04 Transitioning to Leadership Roles
14:18 Coaching Managers of PMs
20:56 Storytelling and Alignment
28:01 Hiring and Leadership Insights
34:03 Lightning Round and Conclusion

Connect with Shobhit here https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/
Connect with Gina here https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginapasqua/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit and guest Saurabh Shrivastava, a seasoned product manager at Snap, as they discuss strategies for standing out in your job search and career. Saurabh shares his journey through different facets of product management, including consumer-facing, enterprise, and AI/ML platforms. Get valuable insights into making career transitions, insider tips for interview preparation, and navigating the evolving job market in AI product management. Don't miss Saurabh’s advice on differentiating yourself and his experiences in leading AI-driven projects at Snap and previous roles at Microsoft and Meta. Listen now to level up! 

00:00 Welcome to the podcast!

00:22 Meet Saurabh Shrivastava: A quick introduction to our special guest, a seasoned product manager with expertise in AI/ML.

00:59 Saurabh's Career Journey: Saurabh shares his inspiring journey from his early career to becoming an AI/ML product management expert.

03:12 Transitioning Between Product Management Roles: Insights on making smooth transitions across industries and roles within product management.

05:58 Breaking into AI and ML Product Management: Saurabh dives into the challenges and opportunities in AI/ML product management and how to showcase your personal superstrengths to stand out in interviews. 

11:23 Advice for Aspiring AI/ML Product Managers: Actionable tips and key strategies for those looking to enter the world of AI/ML product management.

18:54 Navigating the Job Market: Explore Saurabh’s perspective on standing out in a competitive job market and finding your niche.

20:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts: We wrap up the episode with Saurabh's key takeaways and encouragement for listeners.

Learn more about Shobhit Chugh at intentionalproductmanager.com and connect on LinkedIn.

Connect with Saurabh Shrivastava on LinkedIn here. 

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode of Intentional Product Manager, we’re joined by Shahid Hussain, Group Product Manager at Google, to discuss one of the most crucial aspects of product management interviews—knowing when to demonstrate complexity and when to stick to the basics.

Shahid shares valuable insights on how to navigate the delicate balance between showcasing your ability to handle complex problems and staying grounded in the core principles of product management.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• When complexity is necessary to show your problem-solving skills
• The importance of mastering the fundamentals and demonstrating them in interviews
• Real-world examples of how to apply this balance in your day-to-day PM role

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:19 Meet Shahid Hussain from Google

00:26 Shahid's Career Journey

01:43 Early Days at Wikia

02:34 Joining Google and Chrome OS

03:37 Transitioning to Product Management

04:21 Day-to-Day as a Google PM

07:34 Key Skills for Senior PMs

11:56 Interviewing Advice 

14:30 Building Relationships and Succeeding

15:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Learn more about Shobhit Chugh at intentionalproductmanager.com and connect on LinkedIn.

Connect with Shahid Hussain on LinkedIn here. 

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit from Intentional Product Manager in a compelling conversation with Bruno, a seasoned PM generalist, as he unveils the strategies and insights that helped him secure a senior product management role at Google. Through his unique career journey, Bruno offers invaluable advice for preparing for FAANG interviews, navigating Google’s PM levels, and thriving in one of the world’s most competitive companies.

Discover what it takes to lead impactful projects, foster product growth, and deliver measurable business results while understanding Google’s expectations for product managers at every level.

00:00 – Introduction
00:15 – Guest Introduction: Bruno’s inspiring career journey.
01:03 – Understanding Google PM Levels: A deep dive into the distinctions between levels and the expectations for delivering at each.
02:40 – How Google Defines Progress: Insights into Google's performance metrics and growth framework.
03:31 – Bruno’s Path to L6: Exploring the balance between being a generalist and a specialist.
05:08 – Building a Team at Google: The nuances of leadership in a fast-paced environment.
06:28 – Core Responsibilities and Deliverables: Navigating group dynamics, ensuring visibility, and driving outcomes.
07:34 – Advice for Aspiring Google PMs: What Google values, scaling the business, and mastering your business ecosystem.
09:03 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts.

Listen now to level up and gain actionable insights and take your first steps toward landing a coveted role at Google. For help with your interviews fine out more at Intentional Product Manager.com. 

Connect with Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn and at Intentional Product Manager. 

Connect with Bruno on LinkedIn here. 

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode of The Intentional Product Manager Podcast, host Shobhit Chugh sits down with Sachin Kotwani, a Head of Product at Google, to uncover what it truly takes to secure top-tier roles at world-class companies. Sachin shares his incredible journey, transitioning from Spain to Google, and offers actionable advice for aspiring product leaders. Together, they delve into the skills, mindset, and strategies essential for climbing the career ladder and standing out in competitive roles.

Key Topics Covered:

00:00 Introduction to Career Advancement

00:18 Meet Sachin: From Spain to Google

01:24 Transitioning into Product Management

03:24 Building & Launching Products at Google

03:50 Working at Google: Insider Insights

04:47 Breaking into Google: Sachin’s Journey

10:00 What Changes As You Rise in Seniority

11:13 How to Stand Out for a Group PM Role: Problem-solving, intellectual horsepower, showcasing strengths, and using data effectively

14:27 Taking Your Career to the Next Level: Bold Moves for Success

16:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Visit Intentional Product Manager to explore more from Shobhit Chugh and connect with him on https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh

Learn more about Sachin Kotwani and connect with him on https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachinkotwani

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit from Intentional Product Manager in a deep dive discussion with Jason Knight, a seasoned product management consultant, coach, and podcaster. In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager podcast, Jason shares his extensive journey from a corporate lifer to running his own business and hosting the One Knight in Product podcast.

