Beyond Product Management

Heather Miller (PDRM Consulting)

Beyond Product Management is a podcast that explores the unexpected intersections of product management with other disciplines, industries, and ideas. We go beyond the usual frameworks to uncover fresh perspectives, unconventional insights, and the skills that truly set great PMs apart.

  1. 2d ago

    Privacy vs. Security: Why Your Business Needs Both

    Privacy and security get used like they mean the same thing. They don’t. Treating them as one can leave a gap in your business you don’t even know is there. In this Cybersecurity Awareness Month episode, Heather introduces Sarah. Sarah is a coaching founder who has done a lot right: a password manager, a reputable CRM, a properly set-up Google account. Her tools are secure. But her intake form collects information she never uses, her session notes live in her phone’s notes app, and sensitive client texts stay on her phone forever. Sarah never asked the privacy questions. Heather explains the difference simply. Privacy is about what data you collect and who gets to see it. Security is about how you protect it. You need both to protect the business you’ve built. In this episode: Clear definitions of privacy and security, and why they get mixed upWhy you can have security without privacy, but you can’t really have privacy without securityWhy losing client data hurts more than losing your own, and what it costs in trust, renewals, and referralsThe overlooked places client data lives: notes apps, old intake forms, texts, DMs, and voice messagesWhy “I’m too small to be a target” is a myth, and why being small can make you more of a targetA brief look at privacy laws (GDPR and US state laws), including why your prospects’ locations matter too (not legal advice)Your two moves this week: Privacy move: List every place client information shows up in your business. Then simplify. Consolidate tools that do the same job, and get your data out of accounts you haven’t opened in six months.Security move: Turn on multi-factor authentication for your CRM and your email.Your reflection prompt: If a client asked you to show them every place their information lives in your business, could you do it? PDRM Consulting's mission is to help businesses reduce risk, specifically in the fields of Cybersecurity and Product Management. Heather bridges the professional development gap in the corporate space by empowering growth-driven product managers to transition into strategic, results-oriented leaders. By focusing on enhancing key skills and decision-making capabilities, she helps them accelerate their leadership journey, achieve measurable outcomes more quickly, and excel in driving product success. Her approach ensures they thrive in their roles and unlock their full potential as impactful servant leaders within their organizations. You can follow us for more daily content: Instagram: @pdrmconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pdrm-consulting Join our Newsletter:https://solitary-block-17987.myflodesk.com/ofo6k6a0f9

  2. 4d ago

    100 Episodes In: What I've Learned and Where We're Going

    One hundred episodes! Since our first episode launched on February 20, 2025, this podcast has become a much bigger part of my life and our business than I ever expected. In this milestone episode, I'm reflecting on what the first 100 episodes have taught me about myself and about running a business, and sharing a few of the Big Bold Actions that will shape the next chapter of the show. In this episode, I talk about: Why podcasting is the perfect mix of writing and speaking for me, and how speech and debate prepared me for it (every episode is basically a mini debate party)Three lessons from 100 episodes: consistency is real and so is life, it's okay to re-evaluate, and having a roadmap mattersWhy I took last September off, and how I've stayed consistent with two episodes a week since JuneMy 100 Big Bold Actions list, inspired by my mentor Taylor Smith's 100 Big Asks for Power Table LiveThe story behind the name Beyond Product Management, and why a rebrand is coming around the new yearWhy I'm pausing new guest recordings this fall, and why being honest about your capacity is a business skillMy upcoming podcast and community speaking tour, featuring my talk Protect the Business You've BuiltOur goal of bringing on the podcast's first episode sponsorSome of my favorite unexpected episodes, from the women who shaped me to what my dad taught me about leading in productKey takeaway: Burning out helps no one. Knowing when to adjust, whether that's taking a month off or pausing guest interviews, is how you keep showing up at your highest potential. Want me on your podcast or in your community? I'm booking speaking opportunities for Protect the Business You've Built, a talk on why female entrepreneurs need security and the first five steps they need to take to protect what they've built. Reach out at hmiller@pdrmconsulting.com. PDRM Consulting's mission is to help businesses reduce risk, specifically in the fields of Cybersecurity and Product Management. Heather bridges the professional development gap in the corporate space by empowering growth-driven product managers to transition into strategic, results-oriented leaders. By focusing on enhancing key skills and decision-making capabilities, she helps them accelerate their leadership journey, achieve measurable outcomes more quickly, and excel in driving product success. Her approach ensures they thrive in their roles and unlock their full potential as impactful servant leaders within their organizations. You can follow us for more daily content: Instagram: @pdrmconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pdrm-consulting Join our Newsletter:https://solitary-block-17987.myflodesk.com/ofo6k6a0f9

