Senior Product Manager, Amazon AWS (Mainframe Modernization / ML)
Lead Product Manager, Lightspeed
AI Product Lead at Clio
Senior Product Manager, Amazon AWS (Mainframe Modernization / ML)
Lead Product Manager, Lightspeed
My situation was a little different than others. I was pretty happy with my status quo — same job, same people for 13 years, great work-life balance. But the problems I had to solve became less challenging. I'm a person who needs new things in life. I wanted to be in a challenging environment where I can think more, contribute more, and grow as a person.
I was watching every single YouTube video on product management to educate myself. I knew if somebody could help me and guide me correctly, it would make things much more structured and faster. What I was also missing my whole career was a mentor. One day I was in the kitchen and Shobhit's video started playing. He said, 'If you feel stuck in your product management' — that was my number one problem. And then he spoke about mindset blockers. For me, the blocker was moving out of my comfort zone. After that, I didn't think — I just scheduled a call.
One major change was learning to speak for myself. Being in the industry for a long time, your brain is set to 'let your work talk for you.' But the program forced me to think: what was my contribution? They're not hiring my team — they're looking to hire me. That shift in thinking was where the magic happens.
My resume made a ton of difference. LinkedIn went from having nothing to looking polished. And the behavioral stories — changing from 'what were your responsibilities' to 'what did you do, what was the impact, what was the outcome' — tightly tied to numbers. Those were extremely powerful.
I applied for Amazon, I practiced with both behavioral stories and product strategy with IJS, and when I went in for the interview I had tremendous confidence. Amazon has six interviews in one day, all around their 16 leadership principles. I was able to repurpose my six to eight stories with different entry and exit points. I did it with ease. I didn't have nervousness at all during the interview.
I got the offer for Amazon AWS as a senior product manager — working on a product that improves catalog quality using machine learning models, working with data scientists and engineering teams. It was my dream role in three ways: it helped me transition from program to product management, it was with Amazon, and it was in ML.
The process is proven. It is trusted. Do not question if this process is going to work for you — yes, it will. People are here to help — whatever you need. Do not shy away. Ask what you want, and they will help you. Trust the process.
My situation was a little different than others. I was pretty happy with my status quo — same job, same people for 13 years, great work-life balance. But the problems I had to solve became less challenging. I'm a person who needs new things in life. I wanted to be in a challenging environment where I can think more, contribute more, and grow as a person.
I was watching every single YouTube video on product management to educate myself. I knew if somebody could help me and guide me correctly, it would make things much more structured and faster. What I was also missing my whole career was a mentor. One day I was in the kitchen and Shobhit's video started playing. He said, 'If you feel stuck in your product management' — that was my number one problem. And then he spoke about mindset blockers. For me, the blocker was moving out of my comfort zone. After that, I didn't think — I just scheduled a call.
One major change was learning to speak for myself. Being in the industry for a long time, your brain is set to 'let your work talk for you.' But the program forced me to think: what was my contribution? They're not hiring my team — they're looking to hire me. That shift in thinking was where the magic happens.
My resume made a ton of difference. LinkedIn went from having nothing to looking polished. And the behavioral stories — changing from 'what were your responsibilities' to 'what did you do, what was the impact, what was the outcome' — tightly tied to numbers. Those were extremely powerful.
I applied for Amazon, I practiced with both behavioral stories and product strategy with IJS, and when I went in for the interview I had tremendous confidence. Amazon has six interviews in one day, all around their 16 leadership principles. I was able to repurpose my six to eight stories with different entry and exit points. I did it with ease. I didn't have nervousness at all during the interview.
I got the offer for Amazon AWS as a senior product manager — working on a product that improves catalog quality using machine learning models, working with data scientists and engineering teams. It was my dream role in three ways: it helped me transition from program to product management, it was with Amazon, and it was in ML.