Learn about the challenges and benefits of fractional product management, the impact of AI on the product management landscape, and insights into building a successful product management career. Don't miss out on practical advice for standing out in your job search and maximizing your career impact.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:38 Jason Knight's Career Journey

03:44 Starting the One Night in Product Podcast

05:41 Challenges Facing Companies: Scaling up without losing efficiency, communicating value during growth, strategic growth, value proposition and what to focus on.

10:00 Why Companies Need Product People: selling value as a product manager.

11:23 Fractional Product Management: When would a company bring on a fractional product leader? How to engage and afford the support the company needs, getting to the right conversation and ensuring you are doing the work that will make the most impact

16:45 Biggest challenges during Fractional Product Management: making an impact as quickly as possible, finding patterns within companies to create confidence and deliver impact, communicating value and humility as a fractional product manager.

21:06 The Importance of Getting Things Done: When everyone is saying the same thing it might be worth listening to.

21:37 Standing Out In Your Product Management Career: The importance of end to end product work, demonstrating value to leadership, making data driven recommendations, when to stand your ground and when to back off, using evidence to move forward.

24:47 Building Credibility as a Product Manager: How much does positioning yourself as an expert help you get the next best role? Is it a resume or LinkedIn? Thought leadership? What can bring you joy as well as build your career? 

26:36 Resume Visibility: If your story doesn’t stand out on your resume then you won’t get the interview. Selling yourself on your resume. How to impress the hiring manager? 

27:36 The Role of AI in Product Management: Using AI to make your life as a product person easier. Why product managers can’t be replaced by AI.

30:50 What Jason Fears About AI: Enhancing thinking vs replacing thinking, the danger of offloading full responsibility to AI.

35:00 Practical Uses of AI: The best way to approach a problem, using AI as a second set of eyes. 

37:54 Future of Product Management Careers: Moving forward faster, Utilizing AI, Building bridges and embracing the business part of your role, Being seen as a business partner, not just a product person.

40:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Learn more about Shobhit Chugh at intentionalproductmanager.com and connect on https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Learn more about Jason Knight and connect with him on https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-knight/

Check out the One Knight In Product podcast here. 

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

AI is top of mind for product managers. Everyone knows AI will change our lives forever, we just aren’t sure how. 

In this enlightening episode, Shobit from Intentional Product Manager engages in a deep discussion with Nikhil, an AI Product Manager at Meta, about advancing a career in product management with a focus on AI and ML. Nikhil shares his extensive journey from beginning as a management consultant at Deloitte, through his MBA at Yale, to his AI product roles at Adobe and Meta. He offers valuable insights on transitioning into AI product management, the evolving role of AI in various industries, and practical advice for product managers aiming to future-proof their careers. Nikhil also discusses the significance of using AI for personal and professional productivity and provides tips on navigating career transitions with a multi-step approach. Additionally, he highlights his podcast, 'The Art and Science of AI,' as a resource for those looking to delve deeper into the world of AI.

00:00 Meeting our AI expert

00:26 Nikhil's Journey into AI Product Management

03:28 First glimpse into how AI will change the world

08:59 Transitioning work experience to transition into AI

13:47 Advice for Aspiring AI Product Managers

14:00 Future-proofing your career with AI

22:42 More on the amazing podcast "The Art and Science of AI."

Learn more about Shobhit Chugh at intentionalproductmanager.com and connect on https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Learn more about Nikhil Maddirala at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilmaddirala/

Listen to his podcast on Apple or YouTube.

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit Chugh from Intentional Product Manager with special guests Bruce McCarthy and Melissa Appel, co-authors of Aligned: Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders. This episode offers actionable insights to help you manage stakeholders, build trust, and navigate decision-making cultures. Plus, discover the surprising benefits of "mining for conflict."

Key Takeaways

• 00:00 Meet the authors: Bruce McCarthy and Melissa Appel
• 00:44 The Story Behind the Book: How Aligned was born
• 01:08 Challenges in stakeholder management: When to say “yes” and “no”
• 03:28 Building rapport: Why understanding stakeholders is as crucial as understanding customers
• 05:04 The importance of organizational fit: Identifying hidden roadblocks to career growth
• 08:15 Communicating effectively: Strengthening relationships between product and sales
• 11:00 Positioning yourself for promotions and identifying influential "power players"
• 13:13 Learning from others: Gaining diverse perspectives to craft well-rounded strategies
• 15:00 Building comfortable, meaningful relationships
• 15:58 Practicing empathy: Reflecting stakeholder language for clarity and connection
• 17:00 Turning difficult relationships around: Finding common ground and bridging divides
• 19:45 Earning a seat at the executive table: Building and maintaining executive relationships
• 21:00 Mastering “the meeting before the meeting”: Setting up for success
• 22:48 Decision-making cultures: Identifying decision-makers and distinguishing alignment vs. agreement
• 26:30 Mining for conflict: Using strategic disagreement to foster psychological safety and alignment
• 33:37 Trends in product leadership: Balancing empathy with founder-driven dynamics
• 35:12 Hiring insights: Attracting top talent in competitive markets
• 37:13 Where to find more about the book and authors
• 38:22 Closing thoughts

Discover how to deepen relationships, boost your organizational impact, and drive success for your product and company.

