The Intentional Product Manager Podcast

Shobhit Chugh
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Are you a high-performing product manager looking to reach the next level of success in your product career? Shobhit Chugh will show you how.Shobhit left a full-time roll at Google to help ambitious product managers position themselves to become product leaders, so they can raise their income as much as 50%, command the respect their hard work deserves, and make an impact they can truly be proud of.  To learn more about how to take your product management career talk to us at https://www.intentionalproductmanager.com/apply

  1. 16H AGO

    Leading Product Management Consultant on what CPOs actually care about

    Everyone’s talking about AI in product management. But in Shardul Mehta’s conversations with CPOs and VPs of Product, that’s not what’s keeping leaders up at night. The real shift: product teams are being held accountable for business outcomes, revenue, margin, and return on investment, and many can’t explain why their roadmap deserves continued funding.  In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager podcast, we break down the “translation tax” product leaders are paying, what this means for individual product managers, and why the jump from Senior PM to Director often fails when people try to become a “super PM” instead of building the decision-making system. In this episode, we cover: Why product leaders aren’t obsessed with AI (and what they are obsessed with)The credibility gap + “translation tax” inside product orgsThe 5 breakdowns execs keep seeing (goals, money story, exec language, GTM, alignment) What PMs can do immediately: cost-of-team thinking + ROI narratives (without finance cosplay)Why new Directors drown: the creator → operator shiftIf you’re a product manager trying to grow into leadership, this episode gives you the framing to stop being seen as a delivery person and start being treated like a business operator. Highlights: 00:24 Meet Shardul Mehta: 30 Years in Product, Startups, and GenAI Launches 01:22 Origin Story: Builder Mindset, Tech Roots, and Entrepreneurship Track 02:56 The ‘Accidental PM’ Wake-Up Call: Credibility, Communication, and the Unlock 07:08 The New Scoreboard: What CPOs Worry About (It’s Not AI) 09:53 The Credibility Gap: 5 Executive Complaints About Product Teams 11:42 Skills vs Comms: Money Stories, Board Questions, and the Translation Tax 14:29 Hot Take: Why ‘Product Owner’ Isn’t Product Management 17:04 What This Means for Individual PMs: Proving ROI and Acting as Fiduciaries 21:06 Do We Really Need More Squads? Making the Revenue Case 21:30 Back-of-the-Napkin Costing: What Does a Sprint Actually Cost? 22:14 Capacity Is Finite: Trade-offs, Opportunity Cost, and Prioritization 23:10 Startups vs Big Tech vs Private Equity: How the ROI Questions Change 25:48 Why Product Directors Fail: The ‘Super PM’ Trap 27:14 Creator → Operator: Building the System, Not Doing All the Details 28:08 Promotion Reality Check: Readiness, Fair Paths, and Not Getting Strung Along 30:12 Mentoring PMs (Korea & Beyond): Cutting Through Noise and Bad Advice 31:12 Commercial Mindset for PMs: Sales Calls, Incentives, and Business Results 33:45 Managing Up Without the ‘Politics’ Hangup 35:15 Fun Wrap-Up: Improv Lessons, Favorite Product, and a Hot Take on PM Follow Shobhit Chugh at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/ Follow Shardul Mehta at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shardulmehta/ Check out Street Smart Product Manager at https://streetsmartproductmanager.com/ www.intentionalproductmanager.com

    38 min

  2. JAN 28

    From Execution to Influence: Navigating AI, Innovation, and Strategic Product Leadership (with Mick Gupta)

