The Intentional Product Manager Podcast

Most product managers treat the job search like a to-do list and end up overwhelmed, overlooked, or stuck in roles that don’t fit.In this powerful solo episode, Shobhit Chugh, founder of Intentional Product Manager, kicks off a groundbreaking series based on his upcoming audiobook The Principles of a Job Search.He shares the exact system that's helping product managers and leaders land aligned, high-impact roles, without the burnout or guesswork.🎯 You’ll discover:Why traditional job search advice no longer worksThe 7 core principles behind an intentional and effective job searchHow hiring managers actually make decisions and how to influence themWhat’s coming next in this must-listen seriesWhether you're actively job hunting or just starting to explore what’s next, this episode lays the foundation for a smarter, more strategic approach to your product career.Episode Breakdown00:00 – Intro to The Intentional Job Search00:35 – What’s broken about the way most PMs look for jobs01:45 – The shift: from reactive to intentional02:08 – The 7 Principles of a Successful Job Search02:45 – Principle 1: The Split Second Principle03:05 – Principle 2: Optimize a Job for Your Life03:21 – Principle 3: The Business Case Principle03:37 – Principle 4: The Hero’s Principle03:51 – Principle 5: The Politician Principle04:07 – Principle 6: The Energy Transfer Principle04:25 – Principle 7: The Leverage Principle04:40 – What to expect in the rest of the series05:17 – Wrap-up and next stepsConnect with Shobhit Chugh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/www.intentionalproductmanager.com

The CPTO model is on the rise — but what does it really take to succeed when you're leading both product and engineering?In this episode, Shobhit Chugh chats with Shobhit Jain, a seasoned Chief Product & Technology Officer, about how unifying these two functions unlocks innovation, accelerates delivery, and drives smarter AI-native strategy.From shaping strategic roadmaps to scaling cross-functional teams, this conversation is packed with insights for PMs and tech leaders ready to grow into more strategic, high-impact roles.You’ll learn:Why the CPTO model is gaining momentum — and what makes it workHow to go from tactical PM to strategic, executive-minded leaderHow to align product and tech teams around systems, not silosWhat visionary leadership actually looks like in a fast-moving tech orgThe most common leadership traps — and how to avoid themHow to level up your storytelling, stakeholder management, and influenceWhat PMs need to understand about AI (and where most get it wrong)Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 00:27 – Why the CPTO model matters 00:51 – Meet Shobhit Jain 02:13 – AI’s impact on product and tech 04:03 – System-thinking in team building 08:15 – Driving vision and shared goals 11:24 – Scaling strategy beyond the roadmap 13:24 – Short-term vs long-term tradeoffs 16:06 – Earning stakeholder trust 19:36 – Building your leadership narrative 22:51 – Lightning round: fun & reflective questions 29:26 – Wrap-up and takeawaysListen if you want to:✅ Step into more senior product or tech roles ✅ Become a more strategic cross-functional leader ✅ Learn how to drive outcomes—not just outputConnect with Shobhit Chugh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/Connect with Shobhit Jain: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jshobhit/www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode, Shobhit speaks with Jyothi Nookula, Director of Product Management at Netflix and a seasoned AI product leader whose career spans Amazon Web Services, Facebook AI, and Etsy. Jyothi is also the creator of the “Next Generation Product Manager Course” which helps product managers remain current in a rapidly evolving world. Together, they explore what it truly means to build AI-native products and why AI demands a fundamentally different approach to product management.Key TakeawaysAI-native products are defined by dependence on AI: If you remove the model and the product falls apart, it’s AI-native. Otherwise, it’s just AI-adjacent.Confidence ≠ Competence: Like AI systems, PMs must balance confidence with self-awareness. Overconfidence creates blind spots.Start with the user, not the model: Technical metrics mean little if they don’t map to user experience.Model evaluation is continuous: Feedback loops, test suites, and data drift monitoring must be designed into the product from day one.Leadership is about creating conditions for others to thrive, not driving every decision.Episode Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to the Show00:25 – Meet Jyothi Nookula, Netflix Director of Product01:13 – From Biotech to Big Tech: Jyothi’s Unconventional Path02:58 – What Makes a Product Truly AI-Native?06:58 – The Most Common Mistakes in AI Product Development11:56 – Rethinking Success: How to Measure AI 18:22 – Getting Teams Aligned on ‘What Good Looks Like’20:09 – Leading the Shift: From IC to Director in AI Product25:46 – Lightning Round: Books, Tools & Advice for Aspiring AI PMsConnect with Shobhit on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/Connect with Jyothi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyothinookula/Become a Next Gen Product Manager: https://nextgenproductmanager.com/www.intentionalproductmanager.com

