Product Chats Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Pete Steege, B2B growth strategist and founder of B2B Clarity, about the unique challenges faced by “accidental CEOs” – technical experts who find themselves in leadership roles without a roadmap. Drawing parallels to product managers (many of whom also come from technical backgrounds), Pete explores how engineering minds can shift from designing systems to building businesses.

You’ll learn how to define your “true story,” align around a bullseye market, and foster a culture of clarity and accountability. Plus, Pete shares tools you can use to eliminate friction and scale smart.

For takeaways, tools, and a free assessment, visit: b2b-clarity.com/chat

How do you go from strategy to better sales without getting stuck in planning mode?

In this episode, we sit down with Simon Severino, CEO of Strategy Sprints and a sales strategist who’s helped clients generate over $2 billion in revenue. Drawing from his background in psychology and two decades of experience, Simone shares his sprint-based framework that brings together product, marketing, and sales to make fast, high-impact decisions every week.

From leveraging community as a marketing engine to turning experiments into long-term wins, Simon offers practical tools to help teams collaborate better, measure progress, and create what he calls a high "Return on Luck."

Visit strategysprints.com for free downloadable tools and templates.

For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts

Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

What if you could predict consumer behavior—without running a single survey or focus group? 

In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Avi Yashchin, founder and CEO of Subconscious AI, to explore how synthetic respondents and causal AI are transforming the world of market research.  

Avi shares how his background in high-frequency trading, behavioral economics, and product management at IBM Watson and Two Sigma led him to reimagine how businesses gain customer insights. 

Subconscious AI’s platform delivers what Avi calls “SimCity for Market Research”—a behavioral simulation that replaces traditional research with faster, more ethical, and scientifically grounded modeling. From shrinking the say-do gap to exploring causation (not just correlation), Avi outlines a powerful vision for the next era of insight. 

For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts 

What does it take to move from product management into the CEO seat and thrive once you get there?

In this episode, we are joined by Marc Rubner, CEO of Building Intelligence, to trace his journey from marketing analyst to B2B product leader at American Express to top executive. Marc shares how product thinking gave him a head start in executive decision-making and prioritization but also where PMs often hit blind spots when transitioning into broader leadership.

He dives into how successful go-to-market strategies require true collaboration between product, marketing, and sales – and why alignment, accountability, and repeatable processes are essential for growth.

For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts

What’s the secret to getting your product not just built—but sold, used, and loved?

In this episode, we sit down with Ciara Peter, SVP of Product at Robin, to explore the full lifecycle of product success from early design decisions to sales enablement and in-app education. With nearly two decades of experience at companies like Salesforce, Box, and Medallia, Ciara shares tactical strategies for making your product easy to sell and adopt.

She emphasizes the product manager’s role in business outcomes, detailing how to align with sales, enable customer-facing teams, and build onboarding experiences that actually drive engagement.

For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts

What makes product management in startups so different—and what lessons can translate back to enterprise?

In this episode, we welcome Arturo Piña, founder of The Startup Agency, angel investor, and President of ProductCamp Austin. Arturo shares insights from his work offering fractional product management and strategy services for early-stage startups, and compares those experiences with his time in larger enterprise environments.

From hands-on execution and GTM hustle to building alignment through a strong North Star metric, Arturo outlines the unique role of product managers in startups and the key takeaways enterprise teams can adopt to stay nimble, focused, and customer-connected.

Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on structure, speed, stakeholder dynamics, and how product leaders can thrive at any company stage.

For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts

How can vulnerability, mentorship, and purpose reshape a career—and a company culture?

In this episode of the Product Chats, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Steve Chambers, a seasoned tech executive, educator, and advocate, for a powerful conversation on identity, leadership, and transformation.

From his early days in acting to executive roles in AI and robotics, Steve shares the deeply personal experiences—coming out in the workplace, surviving leukemia, and pivoting to educational technology—that have shaped his approach to business and life.

Steve opens up about building inclusive workplaces, creating psychological safety, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to lead with more empathy, clarity, and authenticity.

For show notes and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts

Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com

What happens when you apply product management principles to mission-driven work?

In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris is joined by Neil Baron, Matthew Anderson, and Rod Griffith to discuss a compelling case study of their work with Mosaic Interfaith Youth Action—a nonprofit dedicated to building bridges across diverse communities. Mosaic had traditionally operated as a summer camp but needed a new approach to grow its impact.

Neil and his team at Baron Strategic Partners used Pragmatic principles to reimagine the organization’s value proposition, realign its mission, and design scalable programs. Through stakeholder interviews, messaging refinement, and deep market understanding, they uncovered barriers to participation and helped Mosaic evolve from a camp to a year-round movement.

This episode is a masterclass in how product strategies can drive social impact—and a reminder that great product work starts with empathy, alignment, and clarity.

For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts

What if AI could do more than just chat—what if it could take action on your behalf?

In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Sam Mallikarjunan, Growth Lead at Agent AI, to explore the transformative potential of AI agents. Unlike traditional generative AI, these AI-driven agents automate workflows, enhance productivity, and reshape customer interactions—without requiring coding expertise.

Sam shares real-world applications, from AI-powered business development and customer service to automated research and personalized communication. He also unpacks the AI-operator model, a concept shaping the next wave of AI capabilities, and explains how leaders can balance automation with human oversight.

Tune in to learn how AI agents can streamline operations, enhance personalization, and drive innovation—while keeping leadership aware of the ethical and strategic implications of these tools.

For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts

Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

We’re at day zero of AI—so how can product managers keep up without getting left behind? 

In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Ron Green, AI expert, serial entrepreneur, and Co-founder & CTO of KUNGFU.AI. Ron has nearly 30 years of experience in AI, having overseen deployments across healthcare, government, retail, real estate, and financial services. He’s also the host of Hidden Layers: Exploring the People and Tech Behind AI, where he dives into the latest advancements shaping the industry. 

Ron shares his insider perspective on AI’s rapid evolution, from the surprising power of generative AI (genAI) to the game-changing impact of reasoning models. He explains how these advancements are changing both the answers we get and the questions we ask, unlocking new capabilities while also introducing new risks. 

For product professionals wondering how to integrate AI without getting overwhelmed, Ron offers practical advice: 

Plus, Ron shares his favorite AI tools and what’s next beyond genAI. 

For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts 

Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.