Product with Sai

Sai Bhavana Akkineni
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Welcome to Product with Sai - where we figure out Product Management together. I'm Sai, transitioning from Software Engineer to Business Analyst to PM. If you're a BA, engineer, or anyone who's looked at PM roles and thought "how do I do this?" - this is for you. Every week, I break down PM concepts in simple terms. No jargon. No gatekeeping. Just real talk about what PMs do, how to transition, and how to navigate this on a work visa. Short episodes (10-15 min). Actionable advice. Zero fluff. We're figuring this out together. New episodes every Monday.

  1. 4D AGO

    The Loneliness of Career Transitions (And How to Deal With It)

    Today's episode is different. It's not about PM tactics or frameworks or skills. Today, we're talking about something nobody really talks about but everyone feels: the loneliness of career transitions. I need to be honest with you - I feel this constantly. Some days, I feel so alone in this journey. Like I'm the only one who wants this. Like I'm the only one willing to risk what I'm risking. And I know I'm not actually alone. I know there are thousands of you out there going through the same thing. But knowing that intellectually doesn't always make the loneliness go away. So today, I want to talk about it. The real, messy, hard parts of changing careers that nobody warns you about. You'll hear about: - When the loneliness hits hardest (choosing non-traditional paths, feeling stuck while others move forward, networking with people who've already made it) - What people say that makes it worse ("Why don't you just stay in your stable job?" "You're going against our advice") - Feeling lonely even when surrounded by people (at work, social events, imposter syndrome) - Being alone vs being lonely (the critical difference that changed everything for me) - Wanting to give up million times (and what pulls me through - my why, regret being worse than failure) - What I wish people understood (the goals list keeps getting longer, you'll never feel "done") - How I cope: Asking for help (not validation), people who actually listen, reaching out to those who made it, sharing vulnerabilities, building in public - Every "no" is a redirection, not a rejection - Feeling lonely in my ambition (constantly asking "why can't I choose something easy?") - The power of "me too" moments Real, vulnerable talk about: - Why I can't just "be content" with a stable BA job - Feeling like I'm going against everyone's advice - My best friend who just listens without giving advice - Why I keep chasing the next goal (US → Big Tech → BA → PM - I never stop) - Building imaginary noise-canceling headphones to tune out external voices This isn't about tactics. This is about the human side of career change. The loneliness is real. But you're not alone in feeling it. 15 minutes. Raw and honest. How are YOU dealing with the loneliness of your transition? DM me @productwithsai - let's remind each other we're not alone. Connect: Instagram @productwithsai | LinkedIn: Sai Bhavana Akkineni

    13 min

  2. MAR 2

    Building Your PM Portfolio (Do You Even Need One?)

    Last week we talked about how competitive the PM job market is. When the market is that tough, you need to stand out. Which brings us to today's question: Do you need a PM portfolio? And my answer is: Yes. Especially if you're transitioning from a non-PM role. Think about how you hire a photographer. You don't hire them based on a resume saying "I'm good at photography." You look at their portfolio. You see their work. You see their style. Same thing with PMs when you don't have PM experience yet. In this episode, I share what I'm learning about PM portfolios—what works, what doesn't, and what I'm actually doing myself. You'll learn: - Do you need a portfolio? Yes—it's proof you can do PM work (photographer analogy) - What should be in it: Case studies, mock PRDs, product teardowns, current work, side projects, community building - Pick unpopular apps (not generic Netflix/Spotify case studies—stand out!) - Your podcast/community = portfolio (shows PM thinking, user understanding, building in public) - Dealing with confidentiality (my TxDOT work is government/confidential—how to showcase thinking without sharing proprietary info) - Format options: Personal website, Notion, Google Doc, PDF, LinkedIn - Content > aesthetics (start simple, make it pretty later) - Do portfolios actually help? Yes—they show initiative and get you interviews, but bigger value is building YOUR skills - Common mistakes: Too comprehensive, generic case studies, academic vs practical, never updating, focusing on design over thinking - Make it a fun project (if it feels like a chore, it'll show) - How to start: Pick one product, use a framework, write it down, share somewhere, iterate - Portfolio needs regular updates (every 3 months) My honest reality: I'm building mine right now. It's not perfect. It's taking longer than I'd like. But I'm okay with it being a work in progress. 12 minutes. Practical and real. You don't need perfect. You just need to start. Are you building a PM portfolio? What are you including? DM me @productwithsai Connect: Instagram @productwithsai | LinkedIn: Sai Bhavana Akkineni

    12 min

  3. FEB 23

    The PM Job Market Right Now (2026 Reality Check)