The process is proven. It is trusted. Do not question if this process is going to work for you — yes, it will. People are here to help — whatever you need. Do not shy away. Ask what you want, and they will help you. Trust the process.
When my position was going to be offshored, I had no hesitation that I needed to work with a coach. I'd worked with a generic coach before, but this time I knew the job market was challenging, so I wanted to work with a coach who provides coaching for product managers only.
One of the biggest insights was maintaining a positive mindset. There will be good days and bad days — one day you'll have a flawless interview, another day you won't, and sometimes you'll have a flawless interview and still get negative feedback. Making that positive mindset a daily habit is very important, and I've continued that even after getting this job.
The mock interviews were crucial. Initially my mocks were coming back as lean hire or no hire, but slowly as I kept preparing and putting in the effort, they became hire and then strong hire. Those results are directly proportional to how you perform in actual interviews. In one example, I practiced an Amazon interview with my coach after the fact, and he pointed out one thing I'd missed — and that turned out to be exactly the reason I didn't get it. That's the importance of the coaching.
The program also taught me to reach out through connections rather than just applying. This job — I got it through a LinkedIn connection. Building those meaningful connections and persisting continuously is very important.
Ultimately I was able to crack this particular job and I also got two simultaneous offers. I couldn't have done it without the coaches and the community. The curriculum gives you a very strategic, methodical approach. There's no shortcut — some people may need 100 hours, others 300 hours — but your coaches are with you so that you get to the destination you're looking for. It's a very strategic, very helpful, very friendly environment that helps you get to your destination.
When my position was going to be offshored, I had no hesitation that I needed to work with a coach. I'd worked with a generic coach before, but this time I knew the job market was challenging, so I wanted to work with a coach who provides coaching for product managers only.
One of the biggest insights was maintaining a positive mindset. There will be good days and bad days — one day you'll have a flawless interview, another day you won't, and sometimes you'll have a flawless interview and still get negative feedback. Making that positive mindset a daily habit is very important, and I've continued that even after getting this job.
The mock interviews were crucial. Initially my mocks were coming back as lean hire or no hire, but slowly as I kept preparing and putting in the effort, they became hire and then strong hire. Those results are directly proportional to how you perform in actual interviews. In one example, I practiced an Amazon interview with my coach after the fact, and he pointed out one thing I'd missed — and that turned out to be exactly the reason I didn't get it. That's the importance of the coaching.
The program also taught me to reach out through connections rather than just applying. This job — I got it through a LinkedIn connection. Building those meaningful connections and persisting continuously is very important.
Ultimately I was able to crack this particular job and I also got two simultaneous offers. I couldn't have done it without the coaches and the community. The curriculum gives you a very strategic, methodical approach. There's no shortcut — some people may need 100 hours, others 300 hours — but your coaches are with you so that you get to the destination you're looking for. It's a very strategic, very helpful, very friendly environment that helps you get to your destination.
After spending 12 years in B2B Product Management, I thought I had my career figured out, until a sudden layoff left me stunned and unsure of what to do next. I stumbled through a few interviews, only to be told I had the skills but couldn’t showcase them. That’s when I found Intentional Job Search. Joining IJS was a tough decision, especially financially, but within weeks, it became clear that it was the best investment I could’ve made. This isn’t just a job search program. It’s a makeover for product managers. The structure, coaching, and content are world-class. I went in expecting pre recorded videos; what I got was a team who held my hand through every step. From refining my narrative to preparing for interviews and salary negotiation, they were always there. I was shocked by how much prompt personal attention we got, especially from Shobhit and the coaches.The mindset work completely changed how I approached my career. I used to be scared to talk about my layoff. Now, I own my story and more importantly, I show up with confidence. I landed three offers and ended up with a $100K+ salary increase at a unicorn legal tech company, doing AI-powered product work I’d only dreamed about before. IJS didn’t just help me land a role, it was like a makeover for my career. I feel unstoppable. To anyone considering this program: stop thinking of it as a cost. It’s an investment in your next 10 years.