Learn more about Shobhit Chugh at intentionalproductmanager.com and connect on https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Learn more about Bruce McCarthy at Product Culture or connect on https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucemccarthy/ 

Learn more about Melissa Appel at Product Culture or connect on https://www.linkedin.com/in/melappel/

Get Bruce and Melissa’s book “Aligned: Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders”

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Curious about what it’s like to work at Google and manage teams that impact millions?

In this episode, host Shobhit Chugh sits down with Kanad Das, who shares his incredible journey from Microsoft to Google. Kanad provides an insider’s perspective on leading teams and driving impact at one of the most powerful tech companies in the world.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• Navigating Complex Organizations: How to master strategies for thriving and making an impact in large, multifaceted companies.
• Interviewing at Top Tech Firms: Insights into the importance of behavioral interview preparation and how to stand out among tough competition.
• Staying Ahead in AI: Must-know resources and tips to keep your skills current and future-ready.
• Crafting Your Narrative: The art of creating a personal story that demonstrates depth, trust, and certainty, setting you apart as the ideal candidate.

Why You Should Listen: If your career vision includes working at a tech giant or enhancing your product management skills, this episode is packed with practical insights and actionable advice from someone who’s been there and succeeded. Kanad’s strategies can help you turn interviews into job offers and chart a course for long-term career success.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:19 Guest Introduction: Kanad Das

00:35 Kanad's Career Journey

01:19 Transition to Google

03:13 Role and Responsibilities at Google

05:44 Challenges and Learnings

10:44 Building and Leading Teams

16:42 Technical Skills and AI

22:29 Interview Tips for Google

27:13 Conclusion and Contact Information

Learn more about Shobhit Chugh at intentionalproductmanager.com and connect on https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Learn more about Kanad Das at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanaddas/ 

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit Chugh and special guest Aakash Gupta for a transformative conversation on maximizing productivity and strengthening relationships. This event will provide you with actionable insights on:  

• AI’s Impact on Product Management Careers: Discover how AI can help you save time and streamline your workflow.
• Outsourcing with Confidence: Learn the art of delegation and find out how to identify reliable partners who deliver results.
• Top Product Leaders’ Salaries: Get a sneak peek of what the best in the field are earning.
• Positioning for AI Roles: Unlock strategies to build relevant experience and stand out in the competitive AI landscape.
• Leveraged Networking: Master techniques to build connections that drive financial growth.
• Hidden Roles: Explore why the highest-paying product positions are often off the radar—and how to find them.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:26 Aakash's Early Career and First Product Management Role
06:35 Transition to Growth Management and Core Product Leadership
11:42 Balancing Player-Coach Roles and Delegation Strategies
17:23 The Journey to Becoming a Content Creator
21:11 Monetizing Content and Expanding Influence
25:35 Writing Process and Content Strategy
27:28 Collaborative Efforts in Job Search
27:49 AI's Role in Content Creation
29:18 Insights from Product Leadership Job Search
33:48 The Importance of Recruiter Relationships
38:31 AI in Product Management
40:54 Leveraging AI for Efficiency and Innovation
41:52 Pathways to AI Product Management Roles
47:25 Conclusion and Further Resources

This discussion will equip you with tools to save time, create valuable opportunities, and achieve long-term financial rewards.

Learn more about Shobhit Chugh at intentionalproductmanager.com and connect on https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Explore Aakash Gupta’s work at aakashg.com and connect with him on https://www.linkedin.com/in/aagupta/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit Chugh and special guest Will Lowrey as they reveal powerful strategies to stand out in your product management career by mastering your narrative and cultivating a positive team culture. Together, they unpack essential skills to set yourself apart, including:

• The Power of Storytelling: Learn how to communicate so that people listen and remember.
• Overcoming Self-Doubt in Job Searches: Discover how projecting confidence can increase your chances of landing the role you want.
• Navigating Job Searches in Startups vs. Big Companies: Get tailored strategies for building relevant experience and standing out in today's competitive tech landscape.
• Building Team Culture: Understand how to foster an environment that brings out the best in everyone.
• Focusing on Business Outcomes: Acquire techniques for creating connections that drive impactful, revenue-generating results.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:17 Meet Will Lowrey: Career Journey
01:03 Path to Product Management
02:19 Pre-Product Management Background
06:00 Significant Career Moments
08:54 Early Lessons in Product Management
12:37 Mid-Career Insights: Storytelling
16:04 Building Teams and Culture
19:56 Becoming a Coach: Motivation and Inspiration
23:03 Discovering the Path to Teaching and Coaching
23:53 Focusing on Intentional Job Search
24:49 Crafting a Compelling Narrative for Interviews
26:51 Overcoming Self-Doubt in Job Search
29:13 Differences in Job Search: Startups vs. Big Companies
32:44 Importance of Business Outcomes in Product Management
35:52 The Joy of Coaching Product Managers
41:16 Tips for Product Managers in the Job Market
44:31 Final Thoughts and How to Connect

This conversation will equip you with the tools to become a confident communicator, inspiring leader, and strategic thinker—helping you carve a career path that maximizes both income and impact.

