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-making
• How to align product, go-to-market, and revenue in fast-paced environments
• Why storytelling and strategic communication matter more as you grow
• How to navigate the leap from IC to product executive—and avoid common traps
• Advice for PMs who want to stand out and lead with impact

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 – Introduction to Ajit Thupil
00:59 – Thoughts on remote vs. in-office work in a post-pandemic world
02:48 – Lessons from stepping into the CPO role for the first time
03:57 – Ajit’s winding career path and the inflection points that shaped it
05:53 – Moving from business development to product management
11:17 – Key takeaways from working at Amazon
15:41 – How to connect product strategy with go-to-market and revenue
19:13 – Advice for aspiring product leaders: what to build, how to grow
27:21 – Rapid-fire questions and wrap-up

Connect 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 confidence
• How to spot red flags early in future interviews
• Strategies to rebuild self-trust and regain your voice
• Tools like the “Brag Book” to reframe your narrative
• Why healing means solving better problems — not staying stuck in old ones

Whether 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 – Introduction
00:21 – Understanding the impact of a toxic boss
00:45 – Meet Sarah K. Ramsey
01:35 – How toxic environments erode confidence
04:16 – Spotting red flags at work
06:15 – Practical steps to rebuild confidence
16:38 – Daily habits that create momentum
18:49 – Re-entering the job search with intention
22:16 – Interview tips for spotting better managers
25:46 – Final thoughts
26:29 – Wrap-up & call to action

Connect 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/1641845961

www.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 Information

Connect 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/1394337841

www.intentionalproductmanager.com