After spending 12 years in B2B Product Management, I thought I had my career figured out, until a sudden layoff left me stunned and unsure of what to do next. I stumbled through a few interviews, only to be told I had the skills but couldn’t showcase them. That’s when I found Intentional Job Search. Joining IJS was a tough decision, especially financially, but within weeks, it became clear that it was the best investment I could’ve made. This isn’t just a job search program. It’s a makeover for product managers. The structure, coaching, and content are world-class. I went in expecting pre recorded videos; what I got was a team who held my hand through every step. From refining my narrative to preparing for interviews and salary negotiation, they were always there. I was shocked by how much prompt personal attention we got, especially from Shobhit and the coaches.The mindset work completely changed how I approached my career. I used to be scared to talk about my layoff. Now, I own my story and more importantly, I show up with confidence. I landed three offers and ended up with a $100K+ salary increase at a unicorn legal tech company, doing AI-powered product work I’d only dreamed about before. IJS didn’t just help me land a role, it was like a makeover for my career. I feel unstoppable. To anyone considering this program: stop thinking of it as a cost. It’s an investment in your next 10 years.
Senior Product Manager, AI Products, Boostlingo
Staff Product Manager, Customer Growth at Twilio
Head of AI & Data Products, League
Senior Product Manager, AI Products, Boostlingo
Staff Product Manager, Customer Growth at Twilio
I was honestly quite excited to write this review, because I have so many positive things to say about this program and it deserves all the credit in the world! This is the single best investment in my career I’ve made thus far, arguably a better investment than my degree. With this program and the expertise coaching, I’ve identified strengths I didn’t know I had, grown every product skills from strategy to product sense to communication and more, improved my mindset, grown my network across PMs in every industry, and gained significant confidence. I’ve included specific details across each realm of growth below:
Interviews/Offers: I’m in the final stages of my job search and have already seen incredible traction—far more interviews than I expected, even in this tough market. The program shows your unique strengths as a PM, how to build a compelling narrative around your “unique angle of mastery”, and how to effectively communicate your experience so you’re the right person for that dream job rather than a conglomeration of your previous experiences.
World Class Coaches: Each coach is excellent at what they do and cares deeply about your individual success. There are a wide variety of coaches with varying types of expertise and background and if you’re serious about product management, there is more than enough expertise to get all the learnings, resources, and help you’ll ever need.
Product Learnings: This program isn’t just about landing a dream job—it’s about becoming the kind of PM who excels in any role. Before signing up, I thought this program would be mainly focused on networking, interview preparation, and landing an offer. This program is that and much more. If you do it right, you’ll grow in leadership, communication, product sense, metrics, strategy, growth mindset and much more. It’s truly the whole package for an ambitious PM! I think it’ll be beneficial regardless of your seniority level because the program is so uniquely tailored to each student.
Community/Network: I’ve grown my network of PMs significantly across all industries and the community here is incredibly supportive, genuine, and talented.If you’re serious about accelerating your PM career, this program is a no-brainer. Come in with an open mind, put in the work, and you’ll see firsthand how the benefits far outweigh the cost.
If you’re serious about accelerating your PM career, this program is a no-brainer. Come in with an open mind, put in the work, and you’ll see firsthand how the benefits far outweigh the cost.
I was honestly quite excited to write this review, because I have so many positive things to say about this program and it deserves all the credit in the world! This is the single best investment in my career I’ve made thus far, arguably a better investment than my degree. With this program and the expertise coaching, I’ve identified strengths I didn’t know I had, grown every product skills from strategy to product sense to communication and more, improved my mindset, grown my network across PMs in every industry, and gained significant confidence. I’ve included specific details across each realm of growth below:
Interviews/Offers: I’m in the final stages of my job search and have already seen incredible traction—far more interviews than I expected, even in this tough market. The program shows your unique strengths as a PM, how to build a compelling narrative around your “unique angle of mastery”, and how to effectively communicate your experience so you’re the right person for that dream job rather than a conglomeration of your previous experiences.
