Not every résumé fits on paper.In this reflective episode, Naya explores how proof, process, and storytelling form the foundation of your modern résumé one that evolves with every lesson, pivot, and product you build.Because in the end, you are the product.Timestamps00:00 – 00:30 — Introduction: “You are the product.”00:30 – 01:00 — The story of being laid off and discovering the power of documentation.01:00 – 02:00 — Point 1: Your proof is your portfolio.02:00 – 02:30 — Point 2: Your process is your brand.02:30 – 03:30 — Point 3: Your story is your strategy.03:30 – 05:00 — Product thinking as iteration, not restarting.05:00 – End — Closing reflections + call to action to audit your proof.Key TakeawaysYour résumé isn’t a document; it’s your proof in motion.Proof builds trust faster than credentials.Your process — how you communicate, plan, and execute — is your real brand.Storytelling helps you connect your past to your next pivot.You’re not behind; you’re just iterating.Key Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaS
This week, Naya shares her story of pivoting from banking to tech, and the three truths that helped her rebuild with clarity. If you’ve ever wondered if it’s too late to start again, this one’s for you. Spoiler: It’s not. You’re not behind, you’re just iterating.Timestamps:0:00 – 1:00 — Intro: What inspired this episode and the myth of “too late.”1:00 – 1:30 — My layoff story: From banking to blank slate.1:30 – 2:30 — Discovering tech and realizing I’d been doing “product thinking” all along.2:30 – 4:30 — Three truths about pivoting: redeeming your past, choosing curiosity, and building clarity through action.4:30 – 6:00 — Encouragement for anyone feeling behind.6:00 – End — Call to action and community invites.Key Takeaways:Your past experience is data, not detour.Curiosity can be a valid reason to change direction.Start small; clarity comes from doing.You’re not late. You’re iterating.Key Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaS
Summary:In this episode, Naya redefines what personal branding means for product managers and creatives. It’s not about logos or aesthetics — it’s about proof. She shares how documenting in real time, building in public, and aligning every creative outlet to a purpose has shaped her brand as a product builder.Key Takeaways:Branding = the proof you leave behind.Progress > perfection.Build a brand that functions, not just exists.Every piece of work you share is a micro-proof.Timestamps:00:00 – 01:10 → The question: “If your brand disappeared tomorrow, what proof would remain?”01:10 – 02:45 → Why branding isn’t design, it’s data.02:45 – 03:20 → Early lessons from documenting in public.03:20 – 04:15 → Proof is the new branding.04:15 – 05:30 → Build in public: why people connect with progress.05:30 – 05:45 → Make your brand functional.05:45 – 06:30 → You don’t need a rebrand, you need a record.06:30 – 07:00 → Final thoughts + CTA.
In this episode, Naya breaks down how she transformed her product management experience into structured offerings like PMaaS and Side Hustle Stories. She shares how small acts of documentation became data, how structure created clarity, and why proof always comes before scale.Key Takeaways:You don’t start by building a business — you start by building proof.Your patterns reveal your first offer.Structure creates clarity and scale.Test in public — feedback builds confidence.Your experience is your data.Timestamps00:00 – 02:30 | The surprising start — how documentation turned into a product journey02:30 – 05:30 | Story: From podcast reflections to building proof05:30 – 06:00 | Point 1: Start by naming what’s working06:00 – 06:30 | Point 2: Build structure around your skill06:30 – 07:00 | Point 3: Show proof before you scale07:00 – 07:45 | Wrap-up & final reminder: Proof becomes your product07:45 – 08:30 | CTA: Newsletter, Side Hustle Stories, Dive Africa
In this reflective episode, Naya shares what working with startup founders taught her about real-world product thinking. Beyond frameworks and templates, founders taught her the value of clarity, prioritization, storytelling, and scrappy validation. She connects these lessons to her own journey building PMaaS and preparing for Dive 2025 — Africa’s biggest tech and product conference.Key Takeaways:Clarity is a discipline, not an end goal.Prioritize what matters now — not everything at once.Storytelling is a product strategy.Build with what you have, not what you wish you had.Validation always beats perfection.Timestamps:00:00 – 01:10 | Founders move fast — intro to today’s topic01:10 – 03:50 | Observing early-stage founders: from chaos to clarity03:50 – 05:20 | Lesson 1: Clarity isn’t an outcome, it’s a discipline05:20 – 06:50 | Lesson 2: Prioritize what matters right now06:50 – 07:40 | Lesson 3: Storytelling as strategy07:40 – 08:00 | Lesson 4: Build with what you have08:00 – 09:00 | Lessons I’ve applied to PMaaS09:00 – 09:30 | Dive 2025 mention & reflections on community09:30 – 10:00 | Wrap-up & CTAsKey Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaSThe Dive 2025