    Let me be honest: the PM job market in 2026 is tough. I'm not saying this to discourage you. I'm saying it because pretending things are easy when they're not doesn't help anyone. I'm in this market myself. I'm researching companies, looking at job postings, talking to PMs and recruiters. And the reality? It's more competitive than it was a few years ago. But that doesn't mean it's impossible. It just means we need to be strategic, patient, and realistic about what we're up against. In this episode, I'm sharing what I'm actually seeing in the market, what the data shows, and what this means for your PM transition. You'll learn: - The honest truth: competition is intense, companies are pickier, transitions are harder - The numbers: 6,000+ PM openings globally (up 53% from 2023 bottom, but still competitive) - Senior vs junior roles: Companies hiring aggressively for senior/mid-level, pulling back on junior - AI PM roles are growing (opportunity if you have AI fluency) - Industries hiring most: Fintech, healthcare tech, B2B SaaS - PM salaries holding steady ($92K-$139K mid-level, $150K-$180K+ senior) - Work visa realities: Big tech still sponsors H1Bs, small/mid often don't - My personal situation: Wait and watch mode (visa constraints + market conditions) - What hiring managers want: Domain expertise, technical fluency, data literacy, proven execution - Timeline reality: 6-12 months more realistic than 3 months - Strategic advice: Build skills in current role, network > cold applications, quality > quantity No sugar-coating. No unrealistic hope. Just real talk. The market sucks. But it's not impossible. It requires patience, strategy, and persistence. 12 minutes of honest assessment from someone in the trenches with you. How's the job market feeling for you? DM me @productwithsai Next episode: Building Your PM Portfolio (Do You Even Need One?) Connect: Instagram @productwithsai | LinkedIn: Sai Bhavana Akkineni

    12 min

  4. FEB 16

    Building PM Skills in Your Current Role (Even If It's Not a PM Job)

    Here's something strategic that most people miss when transitioning to Product Management: Your current job - whatever it is right now - is actually your best training ground for building PM skills. Everyone's focused on side projects, online courses, networking outside their company. And all of that matters. But you're at your current job 40 hours a week. You have real projects. Real stakeholders. Real problems to solve. Why not use that environment to build the exact skills you need? In this episode, I share how I'm leveraging my BA role at TxDOT to build PM skills - even though TxDOT doesn't have Product Manager positions. You'll learn: - Why your current job is your training ground (real context, trust, ability to experiment) - My reality at TxDOT (working with Product Owners, reframing my BA work through PM lens) - If your company HAS PM roles (advantages of internal transitions, how to position yourself) - If your company DOESN'T have PM roles (still leverage it - skills are portable) - 7 practical ways to build PM skills in your current role - The Month 2 framework (building proof of work where you are) - How to reframe your work through a PM lens (WHY, WHO, what problem, bigger picture) - Volunteering strategically for projects that stretch you - Building relationships across your organization - Documenting your PM work for future opportunities This applies whether your company has PM roles or not. Whether you plan to stay long-term or eventually move. Whether you're a BA, engineer, designer, or in a completely different field. The skills you build are portable. They go with you wherever you go. Real examples from my TxDOT experience - what I'm doing, what's working, how I'm growing. 12 minutes. Strategic and practical. You're there 40 hours a week anyway. Use it to grow. Are you leveraging your current role to build PM skills? DM me @productwithsai - I'd love to hear what you're doing. Next episode: How to Talk About Your PM Transition in Networking and Interviews Connect: Instagram @productwithsai | LinkedIn: Sai Bhavana Akkineni

    12 min

  5. FEB 9

    How I Actually Manage Everything (The Real, Messy Truth)

    "Sai, how do you do it all?" I get this question constantly. People see the full-time BA job, the weekly podcast, the Instagram content, the networking, the learning PM on the side - and they think I have it all figured out. But here's the truth: I don't. Some weeks I'm on fire. Other weeks I do nothing and feel guilty. And honestly, the past few months I've been burnt out - like, really burnt out. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain. No tactics. No frameworks. Just real talk about how I'm managing everything without completely falling apart. You'll hear: - My actual daily routine (5:30am wake-ups, what I do before work, evenings, weekends) - What's working (early mornings, systems, boundaries, 14 years of journaling) - What's NOT working (rest, managing multiple platforms, guilt) - The burnout story (and what I learned from it) - Daily negotiations I make (rest vs content, friends vs sleep, hustle vs peace) - My philosophy: Systems over hustle culture - Boundaries I protect (sleep, mornings, quality time with friends) - What I'm changing in 2026 (more rest, better boundaries, grace for myself) - If you're overwhelmed right now (what you actually need) This episode is different. It's not educational content. It's just... life. The real, messy truth. I'm not teaching you time management. I'm just sharing what I'm learning as I figure this out. Because here's what I've realized: if you don't treat YOUR life as a product - if you don't manage your time, energy, and health with care - none of the PM tactics matter. You can't make it through a career transition if you're burnt out. 13 minutes. Real talk. Like talking to a friend over coffee. How do YOU manage everything? DM me @productwithsai - I'd love to hear your story. Next episode: Back to PM tactics - How to Demonstrate PM Skills in Your Current Role Connect: Instagram @productwithsai | LinkedIn: Sai Bhavana Akkineni

    13 min

  6. JAN 26

    BA vs PM - What's Actually Different (And Why It Matters for Your Transition)