What do most PMs get wrong about pricing?Why do so many teams struggle to turn vision into action?And how do you build buy-in across the org when you're changing something as sensitive as price?In this episode, Alo Mukerji  SVP of Product at U.S. Bank sits down with Shobhit to break down the real mechanics of product leadership, from high-stakes pricing decisions to translating customer insight into roadmap power.Whether you’re working on a SaaS product, exploring new monetization strategies, or leading a team through ambiguity—this episode gives you the mental models and mindset shifts that actually work.What You’ll Learn:How to align pricing strategy with customer segments and company goalsHow to use qualitative + quantitative data to drive high-conviction decisionsWhy “leadership through storytelling” beats raw logic in tough conversationsHow to build trust with stakeholders when you're recommending bold changesEssential skills PMs need to master beyond frameworks and featuresAlo’s biggest career lessons—and what she wishes she knew earlier00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:29 Meet Our Guest: Alo Mukerji 01:12 Icebreaker Questions03:58 The Importance of Pricing Strategy07:47 Aligning Pricing with Customer Segments10:21 Gaining Stakeholder Buy-In for Pricing Changes12:38 Using Data and Customer Insights17:39 Translating Vision into Strategy23:03 Rapid Fire Questions24:32 Conclusion and FarewellConnect with Alo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alo-mukerji-9a7154/Connect with Shobhit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Even if you love your job — you should always be interviewing.Not because you're planning to leave. But because staying sharp, visible, and connected is part of leading well.In this episode, Shobhit sits down with Jennifer Moore — Chief Product Officer of Strategies that Spark consulting services — to unpack what it really means to lead with clarity in a messy, AI-shifting, emotionally charged environment.This isn’t just about job strategy. It’s about protecting your leverage, knowing your value, and not waiting until you're burned out to explore what's next. In This Conversation:Why “always be interviewing” is a leadership strategy — not a job search tipHow to build internal clarity by having external conversationsWhat it looks like when product becomes the silent bottleneckHow Jennifer disarms boardroom tension and brings teams into alignmentWhy visibility, repetition, and emotional resilience are non-negotiable skills in AI-era leadershipWhat she asks herself regularly: “If I were replaced tomorrow, what’s the first thing the new person would fix?”Whether you're actively job searching or just leading through noise, this episode will reframe how you think about career momentum — and what it really means to be ready.00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:26 Meet Jennifer Moore: Product Strategy Expert00:59 The Magic of Product Management01:18 Quickfire Questions with Jennifer04:49 Navigating Product Alignment07:28 Managing Stakeholder Communication13:39 Creative Communication Strategies15:11 The Importance of Empathy in Product Management16:40 Balancing Data and Human Stories18:56 Handling Loud Customers vs. Meaningful Signals21:31 Building Empathy Within Product Teams24:35 The Future of Product Management with AI27:04 Essential Skills for Product Leaders29:05 The Role of Community in Product Management30:17 Creating an AI-Proof Career Plan34:39 Rapid Fire Questions37:05 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsConnect with Shobhit on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/Connect with Jennifer on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-r-moore/www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit, founder of Intentional Product Manager, as he sits down with Karan M Gupta, CEO of Alice AI, to explore what it takes to lead and innovate in the age of AI.In this candid and insight-rich conversation, Karan shares lessons from his journey through multiple IPOs, global product leadership, and founding a cutting-edge AI startup. You’ll hear his take on building product orgs that scale, hiring and coaching high-performing PMs, and why talking to customers is still the most important skill in the AI era.Whether you're a rising PM or an experienced product leader, this episode is packed with actionable insights on navigating fast-moving tech, scaling AI-native products, and leading with clarity in a complex world.You’ll Learn:How to stand out in your product career—especially in AI-first environmentsThe biggest hiring mistake PM leaders make (and how to avoid it)Why voice AI is still misunderstood—and how Alice AI is changing thatKaran’s unique coaching approach for growing strategic PMsPractical advice on building privacy-first products for enterpriseHow to adapt (and thrive) as technology evolves at breakneck speedEpisode Breakdown:00:00 – Welcome + Introduction00:30 – Meet Karan M Gupta, CEO of Alice AI00:59 – Rapid-fire icebreakers01:55 – Leading across cultures and continents05:08 – How AI is shaping our daily lives06:46 – Karan’s journey from engineering to product leadership10:27 – The story behind founding Alice AI13:59 – Common myths in voice intelligence16:32 – Earning trust with large enterprise clients18:23 – Building privacy into product DNA9:04 – What Karan looks for when hiring PMs21:10 – Coaching product managers for long-term growth23:31 – AI’s accelerating role in product management25:44 – Staying adaptive in a rapidly changing tech landscape31:07 – Lightning round: leadership lessons & tools33:25 – Final thoughts + Shobhit’s closing takeawaysConnect with Shobhit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/ Connect with Karan M Gupta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karanmg/www.intentionalproductmanager.com

