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. Jul 7

    Inspiring Careers & The Deep Tech Boom | Jacob Jackson

    Please enjoy this conversation with my good friend and brilliant mind, Jacob Jackson. Jacob is a Partner at Julian Capital (www.julian.capital) and the GM at Deep Checks (www.deepchecks.vc). I’ve long wanted to have Jacob on the show, so it’s a real treat to hand deliver this conversation to the Product by Marcus community. In this conversation, Jacob reveals how modern founders are transforming impossible ideas into investable, world-changing companies at an unprecedented pace. From artificial wombs to modular nuclear reactors, discover how AI is turbocharging the pace of innovation, making even the most ambitious projects not just feasible but venture-ready within a decade.We get into: * How deep tech companies are capitalizing on social, regulatory, and technological tailwinds to accelerate growth and scale faster than ever. * The hidden strategies that turn moonshot ideas into the next big industry disruptors. * How AI has redefined Deep Tech venture timelines, allowing startups to achieve what once took 15-20 years in under 10. * How pioneering platforms like Deep Checks are revolutionizing discovery and funding processes for deep tech founders. * The future of energy, from off-grid nuclear reactors to sustainable transmission innovations, driven by new policy, ingenuity, and societal momentum. * And so, so much more... This episode is for founders dreaming big, investors hunting for the next paradigm-shifting opportunities, and anyone fascinated by how science, policy, and technology collide to shape our future. Jacob’s insights shed light on a landscape where imagination meets execution, showing that the limits of what’s possible are constantly expanding.Whether you're an aspiring founder, investor, or just curious about tomorrow’s tech, don’t miss this eye-opening look into the future of deep innovation with Jacob Jackson. Links for the show: 🎙️ productbymarcus.substack.com💰 www.julian.capital📈 www.deepchecks.vc 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

  2. May 14

    Coaching In The New Product Era | Rosalee Gordon

    What's actually holding most product leaders back? It's not strategy. It's not process. It's the voice in their head — and the relationships they haven't learned to navigate yet. Rosalee Gordon is a product leadership coach with 20+ years of experience growing from IC to executive across startups, scale-ups, and big tech. She holds three coaching accreditations and has coached product leaders at more than 50 companies. She's also the founder of Product Leaders Exchange and the Product Calgary Association, and serves on the board of APM Canada. In this episode, Rosalee doesn't just talk theory — she coaches Marcus live on the mic, walking through the inner critic and inner leader framework in real time. Then we get tactical: the stakeholder languages every product leader needs to acquire, why finance is the one most people skip, and why even senior leaders need to get hands-on with AI tools right now. What We Cover The inner leader vs. inner critic framework — and how to tell which one is running the show Why you can't banish the inner critic (and what to do instead) The role of vulnerability and psychological safety in product leadership How Rosalee went from PM to product leadership coach Signals that tell you which career path in product is right for you Why CPOs and VPs need to get hands-on with AI — and how to do it without looking like you're micromanaging The stakeholder languages you need to acquire at every level: engineering, sales, finance How to speak to the board in financial terms (and who to recruit as your teacher) New logos vs. retention: how to push back when leadership wants both Timestamps 00:05 — Introduction 01:15 — What the inner leader actually is 04:16 — The inner critic: why you can't banish it 08:08 — Vulnerability in leadership: risk and upside 09:31 — Rosalee's path from PM to product leadership coach 12:21 — Career signals: IC track vs. leadership track 13:44 — Getting hands-on with AI as a senior leader 15:30 — How to frame it so your team doesn't feel micromanaged 15:40 — The timeless message: learn the language of finance 17:00 — Stakeholder languages at every career level 20:21 — New logos vs. retention: how to prioritize 21:37 — Closing thoughts on strengthening your inner leader Connect with Rosalee Website: https://launchbright.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rosaleejgordon Substack: https://substack.com/@rosaleejgordon About Product by Marcus Product by Marcus is a weekly podcast hosted by Marcus Polini — conversations with product leaders, operators, and builders on the craft and career of product management. Subscribe on Substack: https://productbymarcus.substack.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@productbymarcus 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

  3. 09/20/2025

    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

  4. 06/24/2025

    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

  • 4 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
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Marcus Polini
  • Show Website
    Product by Marcus