Connect with Shobhit at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/
Connect with Will Lowrey at https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamlowrey/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

What does it take to build a platform that scales, delights customers, and powers entire ecosystems?

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Shobhit sits down with Dilip Poluru, a seasoned platform product leader with experience at Informatica and ActiveCampaign, to unpack the strategies behind successful platform management.

Dilip shares actionable insights on:

• Turning deep customer insights into platform strategy
• Designing for extensibility and co-innovation
• Crafting billing models (like consumption-based and freemium) that fuel growth
• Balancing agility vs. stability in complex ecosystems
• Building impactful first-party apps that attract and empower partners

Along the way, Dilip reflects on his own career journey and offers personal growth lessons for aspiring and experienced product managers alike.

Timestamps
 00:00 – Introduction
 00:29 – Meet Dru: From ActiveCampaign to Informatica
 00:46 – What Defines a Platform?
 01:21 – Lessons Learned at ActiveCampaign
 01:47 – Insights from Building at Informatica
 02:14 – Crafting a Platform Playbook
 05:52 – Customer Success Stories
 06:25 – Metrics & Monitoring Platforms
 07:11 – Co-Innovation and Extensibility
 09:48 – Balancing Stability with Agility
 12:40 – API Management & Policy Design
 15:34 – Billing Models: Consumption & Freemium
 18:23 – The First “Aha” Moment with Free Offerings
 27:30 – Career Growth Lessons for PMs
 28:28 – Lightning Round + Closing

Connect with Shobhit at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Dilip at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dilippoluru/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit Chugh and special guest Ravi Mehta for an in-depth conversation on the most pressing topics shaping the future of product management. Gain insights on:

• AI’s Impact on Product Management Careers: How advancements in AI will redefine roles and open new opportunities.
• Building Job Security through Personal Fulfillment: Why prioritizing purpose in your work can be a game-changer for career stability in 2024.
• Delivering Business Value in 2025: What creating meaningful, measurable impact will look like.
• Creating Opportunities Beyond Your Experience: The secret strategy that will open doors and fast-track your success.
• Accelerating Career Growth Beyond the Average Pace: Practical steps to move your career forward at an extraordinary rate.
• Building a Career Path that Chooses You: How to position yourself as a top candidate for the opportunities you want.
• Navigating a Non-Linear Career Ladder: Tips for success when career growth doesn’t follow a traditional path.
• Mastering Product Politics: Why managing internal dynamics is more important than ever! 

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:18 Meet Ravi Mehta: Career Highlights

01:13 Ravi's Accidental Entry into Product Management

02:31 Early Career at Microsoft and Xbox

07:54 Transition to TripAdvisor

08:28 Key Learnings and Challenges at TripAdvisor

14:32 Moving to Meta: Understanding Gen Z

18:20 Joining Tinder: Building for the Future

22:01 Career Insights and Market Observations

24:50 Balancing Builder Skills and Political Aspects in Product Management

25:47 The Importance of Hands-On Work for PMs

27:24 AI's Impact on Product Management

32:18 Navigating Career Paths in an AI-Driven World

37:26 Technical Fluency and AI in Product Development

44:20 Defining Success and Specialization in Product Management

47:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This conversation will equip you with strategies to lead confidently, adapt to the modern product management market, and achieve long-term career fulfillment. Don’t miss this unique chance to learn from two product management experts!

Find out more about Shobhit at https://www.intentionalproductmanager.com/

Connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Find out more about Ravi at https://www.ravi-mehta.com/.

Connect with Ravi on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravimehta/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode, Shobhit sits down with Saurabh Sharma, Chief Product Officer at You.com, to unpack what it takes to lead in the rapidly evolving world of AI.

Saurabh shares his journey from starting out as an engineer at IBM, to building products at Google and OpenSea, and now driving applied AI innovation at You.com. Along the way, he reveals lessons learned from frontier markets like NFTs and AI search, where product–market fit is anything but obvious.

This conversation dives deep into:

• Why evals are the new PRD, UX, and SLA in AI product development
• How to build AI products users actually trust and adopt
• The role of ethics, compliance, and tone in responsible AI design
• Navigating ambiguity in frontier markets with his “Three E’s framework” (Exploration, Expansion, Engineering)
• Why product managers can’t delegate listening to customers
• Personal lessons on continuous learning, resilience, and intellectual curiosity

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
00:33 – Meet Saurabh Sharma
01:06 – From IBM engineer to Google PM: Saurabh’s journey
02:50 – Common threads across Google, OpenSea, and You.com
06:07 – Building AI products: lessons from the frontier
14:54 – The “Three E’s” framework for strategy in ambiguous markets
23:36 – Ethics, compliance, and trust in AI design
25:39 – Personal insights: books, health tech, and definitions of success
29:31 – Closing thoughts & where to connect with Saurabh

Connect with Shobhit Chugh here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Saurabh Sharma here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saurabhs/

Connect with youdotcom here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/youdotcom/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, host Shobhit Chugh takes you deeper into Principle Two of the Intentional Job Search system: designing a job that fits your life, rather than squeezing your life into a job.

