The Product Pivot: Real conversations with product people. – Details, episodes & analysis

The best PMs don't wait for perfect conditions. They build anyway.

In Season 3's opener, Meagan and Santi get honest about the past year — gestational diabetes, a toddler, a day job, and somehow still shipping Prodfolio and recording a full podcast season before maternity leave.

This episode covers how they ran discovery, why they think low pressure ships more than urgency, and what building a side project actually does for your PM career.

But mostly it's proof that "not the right time" is never really the reason.

Welcome to Season 3.

Support the show

Connect with Santiana: Santiana's LinkedIn
Connect with Meagan: Meagan's LinkedIn
Checkout Prodfolio: https://prodfolio.io/

Everyone’s hyping AI like it’s a magic trick.

Aaron Kesler sees it differently — it’s just really good at boring stuff.

Now VP of Product at RozieAI, Aaron’s focused on solving the unglamorous problems that make real business impact. But his path to product didn’t start in a boardroom.

In college, he built a startup that got acquired. Then he realized he hated coding but loved talking to customers, so he walked away from tech completely and started working at Starbucks.

That’s where he learned the skill every great PM needs: listening.

That same curiosity pulled him back into tech, through SnapLogic’s biggest launches, and into leading product at RozieAI, proving that the best PMs chase problems worth solving.

We cover:

→ Why AI should be boring (and why that’s a good thing)

→ The difference between having AI and creating real value

→ How PMs can use AI to bridge creative and technical gaps

→ Why you should claim a job title once you’re already doing the work

This one’s sharp, honest, and packed with lessons for anyone building in AI or trying to break into product.

Aaron’s Links:

🔗 LinkedIn

📖 Newsletter: “Become an AI Product Manager” on LinkedIn

Support the show

Connect with Santiana: Santiana's LinkedIn
Connect with Meagan: Meagan's LinkedIn
Checkout Prodfolio: https://prodfolio.io/

In this episode of The Product Pivot, we sit down with Brody Clemmer, Lead Product Manager at Little Otter, to discuss the future of product management and how the role is evolving.

We cover:
• How Brody landed in product without a degree
• The biggest misconceptions about product management
• Why living in the problem space is the key to success
• The real difference between PMs at startups vs. large enterprises
• If product management will still exist in 10 years and what might replace it

Oh, and we also settle one of the most controversial food debates of all time: Is a hot dog a sandwich? 🌭😂

Connect with Brody: LinkedIn

👉 Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what topics you'd love to hear next!

Timestamps:
📌 [00:00] Welcome & Introducing Brody Clemmer
📌 [02:00] The Role of Curiosity in Product Management
📌 [04:00] Brody’s Path to PM
📌 [10:00] Lessons from Startups vs. Big Companies
📌 [19:00] Breaking Into Product: 92 Job Applications Later
📌 [26:00] Why Product Managers Must Stay in the Problem Space
📌 [31:00] Will Product Management Exist in 10 Years?
📌 [40:00] The Future of PM: Evolution or Extinction?
📌 [47:00] The Most Important Question: Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich? 🌭

Support the show

Connect with Santiana: Santiana's LinkedIn
Connect with Meagan: Meagan's LinkedIn
Checkout Prodfolio: https://prodfolio.io/

In this episode of The Product Pivot, Santi and Meagan sit down with Varsh, a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, to discuss her journey from solutions engineering to building Gen AI products like Copilot.

She debunks myths about breaking into big tech, shares actionable advice for aspiring PMs, and highlights the power of transferable skills.

Whether you're looking to pivot into product management or grow your career, this episode is full of insights, strategies, and real-world advice to help you navigate the job market and stand out as a PM.

Key insights include:

• Myths vs. reality – What it really takes to break into big tech
• Varsh’s journey – How she transitioned into product management
• The impact of AI on PM roles and the future of AI-driven product building
• Networking & LinkedIn strategies for job seekers
• Essential resources to help you land a PM role

Resources Mentioned:

• Cracking the PM Interview by Jackie Bavaro & Gayle Laakmann McDowell – Amazon Link

Connect with Varshine: LinkedIn

Listen now and don’t forget to follow for more product management insights!

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Meet Varshine

02:00 – How Varshine Pivoted into Product Management

06:00 – Myths About Breaking Into Big Tech

12:00 – The Role of AI in Product Management

20:00 – Dealing with Rejection & Career Growth

24:00 – Advice for Aspiring Product Managers

35:00 – Networking & Building a PM Brand

41:00 – Fun Q&A & Closing Thoughts

Support the show

Connect with Santiana: Santiana's LinkedIn
Connect with Meagan: Meagan's LinkedIn
Checkout Prodfolio: https://prodfolio.io/

From Marketing to Product Management – Tyler Johnson, Product Manager at Nectar, shares how he made the leap from customer and product marketing into a PM role. 

In this episode of The Product Pivot, hosts Santi and Meagan sit down with Tyler to discuss: 

• How his marketing background helped his transition 
• Why customer obsession is crucial for product managers 
• Challenges he faced as a first-time PM 
• The importance of cross-functional collaboration 
• How to build strong relationships with engineers 
• Actionable advice for aspiring product managers  

Whether you're pivoting into product management or want to sharpen your skills, this episode is packed with insights and career tips! 
 