World Class Coaches: Each coach is excellent at what they do and cares deeply about your individual success. There are a wide variety of coaches with varying types of expertise and background and if you’re serious about product management, there is more than enough expertise to get all the learnings, resources, and help you’ll ever need.
Product Learnings: This program isn’t just about landing a dream job—it’s about becoming the kind of PM who excels in any role. Before signing up, I thought this program would be mainly focused on networking, interview preparation, and landing an offer. This program is that and much more. If you do it right, you’ll grow in leadership, communication, product sense, metrics, strategy, growth mindset and much more. It’s truly the whole package for an ambitious PM! I think it’ll be beneficial regardless of your seniority level because the program is so uniquely tailored to each student.
Community/Network: I’ve grown my network of PMs significantly across all industries and the community here is incredibly supportive, genuine, and talented.If you’re serious about accelerating your PM career, this program is a no-brainer. Come in with an open mind, put in the work, and you’ll see firsthand how the benefits far outweigh the cost.
If you’re serious about accelerating your PM career, this program is a no-brainer. Come in with an open mind, put in the work, and you’ll see firsthand how the benefits far outweigh the cost.
Nora Hughes was a seasoned product manager with a decade of experience in the tech industry. She went from being laid off in October to navigating the challenging job market and landing a role with a significant pay increase as a staff product manager working in AI/ML at Twilio.
Nora had initial struggles, including the overwhelming job search during the holidays and COVID-19 and the loneliness that comes with it.
She discovered the Intentional Job Search (IJS) program and made a well-thought-out decision to join it.
Nora loved the program's structure and quality, which helped her regain focus, prioritize effectively, and build confidence in her job search strategy. Her aha moments included the value of peer interviews and the comprehensive support from the IJS community.
The personalized coaching and strategic guidance provided by the IJS program were instrumental in Nora's success. They helped her secure a dream role as a Staff Product Manager in AI and ML at a large public company, where she not only achieved a significant pay raise but also had the opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals.
Nora Hughes was a seasoned product manager with a decade of experience in the tech industry. She went from being laid off in October to navigating the challenging job market and landing a role with a significant pay increase as a staff product manager working in AI/ML at Twilio.
Nora had initial struggles, including the overwhelming job search during the holidays and COVID-19 and the loneliness that comes with it.
She discovered the Intentional Job Search (IJS) program and made a well-thought-out decision to join it.
Nora loved the program's structure and quality, which helped her regain focus, prioritize effectively, and build confidence in her job search strategy. Her aha moments included the value of peer interviews and the comprehensive support from the IJS community.
The personalized coaching and strategic guidance provided by the IJS program were instrumental in Nora's success. They helped her secure a dream role as a Staff Product Manager in AI and ML at a large public company, where she not only achieved a significant pay raise but also had the opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals.
Before I joined the Intentional Job Search program, my job search was ad hoc and scattershot — probably typical of most people, even with 25+ years of experience. I'd see a posting, respond, do a little networking. It was largely unstructured.
Honestly, I didn't even realize programs like this existed. A former colleague who had reported to me said, 'You should look into this program.' It was a mentee teaching the mentor. My initial hesitation was: how is this going to help me at my experience level? I was confident it would work for people with 3 to 15 years of experience, but I wasn't sure about those of us with 15-plus years.
What pushed me over the edge was the structured content. Even though I've worked at larger orgs and been a CEO, I was like, 'Wow, I didn't know there were all these details.' Before, I would get interviews at companies like Meta and just wing it. I didn't know there was a structured methodology. Product management as an industry has become more formalized, and the program helped me communicate more effectively — speaking like a PM even though I've been a PM my whole career.