    This episode is personal. Because this is the question I've been living with every single day: What's the actual difference between a Business Analyst and a Product Manager? On paper, they sound really similar. You gather requirements. You work with stakeholders. You translate between business and tech. You write documentation. You facilitate meetings. So what's different? And why does it matter for your transition? I'm a BA right now, actively transitioning to PM. And I've spent a LOT of time thinking about this question. The difference is more subtle than I expected. But it's also more important than I expected. In this episode, I break down exactly what's different between BA and PM - not the textbook answer, the real answer from someone living this transition. You'll learn: - The surface-level similarities (and why the roles are confusing) - Difference #1: "How" vs "What and Why" (BAs figure out how to build, PMs decide what to build) - Difference #2: Execution vs Strategy (zoomed in vs zoomed out) - Difference #3: Ownership and Accountability (who's on the hook for success) - Difference #4: Stakeholder Management (different levels, different stakes) - Difference #5: User Focus (usability vs deep user understanding) - Difference #6: Product Sense (that gut feeling about what will work) - Difference #7: Metrics and Outcomes (deliverables vs business impact) - What this means for your transition (7 specific actions I'm taking) - The good news for BAs (you're closer than you think) Real examples from my own BA work and how I'm shifting my thinking. This isn't theory. This is what I'm actively working through right now. 12 minutes. Real talk about the BA to PM transition. If you're a BA, what's the hardest part of thinking like a PM? DM me @productwithsai - I'm living this with you. Connect: Instagram @productwithsai | LinkedIn: Sai Bhavana Akkineni

    12 min

  7. JAN 19

    Your PM Resume - What Actually Matters

    Your resume is your first impression. It's what gets you the interview or gets you rejected. And when you're transitioning to PM without a PM title, your resume has to work harder. It needs to tell a story. It needs to position you as someone who's already doing PM work, even if your title says Business Analyst or Software Engineer. I've gone through 10+ iterations of my resume. I've worked with mentors who hire PMs. I've learned what works and what doesn't. In this episode, I'm sharing everything I've learned about PM resumes. You'll learn: - The biggest mistake people make (task-based vs impact-based bullets) - How to frame your BA/engineering experience as PM work - What recruiters are actually looking for (strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration, user empathy, data literacy, execution) - The resume structure that works (and what to cut) - Keywords that matter for ATS systems - How to tailor your resume for each company - Common mistakes to avoid (being too modest, using first person, lying) - Resume vs LinkedIn (they're different!) - Getting feedback that actually helps Real examples from my own resume evolution - what I changed and why. This isn't generic resume advice. This is specific to PM transitions. 11 minutes of practical, actionable guidance. By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what to update on your resume this week. How many versions of your resume have you gone through? DM me @productwithsai if you want quick feedback. Next episode: BA vs PM - What's Actually Different (And Why It Matters for Your Transition) Connect: Instagram @productwithsai | LinkedIn: Sai Bhavana Akkineni

    11 min

  8. JAN 12

    Networking for PMs (Even If You Hate Networking)

    Let's talk about the thing that makes most of us uncomfortable: networking. I get it. The word "networking" feels... icky. Like you're using people. Like you're being fake. Like you're collecting business cards and pretending to care. But here's the reality: most PM jobs come through referrals, not cold applications. Networking isn't optional. It's essential. The good news? It doesn't have to be gross or transactional. In this episode, I break down how I'm networking as an introvert who finds this stuff uncomfortable. Real strategies. No BS. You'll learn: - Why networking actually matters for PM transitions (the stats might surprise you) - The coffee chat strategy - how to ask, what to ask, how to follow up - How to do this as an introvert (2-3 chats/week, not 10/day) - What to say in your outreach messages (with templates) - Preparing questions that show you're serious and thoughtful - Following up without being annoying - Turning conversations into opportunities over time - Networking beyond coffee chats (LinkedIn, communities, meetups) - What NOT to do (don't ask for jobs immediately!) - Managing rejection when people say no or ghost you I'm committing to 2-3 coffee chats per week for Q1 2026. It's uncomfortable. But it matters. This episode is real talk from someone who's actively networking right now - the awkwardness, the wins, the strategy. 11 minutes. Practical advice for people who hate networking. Have you done any PM coffee chats yet? What's holding you back? DM me @productwithsai - let's talk about it. Next episode: Your PM Resume - What Actually Matters Connect: Instagram @productwithsai | LinkedIn: Sai Bhavana Akkineni

    10 min
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About

Welcome to Product with Sai - where we figure out Product Management together. I'm Sai, transitioning from Software Engineer to Business Analyst to PM. If you're a BA, engineer, or anyone who's looked at PM roles and thought "how do I do this?" - this is for you. Every week, I break down PM concepts in simple terms. No jargon. No gatekeeping. Just real talk about what PMs do, how to transition, and how to navigate this on a work visa. Short episodes (10-15 min). Actionable advice. Zero fluff. We're figuring this out together. New episodes every Monday.

Information

  • Creator
    Sai Bhavana Akkineni
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sai Bhavana Akkineni
  • Show Website
    Product with Sai