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TPMA kicked off its new season on Tuesday, September 30th, with Inside Intel from the People Who Hire You at BrainStation. Career advice for Product Managers often comes from theory, not experience. At this recent event however, attendees got the opposite: real-world guidance from people who actually hire and place PMs.
Moderated by Rosemary King, Vice President Operations @ Creator Method, the panel featured Nada Buhendi (Executive Career Coach, CEO @ Unleashing Your Awesome), Michael Hashizume (Principal Talent Partner @ GuruLink), and Saeed Khan (Fractional Head of Product/CPO) — each bringing a unique view of what what to keep in mind when breaking into and navigating Product Management today.
King opened the session with a powerful reminder: "We all expect our careers to be ladders." In product, they rarely are. PM paths bend, loop, and branch across industries and roles. The key, she noted, is understanding the landscape around you and designing your path accordingly. Let’s explore the following key takeaways.
What Really Gets You Hired Hashizume emphasized that today’s PMs must leverage AI and build visibility through intentional networking and personal branding. It’s not just about technical skills — it’s about showing up, contributing to your community, and owning your narrative. There is no secret sauce, it’s entirely up to you.
Finding Fulfillment Beyond Titles For Buhendi, career satisfaction comes from alignment, not status. Once a six-figure consultant, she found herself unfulfilled until pivoting to career coaching. Her advice: throw out the obsession with titles and focus on what truly makes you happy. The introspective work that you
Think Beyond Your Next Role Khan offered a framework for long-term growth: strategy, differentiator, messaging, and positioning. He encouraged PMs to always think two steps ahead — not just about the next job, but the one after that. Career progression, he reminded the audience, is more abstract than linear.
Navigating Mindset and Fit During Q&A, speakers addressed the challenge of staying motivated in tough markets. Their advice: reflect on what brings you joy, be honest about your environment needs, and understand your values. There’s power in recognizing whether you thrive as a builder or a manager — and shaping your path accordingly.
Leadership, Growth, and Impact When asked how to know if you’re ready for a managerial role, Khan noted that "the manager makes the job," while King pointed out that great leadership requires a different skill set than great product work. Both encouraged reaching out to mentors, reflecting on impact, and embracing the reality that vision, not title, defines success.
The session closed with a reminder that PMs are pilots of their own careers. Whether your next step is in strategy, design, or people leadership, what matters most is clarity on why you’re doing it — and the impact you want to make.
Thank You to All Attendees and Volunteers!
We extend our gratitude to Brain Station for hosting and to the incredible TPMA volunteers who make these events possible. Your feedback shapes our future programming. Until next time, keep building, iterating, and innovating!
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TPMA kicked off its new season on Tuesday, September 30th, with Inside Intel from the People Who Hire You at BrainStation. Career advice for Product Managers often comes from theory, not experience. At this recent event however, attendees got the opposite: real-world guidance from people who actually hire and place PMs.
Moderated by Rosemary King, Vice President Operations @ Creator Method, the panel featured Nada Buhendi (Executive Career Coach, CEO @ Unleashing Your Awesome), Michael Hashizume (Principal Talent Partner @ GuruLink), and Saeed Khan (Fractional Head of Product/CPO) — each bringing a unique view of what what to keep in mind when breaking into and navigating Product Management today.
King opened the session with a powerful reminder: "We all expect our careers to be ladders." In product, they rarely are. PM paths bend, loop, and branch across industries and roles. The key, she noted, is understanding the landscape around you and designing your path accordingly. Let’s explore the following key takeaways.
What Really Gets You Hired Hashizume emphasized that today’s PMs must leverage AI and build visibility through intentional networking and personal branding. It’s not just about technical skills — it’s about showing up, contributing to your community, and owning your narrative. There is no secret sauce, it’s entirely up to you.
Finding Fulfillment Beyond Titles For Buhendi, career satisfaction comes from alignment, not status. Once a six-figure consultant, she found herself unfulfilled until pivoting to career coaching. Her advice: throw out the obsession with titles and focus on what truly makes you happy. The introspective work that you
Think Beyond Your Next Role Khan offered a framework for long-term growth: strategy, differentiator, messaging, and positioning. He encouraged PMs to always think two steps ahead — not just about the next job, but the one after that. Career progression, he reminded the audience, is more abstract than linear.
Navigating Mindset and Fit During Q&A, speakers addressed the challenge of staying motivated in tough markets. Their advice: reflect on what brings you joy, be honest about your environment needs, and understand your values. There’s power in recognizing whether you thrive as a builder or a manager — and shaping your path accordingly.
Leadership, Growth, and Impact When asked how to know if you’re ready for a managerial role, Khan noted that "the manager makes the job," while King pointed out that great leadership requires a different skill set than great product work. Both encouraged reaching out to mentors, reflecting on impact, and embracing the reality that vision, not title, defines success.
The session closed with a reminder that PMs are pilots of their own careers. Whether your next step is in strategy, design, or people leadership, what matters most is clarity on why you’re doing it — and the impact you want to make.
Thank You to All Attendees and Volunteers!
We extend our gratitude to Brain Station for hosting and to the incredible TPMA volunteers who make these events possible. Your feedback shapes our future programming. Until next time, keep building, iterating, and innovating!
Toronto Product Management Association (TPMA) is a community focused on development, growth and networking of Product professionals in the Greater Toronto Area.
