How curiosity didn't kill the cat w/ Amanda Groves
Description
Product marketers aren't marketers—they're non-conformist rebels! Amanda Groves, VP of PMM at Enable, who rocketed from IC to VP in just 2 years explains why. She breaks down why PMMs need to be trolls under bridges, why slowing down actually speeds you up, and how painting and ultra marathons make her a better leader. We dive into the PMM-to-CMO pipeline, fighting AI Mad Libs, and why the best product marketers challenge everything with intention.
Warning: This episode might make you quit conforming and start rebelling.
What to gather in this convo:
• How to go from IC to VP of PMM in just 2 years (hint: be a rebel)
• Why product marketers should be "trolls under bridges"
• The slow-down-to-speed-up philosophy that's breaking Silicon Valley
• What ultra marathons teach you about product marketing leadership
• Why painting on the side makes you a better PMM leader
• The "controllables vs. uncontrollables" framework that saves careers
• How to fight the AI Mad Lib epidemic in your messaging
• Why more PMMs should be gunning for CMO (and how to get there)
• The non-conformist hiring strategy that builds killer teams
• What PMM leaders are fighting for that ICs never see
• The disagree-and-commit principle that changes everything
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction & Amanda's Weird LinkedIn Journey
01:00 Guest Introduction: IC to VP in 2 Years
02:00 The Big Question: Are Product Marketers Actually Marketers?
02:30 "We Are More Than Marketers" - The Non-Conformist Theory
04:00 What Makes a Non-Conformist PMM
05:00 Rebels Who Pull Invisible Threads
06:00 The Troll Under the Bridge Analogy
07:00 Slow Down to Speed Up Philosophy
09:00 Building PMM Foundations Without Crumbling
11:00 Career Trajectory: The Non-Linear Path
13:00 From Content to Demand Gen to PMM
15:00 Why Product Marketing Was "The Most Fun"
17:00 Current Role at Enable & Team Building
19:00 Ultra Marathons & Mental Fitness
21:00 The Painting Practice & Creative Outlets
23:00 Rapid Fire Round Begins
24:00 Worst Marketing Advice Ever Received
26:00 Budget Allocation Debates
28:00 The AI Mad Lib Problem
30:00 Customer Advisory Boards Discussion
32:00 PMM Career Paths & Fractional Trends
34:00 The PMM to CMO Pipeline
37:00 Product-Led Growth Companies as PMM Paradise
39:00 Disagree and Commit Principle
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