Instead of chasing roles that look good on paper, Shobhit shares eight powerful outcomes that define a truly great job and career. You’ll learn how to spot opportunities that give you:

• A fulfilling, energizing week
• Work that amplifies your natural strengths
• Growth in your career capital
• A manager who truly supports you
• A culture free from drama and politics
• Compensation that matches your real value
• Continuous learning and development
• A compelling narrative that expands your future options

Through real-life success stories, you’ll see how product managers transformed their careers by focusing on these outcomes and how you can do the same. Shobhit also shares practical tools, from the right questions to ask in interviews to the mindset shifts that help you confidently say “no” to the wrong opportunities and “yes” to the right ones.

This episode will challenge you to rethink how you approach your job search and career design, so you can make clear, intentional choices that align with the life you want.

Episode Breakdown
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
00:20 – Why your job should fit your life
01:18 – The 8 outcomes of a truly great job
04:37 – Success stories: how PMs applied this principle
06:21 – The power of saying no
06:45 – Questions to ask in interviews
09:24 – Shifting your self-talk & mindset
11:18 – Takeaways & next steps

Connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

From EB-1A “Einstein” Visa to Digital Health Leadership with Anu Ramakrishnan

Anu’s journey is nothing short of inspiring, from immigrant bioengineering student to health tech product leader driving FDA-approved AI products and building connected health ecosystems at Samsung. Along the way, she’s also become a powerful advocate for immigrant success, securing the prestigious EB-1A visa herself.

In this candid conversation, Anu shares:

• How to balance innovation with regulatory and clinical validation requirements 
• Why mindset shifts, like self-advocacy, are critical for career growth 
• The role of empathy, human-centered design, and clarity in leading healthcare 
• innovation Practical advice for PMs looking to enter or grow within digital health

Whether you’re navigating your own career pivot, building healthcare products, or striving to become a more intentional product leader, this episode will give you both inspiration and actionable takeaways.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Welcome to the IPM Podcast

00:28 – Meet Anu Ramakrishnan: Health Tech Innovator

02:01 – Discovering a passion for product management

04:38 – Challenges and misconceptions in digital health

04:47 – Building FDA-approved AI health products

09:50 – Advice for new product managers in healthcare

14:15 – Navigating career growth as an immigrant

21:17 – The EB-1A “Einstein Visa”: An immigrant’s journey

26:59 – Consumer tech vs. healthcare: lessons learned

31:58 – Fun and inspirational insights

37:22 – Closing thoughts & takeaways

Connect with Shobhit Chugh https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Anu Ramakrishnan https://www.linkedin.com/in/anupamaram/

Work with Anu https://www.allthingsanu.com/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Interview success isn’t luck. It’s control. 

In this episode, Shobhit Chugh, CEO of Intentional Product Manager, reveals Principle 1 of the Intentional Job Search: The Split Second Principle. 

Learn how to take back power in your interviews by mastering the first impression, the moment that decides whether you’re seen as a leader or overlooked as just another candidate.

Discover why recruiters and hiring managers decide almost instantly whether you’re a strong candidate and what you can do to control that impression. Through real client stories and practical strategies, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, signal leadership right away, and stop “leaking” opportunities in those critical first moments.

Whether it’s your resume, LinkedIn headline, or opening lines in an interview, this episode gives you the tools to transform the way people see you, fast.

What You’ll Learn

• The neuroscience behind why decisions happen in seconds.
• Why many strong candidates still feel invisible in interviews.
• How shifting your positioning changes how others see you.
• Real-world client transformations that led to job offers.
• Why clarity matters more than charisma in your job search.
• Simple ways to fix your “first impression” across resume, LinkedIn, and interviews.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Welcome & the path to elevating your product career
00:52 – Principle One: The Split Second Principle explained
01:26 – How the brain decides before you do
02:34 – Why you feel invisible in interviews (and how to fix it)
03:22 – Case Study: Sarah’s shift from “safe choice” to multiple offers
04:34 – The power of clear positioning in your job search
06:08 – Case Study: Akash’s journey from no traction to six interviews a week
07:04 – Why clarity beats trying to impress
07:28 – Practical steps to fix your first-second signal
08:04 – Wrap-up & what’s coming in the next episode

Connect with Shobhit Chugh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/
www.intentionalproductmanager.com

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Shobhit Chugh reconnects with longtime friend and product leader Sekhar Putcha. Sekhar opens up about a bold, non-linear career path that’s taken him from supply chain roles at Amazon to consulting at McKinsey, and now to leading global supply chain product at Starbucks.

But this conversation is more than just a resume walk. Sekhar shares:

• How optimizing for learning, not titles, shaped his career
• What most PMs misunderstand about operations and supply chain roles
• Why optionality can help early in your career, but clarity wins later
• How to bring product thinking into legacy organizations
• The real (and not-so-real) impact of generative AI in supply chain
• What McKinsey taught him about sharpening product sense

You'll also hear about Sekhar's homemade gelato hobby, how he uses AI for deep writing, and his advice for managing marriage like a product (yes, really).