    AI didn’t change the Product Management job. It changed the tempo. And most PMs are responding the wrong way.  Producing more artifacts instead of making better decisions. Using AI to look busy instead of getting ruthless about what matters. In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager podcast, Shobhit Chugh sits down with Mick Gupta (Head of Product, GenAI Monetization & Incentives at Scale AI). Mick has led product across Amazon, Microsoft, Airbnb, Meta, SoFi, and Brex, and he breaks down what actually matters for PMs in the AI era: judgment, evals, dogfooding, and stakeholder alignment through vision. You’ll learn: Why AI makes output cheaper, but doesn’t make output judgment freeHow eval-driven development turns “seems good” into “is good”Why dogfooding matters more than ever for AI productsHow to ramp fast in a new company with a repeatable operating systemHow vision becomes the decision framework that drives alignmentHow to protect thinking time and build experimentation into your weekIf you’re a PM trying to break into AI, level up into leadership, or stop drowning in artifacts and start driving decisions, this one is for you. Highlights: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:06 Mick's Career Journey and Key Experiences 04:39 Challenges of Embedding in New Organizations 07:33 Product Management Insights and Advice 09:12 AI in Product Management 18:23 Future Trends in AI and Product Management 21:40 Balancing Innovation and Daily Responsibilities 22:19 Balancing Meetings and Mental Health 23:05 Starting Small with Side Projects 23:26 Leveraging AI in Product Management 23:55 Creating Enjoyable Side Projects 28:41 The Importance of Vision in Stakeholder Alignment 32:40 Common Mistakes and Lessons for PMs 38:47 Breaking into AI Product Management 42:38 Fun Questions and Final Thoughts Connect with Mick: X: @mickguptaEmail: mickgupta@gmail.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickgupta/Connect with Shobhit: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/ www.intentionalproductmanager.com

    46 min

  3. JAN 14

    Senior Director of Product Shows You How To Stand Out and Earn Trust as a Product Manager

    How do you get your first win fast as a new Product Manager, without betting your credibility on a 6-month project? In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Shobhit Chugh sits down with Kunal Thadani, Senior Director of Product at Houzz to break down how product managers can stand out in their careers by earning trust fast, tying work to business outcomes, and prioritizing speed of execution over perfection.  Kunal shares a repeatable approach for landing early wins, including building a simple revenue equation, dogfooding the product, and focusing on low-lift, high-impact optimizations before building anything new.  They also talk about the Litmus Framework, a prioritization method that combines napkin math, resourcing cost, risk to existing revenue, and executive buy-in to increase decision quality and move faster with confidence.  If you’re looking to win fast, build trust early, and stop betting your credibility on big ideas, this episode is for you. Highlights: 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:27 Guest Introduction: Kunal Thadani 01:08 Warm-Up Questions and Early Career Advice 02:49 Understanding Product Management Misconceptions 05:15 Effective Product Management Practices 06:50 Achieving Your First Big Win as a Product Manager 12:52 Case Studies: High Impact Wins 22:56 Introducing the Litmus Framework 25:21 Applying the Litmus Framework: Examples and Benefits 33:42 Fun Questions and Contrarian Beliefs 36:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Connect with Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/ Connect with Kunal Thadani on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kunal-thadani-72a13722/ Follow Kunal's newsletter here: https://www.insidergrowthhq.com/ www.intentionalproductmanager.com

    38 min

  4. JAN 7

    Scaling Product Organizations with an AI-first Approach

    What does it take to build platform products that scale from startup to enterprise? And in an AI-forward world, how do product managers stay relevant and lead? In this episode, Bala Venkatrao joins Shobhit Chugh for a powerful conversation on what it really means to build with intention. Bala has scaled product orgs at every stage from founding his own company to leading Atlassian’s cloud platform and now driving innovation at Harness. His approach to leadership, platform strategy, and AI-first product thinking is grounded, tactical, and proven. Whether you’re growing a new initiative or navigating the executive track, this episode is your blueprint for creating impact that compounds. What You’ll Learn in This Episode What it takes to build scalable platform productsWhy AI-forward platforms are winning and how to lead with data, context, and agents instead of buzzwordsHow to apply the founder mindset in any company, from startup to enterpriseThe CATS Leadership Framework Bala uses to lead with clarity, accountability, and trustWhat separates product managers who stay stuck… from those who step into executive rolesTactical advice on using AI as a real tool, not just a label Highlights 00:00 Introduction  00:29 Guest Introduction: Bala Venkatrao 01:09 Harness: The AI Native SDLC Platform 03:40 Bala's Role at Harness 07:02 Journey at Atlassian 10:24 Entrepreneurial Mindset in Product Management 15:02 The Role of AI in Product Management 18:43 Embracing Change for Continuous Learning 19:22 Practical Tips for Staying Updated 21:43 Leadership Philosophy and Evolution 24:26 The CAT Framework for Effective Leadership 27:33 Advice for Aspiring Leaders 30:59 Final Thoughts and Staying Curious Connect with Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/ Connect with Bala Venkatrao on LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/in/bvenkatrao/  www.intentionalproductmanager.com