Connect with our guest and hosts: 

Tyler Johnson: LinkedIn

Santi: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ 

Meagan: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ 

Subscribe for more PM career stories & insights!  

Timestamps: 

00:00 – Introductions 

01:05 – Tyler’s Journey from Marketing to Product Management 

04:15 – Transferable Skills & Customer Obsession 

15:30 – Overcoming Challenges as a First-Time PM 

22:40 – Advice for Aspiring Product Managers 

31:00 – Building Strong Relationships with Engineers 35:00 – Fun Questions & Closing Thoughts

Support the show

Connect with Santiana: Santiana's LinkedIn
Connect with Meagan: Meagan's LinkedIn
Checkout Prodfolio: https://prodfolio.io/

Welcome to another episode of The Product Pivot! In this episode, hosts Santi and Meagan share their personal journeys pivoting from customer support to product management. They also answer the lingering question: how did The Product Pivot get started? 

 What you'll learn in this episode:

• Meagan’s transition from customer success to founding PM at a startup 
• Santi’s unique journey from retail management to SaaS product management
• The importance of mentorship and how it shaped their careers 
• The power of data in decision-making as a PM 
• How The Product Pivot podcast was born

Whether you're pivoting into product management, searching for your first PM role, or just love hearing about career transitions, this episode is packed with insights, humor, and real talk.

Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what topics you'd love to hear next!

Follow us:

• Santi: ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• Meagan: ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Support the show

Connect with Santiana: Santiana's LinkedIn
Connect with Meagan: Meagan's LinkedIn
Checkout Prodfolio: https://prodfolio.io/

In this episode, co-hosts Santi and Meagan chat with Rachel, a Product Manager at Liferaft, about her unique journey from private investigator to PM.

They dive into the power of transferable skills, breaking into product without prior experience, and overcoming challenges like perfectionism and learning on the fly.

Plus, Rachel shares insights on the "Product Management is Dead" debate and some fun, unexpected facts - including her controversial food opinion!

 Follow us:

• Santi: ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• Meagan: ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• Rachel: ⁠LinkedIn

Support the show

Connect with Santiana: Santiana's LinkedIn
Connect with Meagan: Meagan's LinkedIn
Checkout Prodfolio: https://prodfolio.io/

In this episode, hosts Santi and Meagan sit down with Brandon Green, a Staff Product Manager at Buffer, to explore his unconventional journey from music school to tech and how he navigated the world of product management.

Brandon shares pivotal moments in his career, the challenges he faced, and how adaptability has shaped his success in different work environments. 

He also discusses the role of creativity in product management, offers insights into today’s job market for PMs, and emphasizes the importance of self-reflection for career growth.

From the evolving nature of product management to practical advice for aspiring PMs, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. Tune in for a dynamic and insightful conversation on what it takes to thrive in product today!

Connect with our guest and hosts:

Brandon Green: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ 

Santi: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ 

Meagan: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ 

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introductions

01:07 – Brandon’s Journey into Product Management

05:20 – The Creative Side of Product Management

10:23 – Challenges & Surprises in Product Management

17:05 – Advice for Aspiring Product Managers

24:34 – Reflecting on the Future of Product Management

28:20 – Personal Interests & Fun Questions

31:19 – Conclusion

Support the show

Connect with Santiana: Santiana's LinkedIn
Connect with Meagan: Meagan's LinkedIn
Checkout Prodfolio: https://prodfolio.io/

Welcome to The Product Pivot Podcast!

Join hosts Meagan Glenn and Santiana Brace as they explore the world of product management. Whether you're looking to break into the field or level up your career, you're in the right place. In this intro episode, we share our mission to inspire and equip aspiring product managers, career changers, and anyone curious about the product space.

We’ll dive deep into the highs, lows, and unexpected twists of the PM journey with real stories from people who’ve successfully made the pivot.

This podcast isn’t just about listening; it’s about starting a conversation. Subscribe, tune in, and let’s get talking!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction
00:25 - What is 'The Product Pivot' Podcast?
00:30 - What to Expect from the Podcast

Support the show

Connect with Santiana: Santiana's LinkedIn
Connect with Meagan: Meagan's LinkedIn
Checkout Prodfolio: https://prodfolio.io/

Some pivots don’t start with a master plan, they start with saying yes and figuring it out along the way.

In this episode, Eduardo (Eddie) Rosenfeld, VP of Applied AI at Lavender 💜🔮, shares how studying philosophy and writing comedy scripts in L.A. somehow led to product ops at one of the fastest-moving AI startups in sales tech.

We talk about:

→ Why curiosity and grit matter more than credentials

→ The art of “doing whatever it takes” in scrappy startup roles

→ How to handle feedback without losing your fire

→ Knowing when to use bandaids vs. surgery in product decisions

→ Building product through empathy, not ego

Eddie’s story is a love letter to the generalists — the ones who fill gaps no one asked them to, learn tools overnight, and somehow turn chaos into progress.

Listen in for a reminder that product isn’t about titles or frameworks, it’s about curiosity, feedback, and the nerve to keep building when things get messy.

Eduardo’s Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduardorosenfeld/

Support the show

Connect with Santiana: Santiana's LinkedIn
Connect with Meagan: Meagan's LinkedIn
Checkout Prodfolio: https://prodfolio.io/