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

In this episode of The Product Pivot, we chat with Trevor Acy—a fractional product manager and coach—about his journey from marketing into product, how he broke in without the title, and what real product thinking looks like inside companies.

We also dig into:

• What founders and early-stage teams get wrong when scaling
• Why unscalable work is often the smartest work
• How Trevor built his fractional practice
• Trevor’s mission to grow Mississippi’s tech ecosystem

If you’re exploring fractional work, thinking about a pivot, or building in the early stages—this one’s for you.

Connect with Trevor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevoracy/

Like, subscribe, and drop a comment if there’s a topic you want us to cover!

Timestamps: 

00:00 – Intro: Trevor Acy’s Pivot from Marketing to Product

03:00 – Early Exposure to Product Principles

13:00 – From Full-Time to Fractional: Trevor’s Transition

17:00 – Common Pitfalls in Product-Less Organizations

20:00 – Common Mistakes Early-Stage Startups Make

24:00 – Why Companies Are Turning to Fractional PMs

29:00 – Finding Clients & Building a Fractional Practice

37:00 – Building the Mississippi Tech Ecosystem

45:00 – Where to Find Trevor

Olympia Bardis, Product Manager at CNBC, joins us to share how she made an unexpected pivot from journalism into product management. From managing content at Fox News to building investment tools for retail users, Olympia’s story is a masterclass in self-advocacy, transferable skills, and building confidence through rejection.

We dive into:

• How Olympia transitioned from journalism to product
  
  
• Advocating for yourself at work
  
  
• The underrated power of storytelling in product
  
  
• Rejection as redirection
  
  
• The future of generalist vs. specialist PMs
  
  

Whether you’re looking to pivot into product or just want a good laugh and some thoughtful insights, this episode delivers.

👉 Connect with Olympia:   / olympiabardis 

🔔 Subscribe for more inspiring PM stories and actionable advice!

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Olympia’s background: from journalism to product
04:20 – Advocating for yourself and breaking into product
08:10 – Confidence, imposter syndrome, and the power of belief
13:20 – Transferable skills from journalism and storytelling
17:00 – Rejection, redirection, and taking a strategic break
21:00 – Olympia’s 3-month pivot plan: what to focus on
25:00 – Building in public and giving product feedback online
28:00 – The generalist vs. specialist PM debate
33:10 – Controversial food opinions: pineapple, olives, and potatoes
35:00 – Final thoughts

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? 🌭

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

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

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

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

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

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