Welcome to Product Sensei - From Ronnie.

Welcome to Product Sensei: Your Journey in Product Begins Here

Hi, my name is Ronnie and I am one of the co-founders of Product Sensei. Today I wanted to spend a little bit of time talking about my career path in product because I think it will help give some insight into who I am and why we started Product Sensei.

Finding your own path as a product person is both challenging an rewarding.

The Apprenticeship of a Product Professional

Business Analyst

Once upon a time, a project manager took a chance on me. I was working with the Royal Australian Navy when an opportunity arose: they needed someone to step into a Business Analyst role for a 12-month software development project.

Like many people, I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a “product person.” Frankly, I didn’t even know such a career path existed. But I said yes to the role and promptly dove headfirst into understanding what a Business Analyst actually does. This role became my first taste of what would ultimately become a very rewarding career.

Product Owner

Fast forward a few years, and I’d completed my unofficial apprenticeship in product management. I’d moved into a Product Owner role with a new organization, this time working on a larger program but with a lot of other team members and a lot of oversight. While still very much project-led rather than product, it was another opportunity to learn, grow, and hone my skills.

Product Manager

When I landed my first official Product Manager gig, it felt like being thrown into the deep end all over again. I was responsible for the full lifecycle of a CRM system, which meant rapidly upskilling in technology while simultaneously learning how to communicate and negotiate effectively. It was a steep learning curve but one of the most rewarding chapters of my career.

The School of Hard Knocks…

My 18+ years in the product world have been one giant exercise in self-learning. Back then, formal education for product management was virtually non-existent. No training wheels, no structured courses, just me, figuring it out as I went.

But times have thankfully changed. The product profession has grown exponentially, and there are now countless opportunities to learn, develop, and thrive as a product professional. The challenge today isn’t finding resources, it’s navigating the overwhelming abundance of information to figure out where to start and how to level up in those crucial early and mid-career stages.

Treading your own Product Path

It can be hard to know where to start, and where to focus your efforts in the early to mid stages of your career. Much of the content available today is tailored to “product leadership” or assumes that everyone aspires to emulate the ‘Googles’, ‘Apples’, and ‘Amazons’ of the world. Don’t get me wrong, there’s immense value in learning from industry titans. Their insights can inspire and ignite change. But here’s the thing: Silicon Valley isn’t the only way to break into product.

Amazing product professionals are everywhere. Incredible products are continuously created by companies and people outside of tech giants and startups. Product Sensei was born from this belief: great product people can come from anywhere, and you don’t need a badge from a tech juggernaut to make a meaningful impact.

Mastery of Product is a Journey and we're here to help!

What Product Sensei Stands For

If you’re looking to step into product management or take your skills to the next level, Product Sensei is here for you.

We’re not just about theory or polished frameworks. While techniques and methodologies are important, we also emphasize pragmatic, real-world strategies that work. Success in product management isn’t just about how your roadmap looks, it’s about how you communicate, collaborate, and adapt to challenges alongside your teams and stakeholders.

Soft skills like negotiation, communication, and fostering strong relationships—are as critical as technical know-how. That’s why we focus on these aspects with the same importance as theory. We’ve been through the highs and lows, the wins and setbacks, and we’re here to share practical insights to help you grow and succeed.

Welcome to the Dojo

At Product Sensei, we hope you find nuggets of wisdom that resonate, inspire, and equip you to thrive in the product world. More than anything, we want to make learning fun and actionable.

Welcome to our dojo. You’re now part of a community of curious, driven, and passionate product professionals. We’re glad to have you here, and we can’t wait to see how you grow.

Welcome to our Product Dojo

A photo of Ronnie, Co-Founder @ Product Sensei

Hi I'm Ronnie and I am one of the co-founders here at Product Sensei.

I have been working in Product for a loooong time and my hope is that some of my experience will help you succeed along your product journey.

I hope you got something from this article, welcome to our community!