If you're a product leader navigating career choices, struggling with context switching, or curious how AI is really changing the game, this episode is packed with insights and laughs.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome and podcast intro
00:27 – Meet Sekhar Putcha + Seattle vs Boston, gelato, and marriage as a product
03:41 – Sekhar's bold, non-linear path: Amazon → McKinsey → Starbucks
10:09 – The PM’s dilemma: Optionality vs specialization
15:41 – The truth about operations PMs and why they matter more than you think
21:10 – Bringing product mindset to legacy orgs (and project cultures)
27:53 – Generative AI in supply chain: real-world use cases (and hype)
35:42 – How Sekhar uses AI to accelerate writing and thinking
38:50 – The McKinsey effect: Day One Hypotheses and product sense
44:20 – Rapid fire: TikTok, The Goal, Starbucks scale, and what AI should take off his plate

Connect with Shobhit Chugh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Sekhar Putcha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sekharputcha/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

What does it take to lead and stay relevant through multiple waves of industry disruption?

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Shobhit Chugh sits down with Vik Chaudhary, VP of Product, ex-Meta leader, MIT AI Lab alum, and veteran of three major tech revolutions:
→ SaaS
→ Cloud Infrastructure
→ Enterprise AI

Vik has built products, led teams, and influenced strategy through it all.

But what makes his perspective unique is how he adapts with clarity, decisiveness, and deep cross-functional thinking.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How to thrive as a Product Manager during major tech shifts
• The difference between strategy and execution, and why knowing your strength matters more than ever
• Why some of the best Product Managers are now “full-stack” operators
• What it means to be indispensable to both product and sales
• Why big tech behemoths still matter and how to navigate around (or with) them
• The career trap many Product Managers fall into when trying to “climb” to leadership
• A candid look at how Vik redefined his career by stepping off the traditional path
  
  

This episode is packed with timeless lessons, hard-won wisdom, and tactical insights that every product leader needs right now.

00:00 Introduction 
00:56 First Big Technology Shift: From Software to SaaS
04:30 Strategic vs. Execution Oriented in Tech Shifts
12:37 Respecting Industry Behemoths
19:43 Adapting to Technological Shifts in Product Management
31:04 Understanding the Technological Shift
32:25 The Role of a Full Stack Product Manager
36:12 Becoming Indispensable in a Technological Shift
40:43 Career Growth and Bold Moves
47:16 Corporate Level Impact and Executive Trajectory
56:54 Final Thoughts and Career Advice

Connect with Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Vik Chaudhary on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikchaudhary/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Here’s the truth:
Everyone is chasing AI.
Everyone is updating their resume.
But very few candidates are building the kind of narrative and positioning that creates belief, the thing that actually leads to offers.

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Deepak Tiwari, product leader at Meta, Google, Lyft, shared some of the clearest, most actionable insights on:

• What hiring actually looks like inside Big Tech right now and where AI is creating demand for Product Managers
• The difference between a $600K and $1.2M interview (and how to prepare for each)
• How to tell the story of your impact instead of just listing titles or tasks
• The biggest mistakes senior Product Managers make when applying and how to avoid them
• Why data alone isn't enough and how to balance intuition with analysis
• What hiring managers look for in AI/ML Product Managers (hint: it’s not just buzzwords)
• Signals that a company takes product management seriously
• How to decide whether ML is the right solution or just tech theater
• What to include in your resume if you want to be taken seriously in AI roles
• Why writing and reading skills become a strategic advantage as you rise

Shobhit and Deepak unpack how senior product managers can land executive roles, especially in today’s AI-saturated job market by refining their narrative, building trust before interviews, and making strategic career bets.

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
01:05 Deepak's Journey into Product Management
03:48 Lessons from Google
06:45 Current Job Market and Hiring Trends
16:28 Advice for Aspiring Product Managers
19:00 Key Skills and Metrics for Product Managers
28:39 AI and Machine Learning in Product Management
40:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

If you’re a product leader aiming to make your next big move, whether into Big Tech, AI startups, or executive leadership, this episode is for you.

Follow Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Follow Deepak Tiwari in LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/detiwari/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

You’ve done everything right. Optimized your resume, followed the roadmap, and kept grinding…

Yet you’re still stuck. Still underpaid. Still wondering why others are moving ahead in their careers and you’re not.

In this episode, I break down the real reason high-performing Product Managers hit a plateau. And it’s not your resume, your credentials, or even the job market.

It’s the state your nervous system is operating from.

You’ll discover:

• Why even the smartest Product Managers stall out in their job search or career climb
• How stress, rejection, and “playing not to lose” silently block career and income growth
• The 12-minute daily practice that rewires your mindset to operate from clarity and power
• Career-killing mindset traps and how to reset them
• How to build the identity, energy, and confidence of a top-earning product leader

If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself, watching others get promoted, or working beneath your full earning potential, this episode gives you the reset you’ve been looking for.

This isn’t fluff. This is performance psychology for ambitious product leaders.

Your mindset is your multiplier. Reset it and watch your income and influence grow.

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:45 Understanding the Real Issue

01:10 The Importance of Mindset

04:54 Minimum Viable Progress

08:15 Six Mindset Traps

14:21 Conclusion and Next Steps

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

What if you could be mentored by the most powerful product leaders at the best companies in the world?

How would their advice change your career trajectory and your earning potential in 2026?

Over the past year, we’ve had rare access to exactly that. 

We’ve spoken with 40+ elite product leaders from companies like Google, Meta, Netflix, Amazon, and high-growth startups who are shaping the future of product and leadership.

And something became very clear.

The Product Managers who advance faster, earn more, and step into real leadership roles aren’t just more talented. They’re operating with a different mental model. One that most product managers are never taught.