In this episode, I talk about Product Dive 2025, Africa’s biggest tech and product conference, my role as an ambassador, and what the Becoming the Product community can gain from it. I share why this event is special to me, what to expect, and how to plug in ahead of December.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Something big is happening in December01:30 – What Product Dive 2025 is all about04:00 – My role as an ambassador07:00 – Why this matters to me personally10:00 – What you can get out of it13:00 – CTAs + Wrap upKey Takeaways:Product Dive is the #1 tech/product event on the continent.Ambassador roles can be more than promotion — they can be storytelling bridges.This is a prime opportunity to learn, connect, and grow within Africa’s product ecosystem.Key Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaSproductdive.com/the-dive-2025-conference
In this reflective episode, Naya shares why stepping into incubation was one of her smartest career moves — even if it didn’t look like it at first. She unpacks how working with founders sharpened her product thinking, inspired PMaaS, and gave her strategic positioning that a traditional PM role couldn’t.Key Takeaways:Unconventional pivots can sharpen unique skills and perspectives.Incubation offers deep exposure to multiple products and founders.Acting as a “fractional PM” builds operational clarity and mentorship muscles.Quiet moves often become powerful leverage points later on.Episode 14: My Most Underrated Career Move — Working in Incubation00:00 – 01:30 | Intro: Bold moves that don’t look bold at first01:30 – 02:00 | Story: Becoming an incubation manager02:00 – 03:00 | Point 1: Ecosystem exposure03:00 – 04:00 | Point 2: Operational clarity & mentorship04:00 – 05:00 | Point 3: Strategic positioning for PMaaS05:00 – 06:00 | Wrap-up & reflectionsKey Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaS
In this reflective solo episode, Naya shares why not every season of building needs to be loud. She breaks down her Q3 “quiet season,” the mindset shifts that came with it, and practical ways to document and build intentionally when visibility is low.Key Takeaways:Quiet seasons are powerful for strategy and foundation workValue doesn’t disappear just because it’s not visibleDocument your journey quietly now — share later when the time is rightSilence can be strategy, not stagnationEpisode 13: The Quiet Build — Why Not Every Season is Loud00:00 – 01:30 | Intro: Why quiet seasons matter01:30 – 02:00 | Story: My unplanned Q3 pause02:00 – 03:00 | Point 1: Quiet seasons build foundations03:00 – 04:00 | Point 2: Visibility ≠ value05:00 – 06:00 | Point 3: Document quietly, share later6:00 – 6:05 | Wrap up & remindersKey Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaS
In this practical solo episode, Naya shares her Notion system for managing a full portfolio career without a team. From holistic goal planning to project management across multiple hustles, and even using Notion as a website, this is the behind-the-scenes look at her real operating system.Episode 12: How I Use Notion to Run 3 Hustles00:00 – 00:38 | Introduction: How I manage multiple hustles solo00:38 – 01:21 | Life before Notion: scattered docs, sticky notes, chaos01:21 – 03:38 | Building my 2025 dashboard — holistic planning03:38 – 05:40 | Master Task Database across podcast, PMaaS, content05:40 – 07:14 | Turning Notion into backend + frontend07:14 – 08:09 | Why Notion is my COOKey Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaS
In this reflective solo episode, Naya opens up about the quieter side of ambition, the overwhelm that can come from juggling multiple creative and professional pursuits. She shares three lessons she’s applying this season to protect her peace while continuing to build intentionally: recognizing overload early, creating clear boundaries, and protecting rest and joy.Episode 11: Protecting Peace While Building Ambition00:00 – 01:03 | Introduction: Ambition can chip away at your peace if unchecked01:03 – 02:11 | Q3 reality check — overwhelm, disconnect, and hitting pause02:11 – 05:18 | Lesson 1: Recognizing overload early and identifying signals05:18 – 07:23 | Lesson 2: Creating containers and boundaries to focus energy07:23 – 09:55 | Lesson 3: Protecting joy and rest intentionally09:55 – 11:39 | Reframing expectations & designing sustainable systems11:39 – 12:31 | Final reminder: Your peace is not optionalKey Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaS
In this honest solo episode, Naya normalizes the messy middle of building products. Proof isn’t about instant revenue. It starts with listeners, subscribers, first sales, and community. She shares her own lessons from podcasting, launching mini courses, and validating PMaaS.Episode 10:From Downloads to Revenue: What I’ve Learned So Far00:00 – 00:42 | Why this isn’t a “10k in 10 days” story00:42 – 01:29 | Proof starts with people showing up01:29 – 02:23 | Downloads ≠ dollars: why podcasting builds community first02:23 – 03:21 | Small sales are still validation03:21 – 04:26 | Mindset shift: monetization is a long game04:26 – 05:21 | Running experiments like PMaaS alongside courses05:21 – 06:00 | Final reminder: proof doesn’t start with profitsKey Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaS
This week, Naya reflects on the real meaning of building in public, not just milestones, but also pauses, pivots, and messy progress. She shares lessons from falling behind, why documentation matters more than perfection, and how experiments like PMaaS add credibility even before they succeed.ShownotesEpisode 9: What Building in Public Actually Looks Like00:00 – 01:00 | Why “building in public” isn’t just shiny LinkedIn posts.01:00 – 02:30 | Falling behind in Q3 — and realizing silence is part of the story.02:30 – 03:20 | Lesson 1: Transparency attracts trust.03:20 – 04:20 | Lesson 2: Documentation beats perfection.04:20 – 05:20 | Lesson 3: Your process is your proof.05:20 – 06:10 | Experimenting with PMaaS (Product Management as a Service).06:10 – 07:20 | Encouragement: share one imperfect thing this week.Key Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaS
What if you could rent a PM’s brain? In this episode, I share the idea of PMaaS—Product Management as a Service—and why I’m building it in public.Timestamps:[00:00:38] Why PMaaS? Lessons from incubation and acceleration[00:01:20] The gap: feature-heavy, user-light startups[00:02:42] What PMaaS could look like (validation sprints, MVP roadmaps, prioritization)[00:03:32] Building toward a January 2026 launch[00:03:58] Validation first, iteration over ego, community first[00:04:22] Recap: PMaaS as the bridge between messy ideas and working productsKey Takeaways:Founders need product thinking before they need a full-time PM.PMaaS could fill the gap with lightweight, flexible support.Building in public means inviting community into the process.Key Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaS
From validation to iteration, incubation reveals the truth about product work. In this episode, I share lessons from working with startups that every aspiring PM or side-project builder needs to hear.Timestamps:[00:00:55] Landing an incubation role through community[00:02:28] Why vision without validation is quicksand[00:04:09] Iteration beats ideation every time[00:05:19] Introducing PMaaS: Product Management as a Service[00:06:05] Community as your first feature[00:07:18] Announcement: Speaking at Product Conference 2025[00:08:04] Wrap-up and CTAsKey Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleSubscribe to the newsletterDM me on LinkedIn about PMaaS
Ever thought, “Who am I to teach this?” In this solo episode, Naya shares how surviving chaos led to teaching what she practiced, without a platform, permission, or perfect plan.Timestamps & Highlights:[00:00:00] You don’t need to be an expert to be a guide[00:00:59] From survival mode to systems[00:02:15] When DMs become demand[00:03:00] Teaching = documenting what worked[00:04:00] Your lived experience is already a framework[00:05:00] Start messy, start small, start free[00:06:29] If you’ve helped one person, it countsKey Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice Bundle
