The Loneliness of Career Transitions (And How to Deal With It)

Episode 2: I Knew Something Was Wrong Before I Had Words for It

Have you ever known something was wrong before you had the words for it? That's where this episode starts. I was sitting on my bed recently, in tears, holding my phone, not knowing why I felt the way I did. When I traced it back, it was the scrolling. The algorithm had quietly walked me through years of old pain - and shown me none of the times I got back up. That moment sent me down a rabbit hole of questions I've been sitting with for a while. Why do we lead with pain online? Why do we assume people won't pay attention unless we're suffering? And what does it actually mean when someone says "this too shall pass" - are we finding comfort in that, or are we giving ourselves permission to wait? This is a personal one. No frameworks, no step-by-step. Just an honest conversation about what it looks like to stop scrolling through your past and start building your present. Season 2 of Product with Sai is about exactly that - designing a life that actually works, within the constraints you actually have. This episode is a real example of what that looks like in practice. Come sit with this one.

Episode 1: When Your Constraints Become Your Clarity

I felt relieved the day I was laid off. Not panic. Relief.And that feeling told me everything I needed to know. This is the story of two years, going from minus 2.0 to2.0. The job that wasn't mine, the confidence I lost, and the quiet experiments that brought me back. No frameworks. No five steps. Just what actually happened,and what I learned about building a life inside real constraints.

Episode 0: Why Everything Is Changing

This is Episode 0 of Season Two - a 6-minute conversation about why Product with Sai is evolving. What happened at two back-to-back events that cracked something open in me. And the moment I realized I'd been giving a scripted answer to a question about my own life. Season Two is about designing a life, not just a career. Identity. Becoming. Building under real constraints. Honest reflections, not frameworks. If you've been here from the beginning - thank you. This one's for you. If you're new here - welcome. I think you'll feel at home.

The Loneliness of Career Transitions (And How to Deal With It)

Today's episode is different. It's not about PM tactics or frameworks or skills. Today, we're talking about something nobody really talks about but everyone feels: the loneliness of career transitions. I need to be honest with you - I feel this constantly. Some days, I feel so alone in this journey. Like I'm the only one who wants this. Like I'm the only one willing to risk what I'm risking. And I know I'm not actually alone. I know there are thousands of you out there going through the same thing. But knowing that intellectually doesn't always make the loneliness go away. So today, I want to talk about it. The real, messy, hard parts of changing careers that nobody warns you about. You'll hear about: - When the loneliness hits hardest (choosing non-traditional paths, feeling stuck while others move forward, networking with people who've already made it) - What people say that makes it worse ("Why don't you just stay in your stable job?" "You're going against our advice") - Feeling lonely even when surrounded by people (at work, social events, imposter syndrome) - Being alone vs being lonely (the critical difference that changed everything for me) - Wanting to give up million times (and what pulls me through - my why, regret being worse than failure) - What I wish people understood (the goals list keeps getting longer, you'll never feel "done") - How I cope: Asking for help (not validation), people who actually listen, reaching out to those who made it, sharing vulnerabilities, building in public - Every "no" is a redirection, not a rejection - Feeling lonely in my ambition (constantly asking "why can't I choose something easy?") - The power of "me too" moments Real, vulnerable talk about: - Why I can't just "be content" with a stable BA job - Feeling like I'm going against everyone's advice - My best friend who just listens without giving advice - Why I keep chasing the next goal (US → Big Tech → BA → PM - I never stop) - Building imaginary noise-canceling headphones to tune out external voices This isn't about tactics. This is about the human side of career change. The loneliness is real. But you're not alone in feeling it. 15 minutes. Raw and honest. How are YOU dealing with the loneliness of your transition? DM me @productwithsai - let's remind each other we're not alone. Connect: Instagram @productwithsai | LinkedIn: Sai Bhavana Akkineni

Building Your PM Portfolio (Do You Even Need One?)

Last week we talked about how competitive the PM job market is. When the market is that tough, you need to stand out. Which brings us to today's question: Do you need a PM portfolio? And my answer is: Yes. Especially if you're transitioning from a non-PM role. Think about how you hire a photographer. You don't hire them based on a resume saying "I'm good at photography." You look at their portfolio. You see their work. You see their style. Same thing with PMs when you don't have PM experience yet. In this episode, I share what I'm learning about PM portfolios—what works, what doesn't, and what I'm actually doing myself. You'll learn: - Do you need a portfolio? Yes—it's proof you can do PM work (photographer analogy) - What should be in it: Case studies, mock PRDs, product teardowns, current work, side projects, community building - Pick unpopular apps (not generic Netflix/Spotify case studies—stand out!) - Your podcast/community = portfolio (shows PM thinking, user understanding, building in public) - Dealing with confidentiality (my TxDOT work is government/confidential—how to showcase thinking without sharing proprietary info) - Format options: Personal website, Notion, Google Doc, PDF, LinkedIn - Content > aesthetics (start simple, make it pretty later) - Do portfolios actually help? Yes—they show initiative and get you interviews, but bigger value is building YOUR skills - Common mistakes: Too comprehensive, generic case studies, academic vs practical, never updating, focusing on design over thinking - Make it a fun project (if it feels like a chore, it'll show) - How to start: Pick one product, use a framework, write it down, share somewhere, iterate - Portfolio needs regular updates (every 3 months) My honest reality: I'm building mine right now. It's not perfect. It's taking longer than I'd like. But I'm okay with it being a work in progress. 12 minutes. Practical and real. You don't need perfect. You just need to start. Are you building a PM portfolio? What are you including? DM me @productwithsai Connect: Instagram @productwithsai | LinkedIn: Sai Bhavana Akkineni