Podcast
The Growth Podcast
Hosted by Aakash Gupta · EN
Join 500K+ for deep dives on AI + product management. After spending a decade plus in product, I now interview PM's most insightful experts.
www.news.aakashg.com
www.news.aakashg.com
48episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How to Become, and Succeed as, an AI PM | The Marily Nika Episode
Feb 14, 202501:27:34Tap to summarizeMarily Nika, an AI PM at Google, reveals all strategies to transition into AI product management and standout in this role even without a technical background.-Brought to you by:Vanta: The best tool to automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trustMaven: I’ve just launched my unique curation of their top courses-We're covering:Preview - 00:00:00How AI PM Roles Differ at Big Tech Companies – 00:06:56How Technical an AI PM Needs to Be – 00:08:08Data Handling Responsibilities for AI PMs – 00:13:10How PMs Can Improve Collaboration with Researchers – 00:18:06Interviewing for AI PM Roles at Big Tech Companies – 00:22:08The Role of a PhD in AI Product Management – 00:26:03Optimizing LinkedIn for Aspiring AI PMs – 00:31:55Roadmap to Becoming an AI PM – 00:37:05Transitioning into AI Product Management – 00:40:52The Process of Boomeranging Back to a Company – 00:44:00AI Tools Every PM Should Know – 00:48:08What It’s Like to Be an AI PM at Google – 00:57:46How to Develop a Strong Product Strategy – 01:01:21The Evolution of PM Roles in the Age of AI – 01:05:11How PMs Can Stay Relevant in an AI-Driven World – 01:08:12Balancing a Side Business with a Full-Time Job – 01:13:42The Process of Creating a Course – 01:17:12LinkedIn Tips for Aspiring AI PM Creators – 01:21:21Lessons from Product Failures – 01:25:27-Where to find Marily:LinkedInTwitterWebsiteYouTubeNewsletterMaven-Email productgrowthppp at gmail.com to discuss advertising or guest opportunities.-We have some great podcasts coming from Abhishek Viswanathan (2x Former CPO: Qualtrics, Apollo.io), Shardul Mehta (Fmr VP PM at Amwell, Director at Capital One), and Aakash Gupta.I’m so excited to share them with all of you. Get full access to Product Growth at www.news.aakashg.com/subscribe
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How He Became a Series C VP of Product in 10 Years: Mike Davey
Feb 11, 202501:12:31Tap to summarizeWith 10+ years of experience, Mike Davey has learned the lessons that separate good PMs from great and what it takes to climb from PM 0 to product leadership.In this episode, he talks about challenges of product development, product discovery and how to become a product leader.-Brought to you by:Vanta: Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trustAttio: The next generation CRM-We're covering:Preview - 00:00:00Golden Age of Feature Factory - 00:03:55How a PM Can Reclaim Authority in This Age - 00:07:10The Ideal Leader - 00:10:58Conducting Good Field Research - 00:15:58Using Opportunity Solution Trees - 00:18:39Cost of Conducting Field Research - 00:21:45Impact of AI on Climate - 00:26:10Strategizing Career Growth - 00:29:02Job Search in Small Market - 00:35:45Coming into Role as First PM - 00:38:15Being a Startup PM - 00:44:19Tools in Use - 00:47:40Dealing with Founders - 00:49:27Recruiting Good Talent - 00:54:31Interview Process - 00:57:08Product Management in Niche Industries - 01:00:28Moving Up the PM Career Ladder - 01:02:43Job Search Strategy - 01:07:27-Where to find Mike:LinkedIn-Email productgrowthppp at gmail.com to discuss advertising or guest opportunities.-We have some great podcasts coming from Marily Nika (AI PM at Google, Former Meta), and Abhishek Viswanathan (2x Former CPO: Qualtrics, Apollo.io), and Shardul Mehta (Fmr VP PM at Amwell, Director at Capital One).I’m so excited to share them with all of you. Get full access to Product Growth at www.news.aakashg.com/subscribe
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Senior Director at Meta, Salesforce - Big Tech Career Growth Case Study