Think your checklist or template isn’t a real product? Think again. In this short solo episode, Naya unpacks why digital products count, and how to turn them into proof.Timestamps & Highlights:[00:00:00] – Digital products are products.[00:00:51] – The SMART PM Roadmap story[00:01:31] – Full product lifecycle without a single line of code[00:02:01] – Templates solve real problems too[00:03:00] – From gap to launch: user research to iteration[00:04:10] – Turn your content into a case study[00:05:18] – Side Hustle Stories & Smart PM Roadmap callout[00:06:12] – You’re not just learning product—you’re becoming itKey Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice Bundle
This one’s personal. Naya shares how a career transition exposed the gap in protections for gig workers, and how she built GigSecure to fix it.ength: ~11 minsTimestamps & Highlights:[00:00:00] – Why GigSecure didn’t start as a hackathon idea[00:00:51] – From traditional job benefits to gig work vulnerability[00:01:49] – Asking hard questions about health, savings, and support[00:02:37] – Getting validation through the TEF grant[00:03:26] – Building the MVP with Flutterflow, Supabase, Buildship, and AI[00:05:16] – No-code isn’t a shortcut—it’s a strategy[00:06:00] – You don’t need to wait for validation, but it’s powerful when it comes[00:07:16] – What protections do gig workers really need?[00:09:20] – Encouragement for listeners to start small and build proof[00:10:14] – Tools, roadmaps, and next steps for building in publicKey Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice Bundle
Are you tired of one-size-fits-all careers? In this episode, Naya shares how she moved beyond the traditional product path and built a portfolio career that reflects her real life and values.Timestamps & Highlights:[00:00:00] – Intro: nervous, excited, and ready to unpack it all[00:01:10] – Feeling boxed in by a single job title[00:02:01] – What a portfolio career actually is[00:03:45] – How life changes (marriage, motherhood) led to redefining work[00:04:41] – Building proof through courses, roles, and self-driven work[00:06:00] – Starting small with what you already know[00:07:31] – Proof, clarity, and courage over audience size[00:08:25] – Final thoughts + free resourcesKey Links:Free Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice Bundle
In this season opener, I’m reflecting on how Becoming the Product has evolved, from a way to break into product management to a framework for building a career (and life) on your own terms.I share how launching a podcast, building mini-courses, pivoting careers, and trusting the process helped me stop waiting for permission and start designing a portfolio career. If you've ever felt like you're more than just a job title, this episode is for you.Timestamps[00:00:00] – Welcome to Season 3 & life/career update[00:01:02] – How and why the podcast started[00:02:17] – Learning to build trust in myself without a title[00:03:00] – Pivoting into incubation, courses, and GigSecure[00:03:52] – From jobs to portfolio careers: defining a product-led life[00:04:18] – What “Becoming the Product” actually means[00:04:48] – The unglamorous (but real) part of growth[00:05:13] – Proof through storytelling, no-code, and consistency[00:05:44] – Who this season is for (creators, PMs, multihyphenates)[00:06:11] – How to get started: free roadmap & courses[00:07:02] – Closing and gratitudeResources MentionedFree Smart PM Career RoadmapBuild Without Permission – Mini CourseSide Hustle Stories – Mini CourseProof & Practice BundleWant more career clarity and confidence?Sign up for the newsletter: Becoming the Product → [Subscribe]Thanks for being here. Let’s make this season the one where you become the product.
In this season finale of Becoming the Product, Naya reflects on her first 180 days as a Growth Manager, sharing key lessons and milestones in her journey. From building confidence in project scoping on Nifty to validating problem statements and taking on her first go-to-market (GTM) task, Naya discusses how these six months have shaped her approach to product management. She recounts how early challenges in understanding company tools and culture evolved into skills she now confidently applies, emphasizing the importance of iteration, resilience, and adapting to the fast-paced nature of product management. Naya also expresses gratitude for the support from the Becoming the Product community throughout this season, including an award win that validated her commitment to sharing her story. As she looks forward to next season, Naya offers advice for aspiring product managers: embrace iteration, stay curious, and don’t shy away from challenging tasks. Whether you’re just starting out or growing in your career, this episode is a heartfelt conclusion to the season, packed with practical insights and inspiration for the journey ahead.