In this solo episode, Shobhit Chugh, CEO and founder of Intentional Product Manager distills the 10 most powerful insights that surfaced repeatedly across these conversations into a clear, actionable framework you can apply immediately.

Whether you’re trying to:

• Land your next Product Manager role
• Secure a promotion
• Transition into senior positions
• Or future-proof your career as AI reshapes product

…these insights will help you think more strategically, stand out to decision-makers, and move forward with intention in 2026.

The themes cover what truly separates top-tier Product Managers:

• Driving measurable business outcomes
• Using storytelling to influence executives
• Leading with clarity in ambiguity
• Unlocking career growth through internal transfers
• Focusing on problems over solutions
• Adopting a true business owner mindset
• Navigating AI as a strategic advantage
• Aligning teams early to avoid costly missteps
• Making critical mindset shifts as you level up
• Applying strategic thinking leaders actually value

This isn’t generic advice. 

It’s condensed mentorship from the world’s most influential product leaders.

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction to Intentional Product Manager
00:37 Top Themes from Product Leaders
01:26 Theme 1: Drive Outcomes, Not Outputs
02:28 Theme 2: The Power of Storytelling
03:13 Theme 3: Clarity Over Execution
04:28 Theme 4: Transitioning into Product Management
05:01 Theme 5: Obsess Over the Problem
05:34 Theme 6: Own the Business, Not Just the Product
07:28 Theme 7: AI is Changing Everything
08:09 Theme 8: The Importance of Alignment
08:43 Theme 9: Mindset as a Multiplier
10:37 Theme 10: Strategic Thinking Over Execution
12:18 Conclusion and Recap

Follow Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Everyone’s talking about AI in product management. But in Shardul Mehta’s conversations with CPOs and VPs of Product, that’s not what’s keeping leaders up at night. The real shift: product teams are being held accountable for business outcomes, revenue, margin, and return on investment, and many can’t explain why their roadmap deserves continued funding. 

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager podcast, we break down the “translation tax” product leaders are paying, what this means for individual product managers, and why the jump from Senior PM to Director often fails when people try to become a “super PM” instead of building the decision-making system.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why product leaders aren’t obsessed with AI (and what they are obsessed with)
• The credibility gap + “translation tax” inside product orgs
• The 5 breakdowns execs keep seeing (goals, money story, exec language, GTM, alignment)
  What PMs can do immediately: cost-of-team thinking + ROI narratives (without finance cosplay)
• Why new Directors drown: the creator → operator shift

If you’re a product manager trying to grow into leadership, this episode gives you the framing to stop being seen as a delivery person and start being treated like a business operator.

Highlights:
00:24 Meet Shardul Mehta: 30 Years in Product, Startups, and GenAI Launches
01:22 Origin Story: Builder Mindset, Tech Roots, and Entrepreneurship Track
02:56 The ‘Accidental PM’ Wake-Up Call: Credibility, Communication, and the Unlock
07:08 The New Scoreboard: What CPOs Worry About (It’s Not AI)
09:53 The Credibility Gap: 5 Executive Complaints About Product Teams
11:42 Skills vs Comms: Money Stories, Board Questions, and the Translation Tax
14:29 Hot Take: Why ‘Product Owner’ Isn’t Product Management
17:04 What This Means for Individual PMs: Proving ROI and Acting as Fiduciaries
21:06 Do We Really Need More Squads? Making the Revenue Case
21:30 Back-of-the-Napkin Costing: What Does a Sprint Actually Cost?
22:14 Capacity Is Finite: Trade-offs, Opportunity Cost, and Prioritization
23:10 Startups vs Big Tech vs Private Equity: How the ROI Questions Change
25:48 Why Product Directors Fail: The ‘Super PM’ Trap
27:14 Creator → Operator: Building the System, Not Doing All the Details
28:08 Promotion Reality Check: Readiness, Fair Paths, and Not Getting Strung Along
30:12 Mentoring PMs (Korea & Beyond): Cutting Through Noise and Bad Advice
31:12 Commercial Mindset for PMs: Sales Calls, Incentives, and Business Results
33:45 Managing Up Without the ‘Politics’ Hangup
35:15 Fun Wrap-Up: Improv Lessons, Favorite Product, and a Hot Take on PM

Follow Shobhit Chugh at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Follow Shardul Mehta at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shardulmehta/

Check out Street Smart Product Manager at https://streetsmartproductmanager.com/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

AI didn’t change the Product Management job. It changed the tempo.

And most PMs are responding the wrong way. 

Producing more artifacts instead of making better decisions.
Using AI to look busy instead of getting ruthless about what matters.

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager podcast, Shobhit Chugh sits down with Mick Gupta (Head of Product, GenAI Monetization & Incentives at Scale AI). Mick has led product across Amazon, Microsoft, Airbnb, Meta, SoFi, and Brex, and he breaks down what actually matters for PMs in the AI era: judgment, evals, dogfooding, and stakeholder alignment through vision.

You’ll learn:

• Why AI makes output cheaper, but doesn’t make output judgment free
• How eval-driven development turns “seems good” into “is good”
• Why dogfooding matters more than ever for AI products
• How to ramp fast in a new company with a repeatable operating system
• How vision becomes the decision framework that drives alignment
• How to protect thinking time and build experimentation into your week

If you’re a PM trying to break into AI, level up into leadership, or stop drowning in artifacts and start driving decisions, this one is for you.