Feb 8, 202501:26:11Summary readyPoorvi has worked at Microsoft, Salesforce, HubSpot, and Meta.In this episode we discuss mastering execution, transitioning to strategic roles, and the key to career growth.-Brought to you by:Vanta: Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trustWorkOS: Your App, Enterprise Ready-We're covering:Preview - 00:00:00Being a PM in Big Tech – 00:02:34Task-Based Execution at Microsoft – 00:08:56Starting Out at Salesforce – 00:12:43Career Advice for Young PMs – 00:16:41Getting Promoted in a Product Career – 00:20:37Differences in Working Across Big Tech Companies – 00:24:41Product Culture at Meta – 00:29:23Maintaining Work-Life Balance – 00:33:52General Manager vs. Other Product Roles – 00:38:28Building Products in Large Companies – 00:42:28Poorvi’s Product Leadership Style – 00:46:45Dissolution of Horizontal Teams – 00:51:34Why Reviewing Team Performance Matters – 00:53:58Archetypes of Effective Product Leaders – 00:56:50The Importance of Spending Time with Customers – 01:00:43The Role of Writing in Product Management – 01:02:28How to Conduct Better Product Reviews – 01:04:20Methods for Developing a Strong Product Strategy – 01:09:52Poorvi’s 70-Page Product Strategy Process – 01:11:31Key Output Metrics for PMs – 01:14:16Getting a PM Interview at Meta – 01:16:53Common Mistakes in PM Interviews – 01:20:07Advice for Reaching the Highest Levels as a PM – 01:23:03-Where to find Poorvi:LinkedInTwitter-Email productgrowthppp at gmail.com to discuss advertising or guest opportunities.-We have some great podcasts coming from Mike Davey (VP of Product, RaptorMaps), Marily Nika (AI PM at Google, Former Meta), and Abhishek Viswanathan (2x Former CPO: Qualtrics, Apollo.io).I’m so excited to share them with all of you. Get full access to Product Growth at www.news.aakashg.com/subscribe
Summary
2025 Job Search Masterclass with Dr. Nancy Li
Feb 4, 202501:41:59Summary readyDr. Nancy Li specializes in getting people AI jobs at FAANG.In this episode, we go super deep on the 2025 job search for you (this is better than many $1,000 courses).Brought to you by:Vanta: Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trustAttio: The next generation CRM-We're covering:Preview - 00:00:00PM Job Market Outlook for 2025 - 00:02:06PM Compensation: Upwards or Downwards? - 00:07:07Getting an AI PM Job - 00:09:36Big Tech Hiring Trends for AI PMs - 00:14:06Inside OpenAI's Recruitment Process - 00:17:36Getting Interviews: Key Steps - 00:21:56Building a Product Portfolio: How and Why - 00:27:11Optimizing Your LinkedIn for Inbound Offers - 00:32:06Referral Strategies That Work - 00:37:38Answering Behavioral Interview Questions - 00:41:37Common Mistakes with “Tell Me About Yourself” - 00:44:11Roadmap to Building an AI Product as a PM - 00:49:00Answering the “Why This Company” Question - 00:53:08What Most People Overlook - 00:54:49Must-Prepare Questions for PM Interviews - 00:59:09Common Case Interview Mistakes - 01:05:52How to Effectively Use Frameworks - 01:07:20Tackling Product Design Questions - 01:09:17MYCSPhD Framework Explained - 01:13:05Frameworks and Questions: Your Approach - 01:18:17Handling “If You Were the CEO” Questions - 01:20:24Top Tips for Salary Negotiations - 01:23:32Hottest Take on Product Management - 01:29:25Breaking Down Revenue Streams - 01:34:30Balancing Work and Life as a PM - 01:37:49Rapid-Fire Questions - 01:38:12-Where to find Dr. Nancy:LinkedInTwitterInstagramApple PodcastSpotify PodcastPM AcceleratorTikTokYouTube-Email productgrowthppp at gmail.com to discuss advertising or guest opportunities.-We have some great podcasts coming from Marily Nika (AI PM at Google, Former Meta), Poorvi Shrivastav (Fmr Senior Director of PM at Meta, Salesforce), and Mike Davey (VP of Product, RaptorMaps).I’m so excited to share them with all of you. Get full access to Product Growth at www.news.aakashg.com/subscribe
Summary
Growing to 125K+ on LinkedIn and Cracking B2B Content with Pierre Herubel