In this episode of the Intentional Product Manager Podcast, Shobhit Chugh sits down with Ajit Thupil, a seasoned product leader whose journey spans Amazon, McKinsey, and several high-growth startups—most recently as Chief Product Officer.Ajit shares a refreshingly honest look into what it really takes to scale product with precision, whether you’re operating inside a tech giant or leading growth at a startup. He unpacks the frameworks, mindset shifts, and hard-won lessons that helped him evolve from an engineer to a product executive—and what aspiring PM leaders often get wrong when chasing their next role.You’ll learn:What Amazon taught Ajit about focus, metrics, and decision-makingHow to align product, go-to-market, and revenue in fast-paced environmentsWhy storytelling and strategic communication matter more as you growHow to navigate the leap from IC to product executive—and avoid common trapsAdvice for PMs who want to stand out and lead with impactEpisode Breakdown:00:00 – Introduction to Ajit Thupil 00:59 – Thoughts on remote vs. in-office work in a post-pandemic world02:48 – Lessons from stepping into the CPO role for the first time03:57 – Ajit’s winding career path and the inflection points that shaped it05:53 – Moving from business development to product management11:17 – Key takeaways from working at Amazon15:41 – How to connect product strategy with go-to-market and revenue19:13 – Advice for aspiring product leaders: what to build, how to grow27:21 – Rapid-fire questions and wrap-upConnect with Shobhit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/Connect with Ajit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajitthupil/www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Toxic bosses. Gaslighting. Shattered confidence.If you’ve been there — you’re not alone. And more importantly: you can bounce back stronger.In this powerful episode, Shobhit Chugh (Intentional Product Manager) sits down with Sarah K. Ramsey — high performance coach and author of Becoming Toxic Person Proof — to unpack how product managers can rebuild after difficult work environments and get back to thriving.Together, they explore:The long-tail impact of toxic workplaces on confidenceHow to spot red flags early in future interviewsStrategies to rebuild self-trust and regain your voiceTools like the “Brag Book” to reframe your narrativeWhy healing means solving better problems — not staying stuck in old onesWhether you're recovering from a toxic boss or just want to future-proof your career, this conversation is full of clarity, validation, and next steps.Episode Guide:00:00 – Introduction00:21 – Understanding the impact of a toxic boss00:45 – Meet Sarah K. Ramsey01:35 – How toxic environments erode confidence04:16 – Spotting red flags at work06:15 – Practical steps to rebuild confidence16:38 – Daily habits that create momentum18:49 – Re-entering the job search with intention22:16 – Interview tips for spotting better managers25:46 – Final thoughts26:29 – Wrap-up & call to actionConnect with Shobhit https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/Connect with Sarah https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-k-ramsey-m-s-n-l-p-0912ba97/Learn to become Toxic Person Proof here. https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Toxic-Person-Proof-Ramsey/dp/1641845961www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit Chugh from Intentional Product Manager as he hosts Shub Agarwal, Senior Vice President of AI at US Bank, professor at USC, and author of the new book Successful AI Product Creation: A Framework for Turning Research into Real-World Value, on the Intentional Product Manager Podcast.In this episode, dive deep into the rapidly evolving world of AI product management — exploring major shifts in AI technology, the unique challenges of deploying AI solutions, and the frameworks that drive real success. Shub shares insights from his new book, including his proven nine-step methodology for bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI research and tangible, impactful products.Discover key lessons learned from years leading AI initiatives, understand why AI is reshaping the very definition of user experience, and learn what skills future AI product managers will need to thrive.Episode Highlights: 00:00 — Introduction to the Podcast 00:27 — Meet the AI Expert: Shub Agarwal 01:20 — Major Shifts in AI Product Development 02:40 — AI as the New UX 04:15 — How AI Product Management Differs from Traditional Product Management 07:18 — The Nine-Step Framework for AI Product Creation 17:08 — Critical Skills for Future AI Product Managers 21:31 — Lessons from the Frontlines of AI Product Leadership 25:11 — Final Takeaways and Book InformationConnect with Shobhit on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/Connect with Shub on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shub/Get Shub’s book. https://www.amazon.com/Successful-AI-Product-Creation-Framework/dp/1394337841www.intentionalproductmanager.com

Join Shobhit Chugh, founder of Intentional Product Manager, in a powerful conversation with BJ Hillabush — a seasoned product leader and career coach — as they break down the most common mistakes product managers make during their job search… and how to avoid them.From unclear positioning to “silver medal syndrome,” BJ shares practical strategies to help you stand out in a competitive market. You'll learn how to:Craft a resume that clearly shows your impactCustomize your applications without wasting timeAvoid the “spray and pray” trapNetwork more effectively and authenticallyPrepare for interviews with intentionHandle rejections with resilienceNegotiate compensation like a proAnd most importantly: take full ownership of your job searchEpisode Breakdown:00:00 – Intro00:22 – Meet BJ Hillabush00:52 – The most common job search mistakes01:38 – Why positioning matters more than you think02:51 – Resume pitfalls and how to avoid them05:44 – What’s wrong with “spray and pray”09:19 – A better way to prep for interviews15:53 – How to actually network effectively20:18 – Compensation and negotiation tips26:52 – Owning your job search process30:46 – Final thoughtsConnect with Shobhit on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhitchugh/www.intentionalproductmanager.com