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From Bioengineering to CPO: Lessons from a Nonlinear Product Journey
Have you ever planned your career perfectly… only to find yourself on a completely different path? In this episode of Beyond Product Management, Heather Miller dives into why product careers are rarely linear — and why that’s a huge advantage.
From her early days as a Bioengineering major with plans for medical school, to QA and EMR compliance, to global product management and now fractional CPO work, Heather shares her nonlinear journey and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
You’ll hear:
- How seemingly unrelated skills from your background can become your biggest assets
- The power of being seen and recognized at pivotal moments in your career
- Funny, humanizing stories from college labs, QA misadventures, and working with global teams
- Actionable takeaways for staying open to unexpected opportunities while pursuing your goals
Heather also weaves in a mini-example from podcast guest Josh Budman — another Bioengineering major who pivoted from med school aspirations to become a 2x founder — highlighting the beauty of leveraging your foundation in unexpected ways.
Whether you’re just starting out in product, considering a pivot, or reflecting on your career journey, this episode is a reminder that your path doesn’t have to be straight to be successful.
Reflective questions for listeners:
- What’s one pivot in your career, planned or unplanned, that shaped who you are today?
- Have you ever felt boxed in by your starting point — and how did you break free?
- What skills from your background are unexpectedly helping you right now?
PDRM Consulting's mission is to help businesses reduce risk, specifically in the fields of Cybersecurity and Product Management.
Heather bridges the professional development gap in the corporate space by empowering growth-driven product managers to transition into strategic, results-oriented leaders. By focusing on enhancing key skills and decision-making capabilities, she helps them accelerate their leadership journey, achieve measurable outcomes more quickly, and excel in driving product success. Her approach ensures they thrive in their roles and unlock their full potential as impactful servant leaders within their organizations.
You can follow us for more daily content:
Instagram: @pdrmconsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pdrm-consulting
Join our Newsletter:https://solitary-block-17987.myflodesk.com/ofo6k6a0f9
View all episodes
By Heather Miller (PDRM Consulting)Have you ever planned your career perfectly… only to find yourself on a completely different path? In this episode of Beyond Product Management, Heather Miller dives into why product careers are rarely linear — and why that’s a huge advantage.
From her early days as a Bioengineering major with plans for medical school, to QA and EMR compliance, to global product management and now fractional CPO work, Heather shares her nonlinear journey and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
You’ll hear:
- How seemingly unrelated skills from your background can become your biggest assets
- The power of being seen and recognized at pivotal moments in your career
- Funny, humanizing stories from college labs, QA misadventures, and working with global teams
- Actionable takeaways for staying open to unexpected opportunities while pursuing your goals
Heather also weaves in a mini-example from podcast guest Josh Budman — another Bioengineering major who pivoted from med school aspirations to become a 2x founder — highlighting the beauty of leveraging your foundation in unexpected ways.
Whether you’re just starting out in product, considering a pivot, or reflecting on your career journey, this episode is a reminder that your path doesn’t have to be straight to be successful.
Reflective questions for listeners:
- What’s one pivot in your career, planned or unplanned, that shaped who you are today?
- Have you ever felt boxed in by your starting point — and how did you break free?
- What skills from your background are unexpectedly helping you right now?
PDRM Consulting's mission is to help businesses reduce risk, specifically in the fields of Cybersecurity and Product Management.
Heather bridges the professional development gap in the corporate space by empowering growth-driven product managers to transition into strategic, results-oriented leaders. By focusing on enhancing key skills and decision-making capabilities, she helps them accelerate their leadership journey, achieve measurable outcomes more quickly, and excel in driving product success. Her approach ensures they thrive in their roles and unlock their full potential as impactful servant leaders within their organizations.
You can follow us for more daily content:
Instagram: @pdrmconsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pdrm-consulting
Join our Newsletter:https://solitary-block-17987.myflodesk.com/ofo6k6a0f9