Jan 31, 202502:02:39Summary readyYour tactical guide to dominate LinkedIn with scalable content strategies, B2B social selling, and exponential audience growth with Pierre Herubel (125K+ on LinkedIn).-Brought to you by:Attio: The next generation CRMVanta: Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust-We're covering:Preview – 00:00:00WhyInfographics Are the Main Content Format – 00:02:09Key Elements of a B2B Content Strategy – 00:03:12Content Strategy vs. Product Strategy – 00:07:21The Best Format for a Content Strategy – 00:09:05Data Points for Evaluating a Content Strategy – 00:12:55Following a Specific Funnel? – 00:17:25How the Whole Content Ecosystem Works – 00:20:44Commoditized vs. Proprietary Offers – 00:24:18Creating a Strong Offer for a SaaS Product – 00:28:06Building the Right Team to Execute a Content Strategy – 00:34:51How Content Amplifies Founder-Led Sales – 00:39:00Common Mistakes Companies Make with Outreach Messages – 00:43:20Types of LinkedIn Posts That Perform Well – 00:46:59Using AI to Create Content – 00:50:08Creating a 99-Page Carousel in 20 Minutes – 00:54:56Using Canva to Design Great Graphics – 00:59:27What Goes in an Infographic vs. Hook vs. Main Post – 01:03:15How to Create a Compelling Hook – 01:06:22How to Effectively Finish Your Post – 01:09:57How SaaS Businesses Can Use Lead Magnets – 01:14:29Repurposing vs. Reposting Content – 01:18:04The Role of Consistency on LinkedIn – 01:20:17How He Went from Zero to 130K Followers – 01:22:35How to Write Authority Content – 01:28:02Writing Hooks for Infographics – 01:29:56Revenue Drivers and Breakdown – 01:32:56Managing Time as a Creator – 01:38:58Why He Lives in Bangkok – 01:40:06Key Learnings from His Successful Course Launch – 01:41:05Favorite Places to Hire Talent – 01:44:56Favorite Book Recommendations – 01:47:20Psychological Biases You Need to Know – 01:48:44Top LinkedIn Creators to Follow – 01:54:35-Where to find Pierre:LinkedInFree CourseWebsiteNewsletterYouTube-Email productgrowthppp@gmail.com to discuss advertising or guest opportunities.-We have some great podcasts coming from Dr. Nancy Li (Fmr Director of PM; Founder, PM Accelerator), Marily Nika (AI PM at Google, Former Meta), and Poorvi Shrivastav (Fmr Senior Director of PM at Meta, Salesforce).I’m so excited to share them with all of you. Get full access to Product Growth at www.news.aakashg.com/subscribe
Summary
How to PM with AI at Early Stage Startups | Fractional CPO and CTO, Sergio Pereira
Jan 28, 202502:08:54Tap to summarizeSo far on the Product Growth Podcast, you’ve heard from founders, big tech PMs, and unicorn product minds on what it takes to build a great product.Today, we’re bringing you a fresh perspective — from an operator who’s deep in the trenches, building products for multiple companies and startups as a Fractional CTO.But that’s not all; he’s also a founder, offering us the unique opportunity to hear different perspectives from the same person.What makes this episode even more exciting? He’s been honing his craft for 15 years, working across industries, collaborating with diverse teams, and doing it all at the same time.We're covering:Preview – 00:00:00How Much Time Should a CTO Spend on Product? – 00:01:10Profile of a Good Early-Stage Startup PM – 00:03:08Compensation of an Early-Stage Startup PM – 00:10:00Best Way to Hire Early-Stage PMs – 00:15:30Challenges with the "Trial-Based Work" Approach – 00:18:38Stanford Study: "10% of Engineers Are Ghost Engineers" – 00:22:43Rule of Thumb Behind Product Hires – 00:25:07Who Should PMs Report to in Startups? – 00:28:55Mental Model for Scaling the Product Team – 00:34:44Mistakes Early-Stage PMs Make – 00:37:46Minimum Viable Process for Developing Features – 00:41:40Believing in a "Cutting Down Scope" Philosophy – 00:46:18Why You Should Launch Early – 00:49:24Honest Opinions on Scrum – 01:00:11Managing in a Global Workforce – 01:07:35Hidden Incentives for Big Companies – 01:15:32Aakash’s Experience Before and After COVID – 01:17:15Are AI Tools Worth the Hype? – 01:19:53How Should PMs Use AI Tools? – 01:26:31What’s Going on in Sergio’s Professional Life – 01:36:12How He Manages Time to Do It All – 01:42:01Brought to you by:Vanta: Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trustAttio: The next generation CRMWhere to find Sergio:LinkedInTwitterStartupNewsletterWebsiteEmail productgrowthppp@gmail.com to discuss advertising or guest opportunities.We have some great podcasts coming from Pierre Herubel ( B2B Content Expert, 122K+ on LinkedIn), Mario Gabriele (Founder, The Generalist; Former VC), and Marily Nika (AI PM at Google, Former Meta).I’m so excited to share them with all of you. Get full access to Product Growth at www.news.aakashg.com/subscribe