  3. Oct 1

    Protect the Business You've Built: Why Cybersecurity Awareness Month Matters for Female Founders

    October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and in this kickoff episode, Heather breaks down what the month is, why it exists, and why it matters so much for female founders and small business owners. This year, CISA's theme is Securing the Next 250 and the National Cybersecurity Alliance's theme is Don't Make It Easy on Them. Together, they tell the whole story: close the easy gaps today and build security that will hold up tomorrow. Here at PDRM, our theme for the month is Protect the Business You've Built, because you've poured too much into your business to leave the front door wide open. In this episode, we cover: What Cybersecurity Awareness Month is and this year's national themesWhy hackers are like water, always taking the path of least resistanceThe myth of being "too small to be a target," and why 57% of small business owners believe itWhy 84% of small business owners managing their own security, often with a $0 budget, is a lot of risk on one person's shouldersHow human error, like clicking a phishing link, drives the majority of cyber incidentsWhy the true cost of a breach goes far beyond dollars: lost time, lost focus, lost clients, and reputational damageHow good security makes your business run better, from smoother onboarding and offboarding to confidently answering RFPs and vendor questionnairesWhy communication is key if an incident does happenThis week's challenge: Pick one account that matters to your business, like your email, your bank, or your client portal, and make sure multi-factor authentication is turned on. One door. Close it this week. Resources & Links: Security Besties — A hands-on cybersecurity community built specifically for female entrepreneurs. Start with our new onboarding course, Your First 30 Days in Security Besties: five quick wins, including MFA setup and choosing the right password manager for your business. [LINK]Free October Webinars — Two free public webinars on October 7 and October 28. Invite-only for Security Besties and their invited guests on October 27. PDRM Consulting's mission is to help businesses reduce risk, specifically in the fields of Cybersecurity and Product Management. Heather bridges the professional development gap in the corporate space by empowering growth-driven product managers to transition into strategic, results-oriented leaders. By focusing on enhancing key skills and decision-making capabilities, she helps them accelerate their leadership journey, achieve measurable outcomes more quickly, and excel in driving product success. Her approach ensures they thrive in their roles and unlock their full potential as impactful servant leaders within their organizations. You can follow us for more daily content: Instagram: @pdrmconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pdrm-consulting Join our Newsletter:https://solitary-block-17987.myflodesk.com/ofo6k6a0f9

  4. Sep 29

    Inclusive Strategy Isn't Charity — It's Competitive Advantage

    Inclusive strategy isn't charity — it's competitive advantage. In this episode, Heather sits down with Celeste Warren, who spent 28 years at a Fortune 100 company (the last decade as VP and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer leading a global center of excellence for 75,000 employees), to unpack what that actually means for product leaders, founders, and hiring managers. Celeste is the founder of her own consulting firm, author of The Truth About Equity, and co-founder of Destination STEM, a nonprofit helping students of color pursue STEM degrees. Guest self-intro cue: "Celeste, before we dive in, I'd love for you to introduce yourself in your own words." What we cover: Why equity isn't about lowering the bar — it's about meeting people where they are so they can succeed (and why that's just good management)The revenue and market-share cost of getting inclusive strategy wrongHow to build inclusive product strategy at any budget — from proof-of-concept through diverse focus groupsWhy diverse voices matter most at the ideation stage, and when to shift to targeted customer segmentsDebunking the "unqualified hire" myth: separating equity from tokenism in hiringHeather's own story of designing a patient portal workflow around her lived experience as a mom of a medically complex childDestination STEM — the nonprofit Celeste co-founded with her kids to open STEM pathways for students of colorCeleste's one big takeaway for founders: inclusive leadership isn't a "soft skill" — it's critical to product, marketing, and sales successWebsite: crwdiversity.com Book: The Truth About Equity: What It Really Is, What It Isn't, And Why Everyone Wins When We Get It Right LinkedIn: Celeste Warren PDRM Consulting's mission is to help businesses reduce risk, specifically in the fields of Cybersecurity and Product Management. Heather bridges the professional development gap in the corporate space by empowering growth-driven product managers to transition into strategic, results-oriented leaders. By focusing on enhancing key skills and decision-making capabilities, she helps them accelerate their leadership journey, achieve measurable outcomes more quickly, and excel in driving product success. Her approach ensures they thrive in their roles and unlock their full potential as impactful servant leaders within their organizations. You can follow us for more daily content: Instagram: @pdrmconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pdrm-consulting Join our Newsletter:https://solitary-block-17987.myflodesk.com/ofo6k6a0f9

