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