    35 min

  5. JAN 2

    Top Themes from the Intentional Product Manager Podcast - 2025 Edition

    What if you could be mentored by the most powerful product leaders at the best companies in the world? How would their advice change your career trajectory and your earning potential in 2026? Over the past year, we’ve had rare access to exactly that.  We’ve spoken with 40+ elite product leaders from companies like Google, Meta, Netflix, Amazon, and high-growth startups who are shaping the future of product and leadership. And something became very clear. The Product Managers who advance faster, earn more, and step into real leadership roles aren’t just more talented. They’re operating with a different mental model. One that most product managers are never taught. In this solo episode, Shobhit Chugh, CEO and founder of Intentional Product Manager distills the 10 most powerful insights that surfaced repeatedly across these conversations into a clear, actionable framework you can apply immediately. Whether you’re trying to: Land your next Product Manager roleSecure a promotionTransition into senior positionsOr future-proof your career as AI reshapes product…these insights will help you think more strategically, stand out to decision-makers, and move forward with intention in 2026. The themes cover what truly separates top-tier Product Managers: Driving measurable business outcomesUsing storytelling to influence executivesLeading with clarity in ambiguityUnlocking career growth through internal transfersFocusing on problems over solutionsAdopting a true business owner mindsetNavigating AI as a strategic advantageAligning teams early to avoid costly misstepsMaking critical mindset shifts as you level upApplying strategic thinking leaders actually valueThis isn’t generic advice.  It’s condensed mentorship from the world’s most influential product leaders. Highlights: 00:00 Introduction to Intentional Product Manager 00:37 Top Themes from Product Leaders 01:26 Theme 1: Drive Outcomes, Not Outputs 02:28 Theme 2: The Power of Storytelling 03:13 Theme 3: Clarity Over Execution 04:28 Theme 4: Transitioning into Product Management 05:01 Theme 5: Obsess Over the Problem 05:34 Theme 6: Own the Business, Not Just the Product 07:28 Theme 7: AI is Changing Everything 08:09 Theme 8: The Importance of Alignment 08:43 Theme 9: Mindset as a Multiplier 10:37 Theme 10: Strategic Thinking Over Execution 12:18 Conclusion and Recap Follow Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/ www.intentionalproductmanager.com

    13 min

  6. 12/24/2025

    The Invisible Traps Blocking Ambitious Product Leaders (and How to Overcome Them)

    You’ve done everything right. Optimized your resume, followed the roadmap, and kept grinding… Yet you’re still stuck. Still underpaid. Still wondering why others are moving ahead in their careers and you’re not. In this episode, I break down the real reason high-performing Product Managers hit a plateau. And it’s not your resume, your credentials, or even the job market. It’s the state your nervous system is operating from. You’ll discover: Why even the smartest Product Managers stall out in their job search or career climbHow stress, rejection, and “playing not to lose” silently block career and income growthThe 12-minute daily practice that rewires your mindset to operate from clarity and powerCareer-killing mindset traps and how to reset themHow to build the identity, energy, and confidence of a top-earning product leaderIf you’re tired of second-guessing yourself, watching others get promoted, or working beneath your full earning potential, this episode gives you the reset you’ve been looking for. This isn’t fluff. This is performance psychology for ambitious product leaders. Your mindset is your multiplier. Reset it and watch your income and influence grow. Highlights: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:45 Understanding the Real Issue 01:10 The Importance of Mindset 04:54 Minimum Viable Progress 08:15 Six Mindset Traps 14:21 Conclusion and Next Steps www.intentionalproductmanager.com