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:06 Mick's Career Journey and Key Experiences

04:39 Challenges of Embedding in New Organizations

07:33 Product Management Insights and Advice

09:12 AI in Product Management

18:23 Future Trends in AI and Product Management

21:40 Balancing Innovation and Daily Responsibilities

22:19 Balancing Meetings and Mental Health

23:05 Starting Small with Side Projects

23:26 Leveraging AI in Product Management

23:55 Creating Enjoyable Side Projects

28:41 The Importance of Vision in Stakeholder Alignment

32:40 Common Mistakes and Lessons for PMs

38:47 Breaking into AI Product Management

42:38 Fun Questions and Final Thoughts

Connect with Mick:

• X: @mickgupta
• Email: mickgupta@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickgupta/

Connect with Shobhit:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

How do you get your first win fast as a new Product Manager, without betting your credibility on a 6-month project?

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Shobhit Chugh sits down with Kunal Thadani, Senior Director of Product at Houzz to break down how product managers can stand out in their careers by earning trust fast, tying work to business outcomes, and prioritizing speed of execution over perfection. 

Kunal shares a repeatable approach for landing early wins, including building a simple revenue equation, dogfooding the product, and focusing on low-lift, high-impact optimizations before building anything new. 

They also talk about the Litmus Framework, a prioritization method that combines napkin math, resourcing cost, risk to existing revenue, and executive buy-in to increase decision quality and move faster with confidence. 

If you’re looking to win fast, build trust early, and stop betting your credibility on big ideas, this episode is for you.

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:27 Guest Introduction: Kunal Thadani
01:08 Warm-Up Questions and Early Career Advice
02:49 Understanding Product Management Misconceptions
05:15 Effective Product Management Practices
06:50 Achieving Your First Big Win as a Product Manager
12:52 Case Studies: High Impact Wins
22:56 Introducing the Litmus Framework
25:21 Applying the Litmus Framework: Examples and Benefits
33:42 Fun Questions and Contrarian Beliefs
36:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Kunal Thadani on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kunal-thadani-72a13722/

Follow Kunal's newsletter here: https://www.insidergrowthhq.com/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

What does it take to build platform products that scale from startup to enterprise?

And in an AI-forward world, how do product managers stay relevant and lead?

In this episode, Bala Venkatrao joins Shobhit Chugh for a powerful conversation on what it really means to build with intention. Bala has scaled product orgs at every stage from founding his own company to leading Atlassian’s cloud platform and now driving innovation at Harness. His approach to leadership, platform strategy, and AI-first product thinking is grounded, tactical, and proven.

Whether you’re growing a new initiative or navigating the executive track, this episode is your blueprint for creating impact that compounds.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What it takes to build scalable platform products
• Why AI-forward platforms are winning and how to lead with data, context, and agents instead of buzzwords
• How to apply the founder mindset in any company, from startup to enterprise
• The CATS Leadership Framework Bala uses to lead with clarity, accountability, and trust
• What separates product managers who stay stuck… from those who step into executive roles
• Tactical advice on using AI as a real tool, not just a label
  
  

Highlights

00:00 Introduction 

00:29 Guest Introduction: Bala Venkatrao

01:09 Harness: The AI Native SDLC Platform

03:40 Bala's Role at Harness

07:02 Journey at Atlassian

10:24 Entrepreneurial Mindset in Product Management

15:02 The Role of AI in Product Management

18:43 Embracing Change for Continuous Learning

19:22 Practical Tips for Staying Updated

21:43 Leadership Philosophy and Evolution

24:26 The CAT Framework for Effective Leadership

27:33 Advice for Aspiring Leaders

30:59 Final Thoughts and Staying Curious

Connect with Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Bala Venkatrao on LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/in/bvenkatrao/ 

www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Shobhit Chugh sits down with Matt Moore to unpack a product leadership journey that spans financial services, health tech, executive product roles, and mission-driven innovation.

Matt shares how he broke into product management without fully knowing what the role was, what he had to unlearn as he grew, and why true product leadership has far more to do with business outcomes than shipping features. They dig into the ambiguity of modern product management, what happens when companies reduce PMs to executors, and how strong product leaders use customer data to shift strategy at the highest levels.

The conversation also explores Matt’s move from financial services into health tech, what makes healthcare such a complex and meaningful space to build in, and how mission becomes real when you see the patient impact firsthand. They also cover job search, networking, LinkedIn visibility, and why many product managers struggle not because they lack experience, but because they lack a clear professional narrative.

If you are a product manager trying to grow into real leadership, this episode will give you a lot to think about.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Show Intro And Guest

01:30 Origin Story In Banking

02:42 Becoming A Product Leader

03:46 Unlearning Execution Only

04:56 Why The Role Feels Blurry

07:36 Changing A CEO Led Culture

11:02 Outcome Driven Roadmaps

16:10 Leadership Mistakes To Avoid

19:33 Switching Into Health Tech

22:01 Healthcare Culture Shock

24:24 AI Ambient Scribe Win

26:47 Mission Moment in Healthcare

29:44 Job Search Like Product

32:57 Networking That Works

36:32 LinkedIn Visibility and Brand

39:51 Biggest Job Search Mistake

41:20 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up

Connect with Shobhit Chugh https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/

Connect with Matt Moore https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-e-moore/

www.intentionalproductmanager.com