One of the first aha moments was simplicity. Even at the executive level, less is more. I was skeptical about the 'Tell Me About Yourself' exercise at first — I felt like I needed to say more because I've done so much. But understanding that process and nuance lets the listener probe, and you become much more impactful. At the senior level, it's less about finding enough experience and much more about curation.
The other big shift was networking. At our level, there can be a little bit of ego or vulnerability — you don't want to tell everyone you're looking for a job. I was afraid I'd look weak. But when I tested it and just told people directly, they'd say, 'You should have just told me!' People are out there to help you, but if they don't know what they need to help you with, they can't help you. When you plant that seed, people come back to you — sometimes a month later saying, 'I remember you're looking for this, and something came to mind.' That's what turned the faucet on.
For my role, I followed the program's LinkedIn process, found a business school connection at the company, and she immediately put me in touch with the hiring managers through their internal Slack. It ended up being a 14-week interview process — board members, multiple rounds — because the role was so critical for the company. I almost gave up because I ran out of ideas for what to say after so many interviews. But I stuck with it and landed a head of AI and data products role at a Series C company, which was exactly my target.
If you give yourself ad hoc effort, the results are going to be ad hoc. The one thing I'd say is: really focus on that first month, carve out two hours a day systematically, and stick to it — no holds barred. IJS is an ecosystem that's initially highly structured but then helps you leverage that structure however you need. The coaches, the frameworks, the cohort of people going through the journey together — it all compounds. I think I could have compressed my timeline from 15 months down to 9 if I had been aggressive from the start. The investment is worth it if you commit.
Before I joined the Intentional Job Search program, my job search was ad hoc and scattershot — probably typical of most people, even with 25+ years of experience. I'd see a posting, respond, do a little networking. It was largely unstructured.
Honestly, I didn't even realize programs like this existed. A former colleague who had reported to me said, 'You should look into this program.' It was a mentee teaching the mentor. My initial hesitation was: how is this going to help me at my experience level? I was confident it would work for people with 3 to 15 years of experience, but I wasn't sure about those of us with 15-plus years.
What pushed me over the edge was the structured content. Even though I've worked at larger orgs and been a CEO, I was like, 'Wow, I didn't know there were all these details.' Before, I would get interviews at companies like Meta and just wing it. I didn't know there was a structured methodology. Product management as an industry has become more formalized, and the program helped me communicate more effectively — speaking like a PM even though I've been a PM my whole career.
One of the first aha moments was simplicity. Even at the executive level, less is more. I was skeptical about the 'Tell Me About Yourself' exercise at first — I felt like I needed to say more because I've done so much. But understanding that process and nuance lets the listener probe, and you become much more impactful. At the senior level, it's less about finding enough experience and much more about curation.
The other big shift was networking. At our level, there can be a little bit of ego or vulnerability — you don't want to tell everyone you're looking for a job. I was afraid I'd look weak. But when I tested it and just told people directly, they'd say, 'You should have just told me!' People are out there to help you, but if they don't know what they need to help you with, they can't help you. When you plant that seed, people come back to you — sometimes a month later saying, 'I remember you're looking for this, and something came to mind.' That's what turned the faucet on.
For my role, I followed the program's LinkedIn process, found a business school connection at the company, and she immediately put me in touch with the hiring managers through their internal Slack. It ended up being a 14-week interview process — board members, multiple rounds — because the role was so critical for the company. I almost gave up because I ran out of ideas for what to say after so many interviews. But I stuck with it and landed a head of AI and data products role at a Series C company, which was exactly my target.
If you give yourself ad hoc effort, the results are going to be ad hoc. The one thing I'd say is: really focus on that first month, carve out two hours a day systematically, and stick to it — no holds barred. IJS is an ecosystem that's initially highly structured but then helps you leverage that structure however you need. The coaches, the frameworks, the cohort of people going through the journey together — it all compounds. I think I could have compressed my timeline from 15 months down to 9 if I had been aggressive from the start. The investment is worth it if you commit.