Product by Marcus

Where product thinking meets personal growth.
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Hi, I'm Marcus Polini. I write about product management strategies and tactics aimed to help product people do the best work of their lives. productbymarcus.substack.com

Episodes

  1. 2025-09-20

    Designing Human-Centric AI | Dr. Stella Lee

    I recently wrote “What is an AI PM anyways?” While most PMs are not AI PMs, most PMs will have an AI strategy, which demands PMs think about fairness, performance, and new capabilities. AI is reshaping how we learn, but is it helping, or quietly harming? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Stella Lee, founder of Paradox Learning and one of the most respected voices in AI ethics and EdTech strategy. We explore the concept of adaptive learning, why personalization can backfire, and how opaque algorithms can mislabel learners, causing real-world consequences. Stella shares powerful examples from the front lines of government, education, and tech, and challenges builders to rethink what “responsible AI” really looks like. Whether you’re a product leader, designer, educator, or simply someone trying to navigate the AI boom thoughtfully, this conversation will change the way you think about learning systems, bias, and the future of ethical tech. Topics include: * Why adaptive learning isn’t the same as personalization * How recommender systems reinforce bias, even in education * The ethical risks of data misuse, mislabeling, and surveillance * What product teams can do to build more human-centeric AI * Why “getting it right” doesn’t always mean doing good Resources Links to resources mentioned in the podcast: * 🧠 AI Justice League * 🧠 DAIR Institute * 🧠 UNESCO on AI * 🧠 Alan Turing Institute on AI * 🧠 AI Asia Pacific Institute * 🌐 All Tech is Human * 📚 Book: AI Snake Oil * 📚 Book: Your Face Belongs to Us * 📚 Book: Unmasking AI * 📰 Madison Square Garden Facial Recognition Fiasco This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit productbymarcus.substack.com

    41 min

  2. 2025-06-24

    Inside a Product Recruiter’s Playbook | Heidi Ram

    Why You Should Listen This episode is a must-hear if you’re: * Set on making a new career into product or exploring an industry change as a product manager * Feeling the pressure to specialize… but still craving variety * Curious to know about the career trajectory of others who have successfully been placed by a recruiter * Staring at your resume wondering what’s actually working (tip: check out Heidi’s resume coaching) Heidi breaks down what hiring managers are really looking for, and why domain expertise has quietly become the default filter in most product searches today (and what to do if you don’t have it). She also shares real-world tactics: how to reach decision-makers directly, how to talk about failure without tanking your story, and why managers who stop building lose their edge. One Insight That Shifted My Perspective “The maker who exists in the manager needs to be the lens that is being applied to how they manage.” This line from Heidi hit me hard. Because what it really means is: even as a manager of product managers, your leadership is a reflection of the kind of maker you still are. Great product leaders aren’t just hired for their people skills — they’re hired because they still have the instincts, appetite, and taste to build. Heidi’s insight gives us a recruiter’s-eye view of what still matters at the highest levels: the ability to deliver, to think like a builder, and to lead with the same curiosity and creativity that got you into product in the first place. Why Heidi, and Why Now? After MedStack exited in late 2024, I found myself on a blank page unsure of what to tackle next. I resurfaced an essay I wrote a year prior on my “life goals” that served as a helpful reminder of the values, passions & interests, and motivating forces that power my beating heart. In pursuit of the next thing, I had been connected to a product recruiter. She was fiery and to the point. You couldn’t miss her emails as they had ACTIONS and KEY INFORMATION in bold + all caps. And when we finally got on a call together, I walked away absolutely vibrating with energy. She had me reimagine what could be possible. She’s the reason why I actually took the step to create this content in the first place, after feeling the nagging doubt for well over a year. So, naturally, I had to thank Heidi and welcome her as the first guest on this new show and endeavour. Heidi Ram is a partner at The Product Recruiter who places senior product leaders at high-growth tech companies. It was about absolute pleasure to have Heidi on the show. I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as Heidi and I had recording it. — Marcus This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit productbymarcus.substack.com

    56 min
  • 2 Episodes

About

Hi, I'm Marcus Polini. I write about product management strategies and tactics aimed to help product people do the best work of their lives. productbymarcus.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Where product thinking meets personal growth.
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Marcus Polini
  • Show Website
    Product by Marcus