    15 min

  7. 12/10/2025

    Landing and Leading AI/ML Product Management Roles in Big Tech

    Here’s the truth: Everyone is chasing AI. Everyone is updating their resume. But very few candidates are building the kind of narrative and positioning that creates belief, the thing that actually leads to offers. In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Deepak Tiwari, product leader at Meta, Google, Lyft, shared some of the clearest, most actionable insights on: What hiring actually looks like inside Big Tech right now and where AI is creating demand for Product ManagersThe difference between a $600K and $1.2M interview (and how to prepare for each)How to tell the story of your impact instead of just listing titles or tasksThe biggest mistakes senior Product Managers make when applying and how to avoid themWhy data alone isn't enough and how to balance intuition with analysisWhat hiring managers look for in AI/ML Product Managers (hint: it’s not just buzzwords)Signals that a company takes product management seriouslyHow to decide whether ML is the right solution or just tech theaterWhat to include in your resume if you want to be taken seriously in AI rolesWhy writing and reading skills become a strategic advantage as you riseShobhit and Deepak unpack how senior product managers can land executive roles, especially in today’s AI-saturated job market by refining their narrative, building trust before interviews, and making strategic career bets. Highlights: 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 01:05 Deepak's Journey into Product Management 03:48 Lessons from Google 06:45 Current Job Market and Hiring Trends 16:28 Advice for Aspiring Product Managers 19:00 Key Skills and Metrics for Product Managers 28:39 AI and Machine Learning in Product Management 40:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts If you’re a product leader aiming to make your next big move, whether into Big Tech, AI startups, or executive leadership, this episode is for you. Follow Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/ Follow Deepak Tiwari in LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/detiwari/ www.intentionalproductmanager.com

    39 min

  8. 12/03/2025

    Leading Through Tech Transformations: Career Lessons and Strategic Moves with Vik Chaudhary

    What does it take to lead and stay relevant through multiple waves of industry disruption? In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Shobhit Chugh sits down with Vik Chaudhary, VP of Product, ex-Meta leader, MIT AI Lab alum, and veteran of three major tech revolutions: → SaaS → Cloud Infrastructure → Enterprise AI Vik has built products, led teams, and influenced strategy through it all. But what makes his perspective unique is how he adapts with clarity, decisiveness, and deep cross-functional thinking. In this conversation, you’ll learn: How to thrive as a Product Manager during major tech shiftsThe difference between strategy and execution, and why knowing your strength matters more than everWhy some of the best Product Managers are now “full-stack” operatorsWhat it means to be indispensable to both product and salesWhy big tech behemoths still matter and how to navigate around (or with) themThe career trap many Product Managers fall into when trying to “climb” to leadershipA candid look at how Vik redefined his career by stepping off the traditional path This episode is packed with timeless lessons, hard-won wisdom, and tactical insights that every product leader needs right now. 00:00 Introduction  00:56 First Big Technology Shift: From Software to SaaS 04:30 Strategic vs. Execution Oriented in Tech Shifts 12:37 Respecting Industry Behemoths 19:43 Adapting to Technological Shifts in Product Management 31:04 Understanding the Technological Shift 32:25 The Role of a Full Stack Product Manager 36:12 Becoming Indispensable in a Technological Shift 40:43 Career Growth and Bold Moves 47:16 Corporate Level Impact and Executive Trajectory 56:54 Final Thoughts and Career Advice Connect with Shobhit Chugh on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/ Connect with Vik Chaudhary on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikchaudhary/ www.intentionalproductmanager.com

    45 min
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Are you a high-performing product manager looking to reach the next level of success in your product career? Shobhit Chugh will show you how.Shobhit left a full-time roll at Google to help ambitious product managers position themselves to become product leaders, so they can raise their income as much as 50%, command the respect their hard work deserves, and make an impact they can truly be proud of.  To learn more about how to take your product management career talk to us at https://www.intentionalproductmanager.com/apply

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