Path into Product

Path into Product

By Aaron and AshBusinessCareers
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Path into Product episodes

  • 010: "I Hate Sales. It's Not Me."

    Path into Product goes international! Robert Drury started in professional sports, tried his hand at managing a cinema, and eventually landed in sales and business development. While there, he developed a knack for listening to customers needs and figuring out how to solve them while delivering value for the business.

    Robert is also founder of Getting Started in Product, where he shares content and services for people trying to, well, get started in product. You can find great content at https://www.gettingstartedinproduct.com.

    Like the podcast? Give us a rating, subscribe, and tell your friends!

    Have a question or want to provide feedback? Use this link to answer our Google survey: https://forms.gle/cVNRzyZsuNDMVrM99

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    34 min
  • 009: How Failure is Better than an MBA for Product Managers

    Justin Knutson, senior product manager at O.C. Tanner, is no stranger to failure. After dropping out of high school (and never completing a GED), Justin started and failed eight small businesses. Yet he credits those failures with teaching him to approach business, product management, and life with an insatiable curiosity, humility, and willingness to learn.

    Justin shares his insights on questions like:

    • What is at the core of being a good product manager?
    • Do you need a formal education to be a successful product manager?
    • What non-traditional learning experiences prepared Justin to be a product manager?
    • Why should someone not choose to be a product manager?
    • And so much more!

      • Like the podcast? Give us a rating, subscribe, and tell your friends!

      Have a question or want to provide feedback? Use this link to answer our Google survey: https://forms.gle/cVNRzyZsuNDMVrM99

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      36 min
    • 008: "Unemployable"

      Steve started as a cocky college student ready to change the world. After being told he was unemployable and then getting fired, he managed to pull himself together and continue to find opportunities to solve some incredible problems. He found himself in several different roles and leaned in when no one owned the customer's voice. During their career day, he teaches Product Management at his children's school every year. He is also CEO of a seed round startup called Campfire. This episode felt different to record and edit. He was thoughtful, clear, and inspiring. We kept it long so you, too, could experience all that Steve had to offer.


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      54 min
    • 007: Sprinkler Parts to Software Products: Tips from a PM with only 3 Months Experience

      Jeff Compton is fresh off his path into product--with only three months of experience. He tells his story from mechanical engineering sprinkler parts to landing his first product role at a growth-stage company.

      Jeff shares his insights on questions like:

      • Is an MBA a good path into product?
      • What do companies care about when hiring a product manager?
      • How can someone gain product experience before landing their first product role?
      • How to find an internship—even during government-mandated COVID lock downs?
      • Is an internship enough experience to be hired as a product manager?
      • Why choose a smaller company rather than a larger one to start your product management career
      • Why you wouldn't want to choose product management as a career?

        • Like the podcast? Give us a rating, subscribe, and tell your friends!

        Have a question or want to provide feedback? Use this link to answer our Google survey: https://forms.gle/cVNRzyZsuNDMVrM99

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        27 min
      • 006: If You’re a Politician or Masochist, Product Management Might be for You
        Billy Gast, Group Product Manager, tells his path into product from a technical background, moving from computer science into product. He discusses a wide gambit of topics: how PMs need to be politicians; the less glamorous parts of product; the difference between a Group PM, Growth PM, and Technical PM; product as a craft in start ups vs. established companies; and so much more! —— Have a question or want to provide feedback? Use this link to answer our Google survey: https://forms.gle/cVNRzyZsuNDMVrM99
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        42 min
      • 005: How to Land your First Product Role: Advice from a Senior Director of Product after 23 Years
        After listening to this episode Nate Barrett will feel like an old friend. Nate shares valuable insights into hiring product managers, how to gain product manager experience, and how to make a difference in product. This episode is purposefully different, with a view point from a person hiring a product manager. We loved our discussion with Nate, and we think that you will love it too. Have a question or want to provide feedback? Use this link to answer our Google survey: https://forms.gle/cVNRzyZsuNDMVrM99
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        44 min
      • 004: Okay Becca, now you're a Product Manager!
        Becca DeVito, desperate to find work, found herself in a dingy office for an interview. After filling out her information on a computer equipped with Windows 95, she landed a job at Goldman Sachs. After 8 years, she joined the start up Weave, wearing many hats including Product Manager. Listen to how Becca made a role for herself, took on hard problems, and worked with so many people along the way. She is now a successful product manager at Kenect.
        Have a product question or feedback for the show? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/cVNRzyZsuNDMVrM99
        Like the show? Subscribe, give us a 5-star rating, and share with your friends!
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        36 min
      • 003: From Project to Product

        After experiencing the tactical nature of project management and being a Scrum master, Sara wanted to push herself outside of her comfort zone and attempt the strategic role of product manager. She provides great insights into the difference between project and product management; and shares a day in the life of a product professional.

        Have a question or want to provide feedback? Use this link to answer our Google survey: https://forms.gle/cVNRzyZsuNDMVrM99

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        32 min
      • 002: Not a Developer. Not a UX Designer. Maybe Product Manager?

        Ethan, a self-described introvert, worked in customer success, where he dove deep in understanding the problems and pain points of his product’s customers. After a friend was hired into the product organization, he was introduced to a group of decision makers who worked with engineers to help them build the product. Overtime, he was able to join as a product manager—which started a crash course in learning an entirely new skillset.

        Ethan’s pragmatic communication style will give you a good idea of a product manager’s daily life, and how you could join the product field by networking and transitioning within the same company.

        Have a question or want to provide feedback? Use this link to answer our Google survey: https://forms.gle/cVNRzyZsuNDMVrM99

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        37 min
      • 001: PhD to Product VP: Dave Rackham

        Dave Rackham pursued a career in academia, until he couldn't shake a deep realization from his mind: complex, multi-faceted problems require multi-disciplinary solutions. Listen to Dave's Path into Product, from PhD to product manager, to now VP of Product at a growth-stage start up.

        Have a product question or feedback for the show? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/BbHwHtfE62ccG8e16

        Like the show? Subscribe, give us a 5-star rating, and share with your friends!

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        34 min

      About Path into Product

      From the publisher's feed

      What is product management? How do you become a product manager? The Path into Product podcast is for college students or professionals considering a career as a product manager but don't know where to start.