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Breaking into Product: Startup Lessons, Building 0 to 1, and Career Pivots | Silvija Skemaite, Product at Apollo Global, Series & ADP
Silvija Skemaite is a seasoned Product Leader with experience spanning large enterprises like ADP and high-growth startups, including her own bootstrapped venture in the job search space. Silvija is passionate about building products from zero to one, mentoring aspiring product managers, and exploring the intersection of AI, FinTech, and HRTech. Currently, she is the Lead Product Manager at Apollo Global Management. Her past experience includes shaping financial strategy for an AI product with an $85M market potential, increasing operational speed by 75%, and spearheading initiatives at ADP that saved $1M annually while delivering a $10M project that enhanced user experience by 40%.
In our conversation, we delve into:
Building products from zero to one in startups and enterprises
AI’s role in shaping HRTech and job search platforms
The reality of bootstrapping a startup and what it teaches you
Career transitions and navigating product leadership roles
Lessons from high-stakes decision-making in AI-driven strategy
The evolving job market and hiring challenges in tech
Much more
Some takeaways:
Building from zero to one is about making small bets. Whether at a startup or a large company, the key is breaking down big ideas into small, testable experiments. Iteration and quick feedback loops drive momentum.
The best way to understand AI is to build with it. AI is changing how products are built, but the best way to learn isn’t just by reading—it’s by experimenting. Even simple projects using AI tools can reveal insights into what’s possible and where the limitations lie.
Bootstrapping a startup is a masterclass in resourcefulness. Without the cushion of VC funding, every decision matters. When you’re funding a startup yourself, that pressure helps sharpen focus, ensuring you spend time on what really moves the needle instead of chasing distractions.
Job search is broken, and AI won’t fix it overnight. While AI can help with tasks like resume screening and interview prep, job searching remains deeply human. Relationships, referrals, and storytelling still matter as much as automation.
Large enterprises and startups build products very differently. At a big company, you focus on incremental improvements and scaling. At a startup, you’re constantly iterating, pivoting, and experimenting to find product-market fit. The mindset shift between the two is huge. Big companies move slower, but product thinking still applies.
Hiring today is about adaptability, not just experience. The job market is shifting, and companies are looking for people who can learn fast, adapt to AI-driven workflows, and bring creativity to problem-solving.
Mentorship can change the trajectory of your career. Whether learning from peers, managers, or external mentors, having guidance at key moments can make all the difference in navigating career shifts and product challenges.
The best product managers ask the right questions. Knowing the answers isn’t as important as knowing what questions to ask. Curiosity and structured thinking are what separate good PMs from great ones.
Where to find Silvija:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvija-skemaite/
In this episode, we cover:
01:26 Introduction
04:13 The Importance of In-Person Connections
05:57 Zero to One: Building Products from Scratch
08:02 User Research Strategies
11:04 Navigating Compliance in FinTech and HR Tech
15:36 AI in Compliance: Future Perspectives
18:19 The Future of User Experience with AI
20:16 AI Tools for Product Management
24:04 Building AI Products: Lessons Learned
26:34 MyPipeline: A Personal Journey
29:33 Mentoring and Career Coaching
32:25 Advice for Aspiring Product Managers
34:01 The Future of Product Management
35:48 The Fast Five Questions
References :
MyPipeline : https://mypipeline.io/
For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please email: [email protected]
View all episodes
By David LamSilvija Skemaite is a seasoned Product Leader with experience spanning large enterprises like ADP and high-growth startups, including her own bootstrapped venture in the job search space. Silvija is passionate about building products from zero to one, mentoring aspiring product managers, and exploring the intersection of AI, FinTech, and HRTech. Currently, she is the Lead Product Manager at Apollo Global Management. Her past experience includes shaping financial strategy for an AI product with an $85M market potential, increasing operational speed by 75%, and spearheading initiatives at ADP that saved $1M annually while delivering a $10M project that enhanced user experience by 40%.
In our conversation, we delve into:
Building products from zero to one in startups and enterprises
AI’s role in shaping HRTech and job search platforms
The reality of bootstrapping a startup and what it teaches you
Career transitions and navigating product leadership roles
Lessons from high-stakes decision-making in AI-driven strategy
The evolving job market and hiring challenges in tech
Much more
Some takeaways:
Building from zero to one is about making small bets. Whether at a startup or a large company, the key is breaking down big ideas into small, testable experiments. Iteration and quick feedback loops drive momentum.
The best way to understand AI is to build with it. AI is changing how products are built, but the best way to learn isn’t just by reading—it’s by experimenting. Even simple projects using AI tools can reveal insights into what’s possible and where the limitations lie.
Bootstrapping a startup is a masterclass in resourcefulness. Without the cushion of VC funding, every decision matters. When you’re funding a startup yourself, that pressure helps sharpen focus, ensuring you spend time on what really moves the needle instead of chasing distractions.
Job search is broken, and AI won’t fix it overnight. While AI can help with tasks like resume screening and interview prep, job searching remains deeply human. Relationships, referrals, and storytelling still matter as much as automation.
Large enterprises and startups build products very differently. At a big company, you focus on incremental improvements and scaling. At a startup, you’re constantly iterating, pivoting, and experimenting to find product-market fit. The mindset shift between the two is huge. Big companies move slower, but product thinking still applies.
Hiring today is about adaptability, not just experience. The job market is shifting, and companies are looking for people who can learn fast, adapt to AI-driven workflows, and bring creativity to problem-solving.
Mentorship can change the trajectory of your career. Whether learning from peers, managers, or external mentors, having guidance at key moments can make all the difference in navigating career shifts and product challenges.
The best product managers ask the right questions. Knowing the answers isn’t as important as knowing what questions to ask. Curiosity and structured thinking are what separate good PMs from great ones.
Where to find Silvija:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvija-skemaite/
In this episode, we cover:
01:26 Introduction
04:13 The Importance of In-Person Connections
05:57 Zero to One: Building Products from Scratch
08:02 User Research Strategies
11:04 Navigating Compliance in FinTech and HR Tech
15:36 AI in Compliance: Future Perspectives
18:19 The Future of User Experience with AI
20:16 AI Tools for Product Management
24:04 Building AI Products: Lessons Learned
26:34 MyPipeline: A Personal Journey
29:33 Mentoring and Career Coaching
32:25 Advice for Aspiring Product Managers
34:01 The Future of Product Management
35:48 The Fast Five Questions
References :
MyPipeline : https://mypipeline.io/
For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, please email: [email protected]