  5. Sep 24

    The Stack Behind the Strategy

    Heather opens up the actual tech stack running PDRM Consulting and PDRM Cyber — not a resource list, but why each tool earns its place, how it feeds strategy, and where security shows up in tools you wouldn't expect. In This Episode: Rella's calendar view and growth insights ("data is how I make decisions")Canva as the one-stop shop for brand-consistent visualsMoving Security Besties Community from Telegram + Google Meet to CircleGoogle Workspace as the quiet backbone of the businessUsing Claude Cowork to speed up show notes and quote-pulling — without replacing judgmentMonday.com and Heather's product management roots at NetHealth and PhilipsThe unglamorous, honest story behind choosing Descript and Hello AudioDubsado's automated workflows for the Critical Services Security Assessment and Mini AuditsFlodesk vs. WordPress: clean division of laborWhy Slack stays on the free tierThree non-negotiables for password security: unique passwords, SSO, and 2FAAsh and Josh's role building on the dev side of PDRM CyberTools Mentioned: Rella, Canva, Circle, Google Workspace, Claude Cowork, Monday.com, Hello Audio, Descript, Dubsado, Flodesk, WordPress, Slack, 1Password, Visual Studio Code, GitHub, W3Schools PDRM Consulting's mission is to help businesses reduce risk, specifically in the fields of Cybersecurity and Product Management. Heather bridges the professional development gap in the corporate space by empowering growth-driven product managers to transition into strategic, results-oriented leaders. By focusing on enhancing key skills and decision-making capabilities, she helps them accelerate their leadership journey, achieve measurable outcomes more quickly, and excel in driving product success. Her approach ensures they thrive in their roles and unlock their full potential as impactful servant leaders within their organizations. You can follow us for more daily content: Instagram: @pdrmconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pdrm-consulting Join our Newsletter:https://solitary-block-17987.myflodesk.com/ofo6k6a0f9

  6. Sep 22

    "Never Waste a Good Storm": Building Employee Loyalty Through Real Care

    What actually makes an employee stay when a bigger paycheck is one phone call away? Heather sits down with Ian Watts, CEO of Employee Success Company, to unpack the AX Method — his framework for building the kind of workplace culture that makes people want to stay, not just tolerate the job. Ian opens up about his journey from growing up on the east side of Detroit on less than $580 a month, to chasing (and briefly losing) a fortune, to building a coaching and consulting practice that now backs its results with a 90-day money-back guarantee. The conversation moves from Ian's origin story into the mechanics of his AX Method — Aspirations, Calling, and Transformation, underpinned by Support — and why treating employees as "human beings" rather than "human doings" is the real driver of retention and performance. Heather shares her own deeply personal story of the support she received from a former employer while caring for her father through his cancer diagnosis and hospice care, and how that experience shaped why she eventually built PDRM. In This Episode: Ian's origin story: growing up in poverty in Detroit and his early drive toward entrepreneurshipWhy hitting his financial goals didn't bring the fulfillment he expected — and the setbacks that reshaped his missionHow Ian's company guarantees a 10% increase in engagement or reduced turnover in 90 days — or a 50% refundThe AX Method explained: Aspirations, Calling, Transformation, and SupportThe Gallup stat behind the framework: employees who feel individually valued are 3.5x more likely to be engaged — yet only 24% feel that wayHeather's personal story of the support she received from her employer while managing her father's cancer diagnosis during her child's senior year of high schoolWhy "my greatest success is my succession" and what that looks like in daily leadership practiceOne practical, low-cost step any leader can take tomorrow morning to reconnect with their key peopleWhy business, for Ian, is a ministry — and how that shapes his approach to leadershipGuest Bio Ian Watts is the CEO of Employee Success Company, an HR consulting, coaching, and done-for-you employee development firm focused on improving engagement, performance, and retention. His work is built around the AX Method, a people-centered framework designed to create genuine reciprocity between companies and the employees they lead. Connect with Ian Watts: Website LinkedIn PDRM Consulting's mission is to help businesses reduce risk, specifically in the fields of Cybersecurity and Product Management. Heather bridges the professional development gap in the corporate space by empowering growth-driven product managers to transition into strategic, results-oriented leaders. By focusing on enhancing key skills and decision-making capabilities, she helps them accelerate their leadership journey, achieve measurable outcomes more quickly, and excel in driving product success. Her approach ensures they thrive in their roles and unlock their full potential as impactful servant leaders within their organizations. You can follow us for more daily content: Instagram: @pdrmconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pdrm-consulting Join our Newsletter:https://solitary-block-17987.myflodesk.com/ofo6k6a0f9

