In the Season 2 finale of Practical Product Management, Leah and Marilyn close the year with an honest and deeply human conversation. They revisit the idea of being the CEO of your own life, choosing who gets a seat at your personal board table, and why your job doesn’t deserve a vote in your identity. They explore the hard parts of product leadership and reflect on the importance of having a strong spine as a team. They also share the joyful, real-life practices that keep them grounded, from baking to moon rituals to community building, ending the season with a hopeful reminder: if your life doesn’t feel the way you want it to, you get to choose again.

Key Takeaways

1. You Are the CEO of Your Life - You choose who gets a seat on your personal board of directors...and your job, your boss, and your company don’t get a vote. The people who guide you should care about your joy, humanity, and long-term well-being, not your output. 

2. Courage + Clarity Are Non-Negotiable - Whether it’s prioritization, layoffs, financial decisions, or leadership accountability, most organizational pain stems from avoiding the hard conversations. Teams need spine, honesty, and transparency to make real progress. 

3. Humanity vs Frameworks - No org chart, process, or framework can fix a team that’s running on fear. Creativity and problem-solving only happen when people feel safe, trusted, and able to tell the truth. Product is fundamentally human work and leaders must “human” before anything else.

In this second Best Of episode, Leah and Marilyn revisit Episodes 11–20 — a set of conversations that explored burnout as data, the importance of communication, and the courage it takes to build meaningful products. Featuring guests like Charity, Sunny, Greg, Ryan, Steve, and Ali, this collection highlights the deeply human side of product work. It’s a reminder that great product leadership comes from curiosity, clarity, and the willingness to challenge old patterns.

Key Takeaways

1. Burnout Is Data, Not Drama

When energy fades or creativity dips, it’s not failure — it’s a signal worth paying attention to.

2. People Build Software — Communication Is the Real Glue

Most product challenges stem from communication breakdowns, not technical ones. Trust and clarity are foundational.

3. Curiosity + Courage > Predictability + Roadmaps

Experimentation, iteration, and informed risk-taking are essential — not chaotic — parts of modern product craft.

In this special Best Of episode, Leah and Marilyn look back at the first ten episodes of Season 2 — a lively mix of conversations that capture the depth, humor, and humanity of product work. From fractional leadership and accessibility to GovTech, AI, and personal growth, these highlights reveal just how dynamic the product world has become.

Featuring guests like Peter Collingridge, Mike Paciello, Rob Monroe, Sam Zebarjadi, Jen Bloom, and more, this compilation explores the edges of product practice — where leadership meets curiosity, where bureaucracy becomes a design challenge, and where learning never stops.

As they wrap up this half of the season, Leah and Marilyn reflect on the themes that have stayed with them: focus over frenzy, context over theory, and the courage to do less but do it better.

Key Takeaways

1. Context is EverythingProduct theory only matters when it meets reality. Success comes from understanding your environment — and adapting accordingly.
2. Focus Over FrenzyIn an AI-driven world, clarity beats speed. Being essential in the moments that matter is more powerful than doing more, faster.
3. Practice Like You PlayLeadership is a daily practice. Show up, even when it’s messy. Repetition builds confidence and muscle memory for when it counts.
4. Do Less, BetterImpact matters more than activity. Prioritize the work that truly moves your product — and your people — forward.