About the Event
Each month, ProductTO organizes an evening discussion forum for experienced product managers to delve deeper into the context and opportunities surrounding our work. 4 to 5 facilitators will lead group discussions on a variety of product management topics. Come ready to contribute!
This event is limited to people with product management experience only. To learn more about ProductTO, click here.
Facilitate a conversation: https://productto.org/lead
Remember to sign into your TPMA account before buying a ticket to check if you've been verified.
For any questions, productto@tpma.ca
How ProductTO Events Work
1) Get introduced - Each event starts at 6.00pm sharp with an introduction by each facilitator. This is the most important part of the evening as it will help you understand the topic their group will be discussing and why it’s important to them.
2) Choose your session - After the intros, you’ll choose a discussion group to join. This isn’t a passive keynote where you sit back and listen. You’ll be expected to share your knowledge and experience in the group discussion.
3) Wrap up - The discussion groups will wrap up at 7:30 pm, however there’s always an opportunity to mingle afterwards. If you’ve felt inspired by the evening then we encourage you to consider leading a group in the future.
Event Tickets
Your ticket includes a drink and pizza.
Tickets cost $15 for eligible PMs with a "free tier" TPMA membership and $11.50 for Community-Builder level members.
Update your membership here.
Event Agenda
Doors open at 5:30pm and close at 6:15pm.
5:30 – 6:00 PM — Networking
6:00 – 7:30 PM — Discussion Groups
7:30 – 7:50 PM — Networking
Location
In-person @ Clio, Toronto (25 York St, 23rd Floor, Toronto, ON M5J 2V5)
Speakers
Ali Ismail - Back to Basics: The Art of Getting Stuff Done in Product Management
Maddie Lee - When Alignment Breaks Down: Leading Product Through Major Organizational Change
Mark Farmer - Spec Driven Development
Sundararajan Mohan - Where Do Human-led Evals Sit in the Age of AI-Led Development?
Taz Hoda - Influence Without Authority: Getting Buy-In When You Don't Own the Decision
Read Speaker Bio
Based in Toronto, Canada, Mark Farmer brings over 30 years of Product Management and Delivery experience. He is currently Senior Director Product at Apply Digital a leading consulting company focused on digital transformation. Prior to Apply Digital Mark held senior leadership positions at Walmart Global Technology, Trader Corporation, Rogers Communications, QuickPlay Media and Solect Technology Group (acquired by Amdocs). With a diverse background across small startups, mid and large size enterprises Mark has built and led product teams through growth and at scale. Having led major cloud transformation initiatives at Walmart he is now working with the clients of Apply to accelerate their digital ambitions built on MACH (Microservices, API, Cloud Native and Headless) principles.
Read Speaker Bio
I’m a product leader, builder, and technologist who enjoys turning complex technologies and market opportunities into products and businesses that scale.Today, I lead a team of product managers at TELUS Business, overseeing a ~$150M B2B product portfolio. My work spans product strategy, commercial performance, customer experience, and end-to-end product development from identifying opportunities and shaping roadmaps to bringing products to market and driving growth.
Before TELUS, I helped build and scale a B2B business 10x over four years, developing new revenue streams across direct sales, retail, and e-commerce. That experience shaped how I approach product leadership today: combining entrepreneurial thinking, commercial discipline, and a bias toward execution.
With a background in Computer and Communications Engineering and an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, I’ve spent my career working at the intersection of business and technology. I’m particularly energized by emerging technologies, especially AI, and their potential to reshape how we build products, serve customers, and operate businesses.
Beyond my day-to-day work, I contribute to the technology and startup ecosystem through board involvement, mentoring founders and emerging talent, and sharing ideas on product management, AI, and innovation.At heart, I’m a builder. I enjoy bringing people, technology, and ideas together to solve meaningful problems and create lasting impact.
Opinions are my own. See more at aliismailx.com
Read Speaker Bio
Zero-to-one AI PM who builds inside a large enterprise. I don’t just write requirements—I build my own RAG prototypes (Python, ChromaDB, vector embeddings) to validate feasibility before engineering starts. I got my Paralegal Certification to deeply understand my legal-tech users.
Scaled Lexis+ AI to 20,000+ MAU and 300,000+ monthly prompts in a regulated B2B environment. Drove 10x internal LLM adoption by building self-serve tools and running hands-on enablement.Product managers should understand what they’re building. I validate product decisions by building prototypes and researching implementation approaches.
Read Speaker Bio
Product Manager with 7+ years of product experience building and shipping high-impact B2B2C and B2C products across eCommerce, FinTech, Loyalty, Subscriptions and Mobile ecosystems. I have launched 0–1 products, driven growth through experimentation, and used hands-on AI tools to simplify complex internal workflows.