  7. Sep 17

    Building a Portfolio Career: Leaving 20 Years at MetLife to Design a Life You Love

    Guest: Jennifer Doty — CPA by background, nearly 20-year veteran of MetLife (product, marketing, M&A, and ultimately running U.S. Group Benefits operations), now building a portfolio career that includes customer operations leadership in insurtech, a nutrition and wellness business, speaking and workshop facilitation, and author of two books drawn from her LinkedIn writing. Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather sits down with Jennifer Doty to talk about what happens after the corporate identity falls away. Jennifer shares the story of being notified her MetLife role was being eliminated after 19 years — and how that forced pause became the catalyst for building a portfolio career instead of chasing a single next title. The conversation covers the mental work of separating who you are from what you do, tools for interrupting spiraling or self-doubting thoughts, how to evaluate whether you need a mindset shift versus a real career change, and why "10x thinking" opens up possibilities that incremental improvement never will. Topics Discussed: Jennifer's path from 19 years at MetLife to building a multi-stream portfolio careerSeparating your identity from your job title after a layoff or major transitionA practical thought-reframing exercise for imposter syndrome (write the negative thought, test if it's true, list contrary evidence, rewrite it)The "cancel, clear" technique for interrupting late-night thought spiralsKeeping a running "evidence folder" of compliments and wins to revisit on hard daysHow to tell whether you need to adjust your mindset or actually change direction — matching your current day-to-day against your dream-job visionThe 10x vs. 2x mindset and "kindergarten brainstorming" (no constraints allowed) as tools for bigger thinkingWhat surprised Jennifer most about running multiple income streams at onceHow her LinkedIn posts became the foundation for two booksWhy the fear of being visible online fades once you stop worrying what people thinkConnect with Jennifer Doty: Website LinkedIn PDRM Consulting's mission is to help businesses reduce risk, specifically in the fields of Cybersecurity and Product Management. Heather bridges the professional development gap in the corporate space by empowering growth-driven product managers to transition into strategic, results-oriented leaders. By focusing on enhancing key skills and decision-making capabilities, she helps them accelerate their leadership journey, achieve measurable outcomes more quickly, and excel in driving product success. Her approach ensures they thrive in their roles and unlock their full potential as impactful servant leaders within their organizations. You can follow us for more daily content: Instagram: @pdrmconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pdrm-consulting Join our Newsletter:https://solitary-block-17987.myflodesk.com/ofo6k6a0f9

  8. Sep 15

    How PDRM Consulting Really Started (And Why It Took Me Three Years to Grow Into It)

    In this solo episode, Heather steps away from guest interviews to share the real story behind PDRM Consulting — not the polished version, but the messy, honest one. She talks about: Nearly 20 years building other people's products at NetHealth and Philips, and why leaving wasn't about escaping a bad jobThe unplugged 10-day trip to the southern Caribbean with her husband John where the idea for PDRM actually startedWhy the company's name — Product Development Risk Management — was chosen with more foresight than they realized at the timeLiving in two worlds for months: showing up fully at her corporate role while quietly founding PDRM on the sideThe corporate burnout and internalized perfectionism she didn't recognize until she was finally out of the environment that caused itHow PDRM evolved from a product-focused idea into a company that also serves underserved female entrepreneurs through security — starting with PDRM Protect and growing into their security assessment workJohn's role throughout — quieter at times, more vocal at others, but always thereMentioned in this episode: Security Besties Community — hands-on cybersecurity support for female entrepreneursPDRM's fractional product and strategy work PDRM Consulting's mission is to help businesses reduce risk, specifically in the fields of Cybersecurity and Product Management. Heather bridges the professional development gap in the corporate space by empowering growth-driven product managers to transition into strategic, results-oriented leaders. By focusing on enhancing key skills and decision-making capabilities, she helps them accelerate their leadership journey, achieve measurable outcomes more quickly, and excel in driving product success. Her approach ensures they thrive in their roles and unlock their full potential as impactful servant leaders within their organizations. You can follow us for more daily content: Instagram: @pdrmconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pdrm-consulting Join our Newsletter:https://solitary-block-17987.myflodesk.com/ofo6k6a0f9

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About

Beyond Product Management is a podcast that explores the unexpected intersections of product management with other disciplines, industries, and ideas. We go beyond the usual frameworks to uncover fresh perspectives, unconventional insights, and the skills that truly set great PMs apart.

Information

  • Creator
    Heather Miller (PDRM Consulting)
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    97
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 PDRM Consulting All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Beyond Product Management