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From Laid Off to Most Followed PM: How Chloe Shih Grew to 750K+ on Insta, 300K+ on YT
Jan 21, 202501:46:47Tap to summarizeShe gets laid off from Discord, then goes viral & becoming the most followed PM across platforms.Not just that, she uses the moment to pivot her career, build a thriving personal brand, and winning big as a full-time content creator.Today, we’re diving deep into her journey of going viral, breaking into product management, experience as a PM at Meta, TikTok, Discord, content creation, and more.We're covering:Guest's Introduction – 00:00:01Filming the Layoff Video – 00:01:32Her Views on Mass Layoffs in 2023 – 00:07:45Inside Look at the Discord PM Team – 00:11:00Product Culture at Discord – 00:15:36The Approval Process at Discord – 00:19:54Explaining TikTok Culture – 00:22:23TikTok Algorithm – 00:29:48The Start of Her Content Creation Journey – 00:32:40How Big Social Companies Fueled Her Content Creation – 00:36:36Becoming the Most Followed PM – 00:41:45Her Role at Facebook – 00:44:51The Culture at Meta – 00:48:25What Makes a Good Product Culture? – 00:50:39Breaking Into the PM Industry Without a Title – 00:55:36How She Secured a Role at TikTok – 01:00:01Her Must-Read Book List – 01:07:53How She Landed a Role at Discord – 01:10:53Advice for Laid-Off PMs – 01:16:03Breaking the Internet with "30 by 30" – 01:17:28The Production Process Behind "30 by 30" – 01:20:50Pulling Off Big Brand Collaborations – 01:24:26Her Process for Managing Collaborations – 01:29:33How She Is Missing Out on More Potential and Money – 01:34:25What’s Next for Chloe – 01:41:38Brought to you by:Explo: Embed customer-facing analytics in your productAttio: The next generation CRMVanta: Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trustWhere to find Chloe:YoutubeInstagramTikTokThreadsLinkedInTwitterEmail productgrowthppp@gmail.com to discuss advertising or guest opportunities.We have some great podcasts coming from: Adam Robinson (CEO @ Retention.com & RB2B), Sergio Pereira (Fractional CTO and CPO), and Pierre Herubel ( B2B Content Expert, 122K+ on LinkedIn). I’m so excited to share them with all of you. Get full access to Product Growth at www.news.aakashg.com/subscribe
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The Tactics of Product Transformation: How to Build a Better Working Environment with Christian Idiodi
Sep 28, 2024Tap to summarizeThink product transformation is just for big, legacy companies? Think again. Christian Idiodi reveals why even successful startups might be overdue for a radical shift in how they build products.Christian is a Partner at Silicon Valley Product Group where he works with Marty Cagan, who called Christian “the most interesting man in the world”. Previously, he was Managing Director at CareerBuilder, VP of Product at Snagajob, and Head of Product at Datasite. In our conversation, we cover:Biggest Misconception People Have About Transformation | 2:22The Method: How SVPG Transforms Companies | 12:48What are Limits to Transformation? | 22:48Disillusioned IC PMs: What to Do | 27:51Christian’s View on Frameworks | 53:48The PM Job Market & How to Differentiate Yourself | 1:06:54 Why Christian is “The Most Interesting Man in the World” | 1:14:41Brought to you by:Attio: The next generation CRMWorkOS: Your App, Enterprise ReadyAnvil: The fastest way to build software for automating documentsWhere to find ChristianLinkedInWebsiteTo advertise in the podcast, email productgrowthppp at gmail dot com.We have some great podcasts coming from Itamar Gilad, Diego Granados, and Wes Bush. I’m so excited to share them with all of you. Get full access to Product Growth at www.news.aakashg.com/subscribe
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