Michal Lasman – Leading with Empathy, Coaching & Communication

In this episode, I sat down with Michal Lasman, a product marketing leader turned executive coach, to talk about the human side of leadership—and why soft skills might be your strongest asset in today’s workplace.

Michal’s background spans B2B marketing, tech startups, and team building, but what stood out most is how much he values listening, clarity, and care.
We talked about how marketing roles evolve, why communication is often the root of most problems, and how coaching (done right) can unlock real performance and fulfillment for individuals and entire teams.

If you’re a product marketer, people manager, or just someone who wants to lead with more intention, this episode will speak to you.

Key Takeaways

✅ Soft skills aren’t “nice to have” anymore—they’re business-critical.
✅ Clarity is a gift you give your team. Don’t underestimate how powerful aligned language can be.
✅ Most performance issues aren’t skill gaps—they’re communication gaps.
✅ Leadership isn’t a title—it’s how you show up for others.
✅ Coaching isn’t about giving advice. It’s about creating space for people to discover their own answers.
✅ Building trust as a leader starts with how you listen, not just what you say.
✅ You don’t have to “perform” leadership. The best managers are grounded, self-aware, and honest.

💬 Quote from Michal

⏱️ Episode Chapters

00:00 – Intro & Michal’s background
03:10 – Why Michal shifted from product marketing to coaching
06:30 – What most managers get wrong about communication
10:00 – How language alignment impacts execution
14:40 – Coaching vs managing: what’s the difference?
18:10 – Giving feedback that builds trust (not fear)
22:30 – Building leadership skills through self-awareness
27:00 – Michal’s approach to listening in high-pressure roles
32:20 – Lessons from coaching startup teams
36:10 – Leadership as a practice, not a personality
40:30 – How Michal works with clients and what he's seeing in the market
44:00 – Advice for PMMs and team leads who want to grow into stronger leaders
48:00 – Book recs, resources, and next steps
51:00 – Where to connect with Michal

🔗 Connect with Michal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michallasman/
📩 Subscribe to the newsletter: https://ai4pmms.com/subscribe
🔗 Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivanburic/

In this episode, I sat down with Barney O’Kelly, Head of Solutions & Product Marketing at Alex Partners, to talk about the career strategy behind one of his favorite mantras:
“Be seen, make friends.”

Barney believes personal branding isn’t about going viral or building a huge audience. It’s about being intentional with how you show up—inside your company, on LinkedIn, and in your network.

We talked about what visibility really means, how to shape your professional identity, and why your brand is already saying something—even if you haven’t touched your profile in years.

Key Takeaways

✅ Your job title is not your story. Who you are and how you do your work matters more than what your role is.

✅ “Be seen, make friends” is a mindset shift—visibility + relationships are the foundation of career growth.

✅ You don’t need to be loud or post daily to build a personal brand. Start with a clear profile, strong photo, and a story worth reading.

✅ Personal brand isn’t just external—it helps your colleagues understand who you are, what you care about, and where you want to go.

✅ LinkedIn is your digital first impression. Use it intentionally—even if you’re not looking for a job.

✅ The best way to grow your network isn’t to promote yourself, but to connect others and create value.

Quote from Barney
“Your job title is the least interesting thing about you. What you do, how you do it, and why—that’s where your story lives.”

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Intro & Barney’s current role
02:00 – “Be Seen, Make Friends”: where it comes from
05:00 – Why personal brand matters (even when you’re not job hunting)
07:30 – LinkedIn as a runway, not a resume
10:00 – The elements of a strong profile: photo, headline, about section
13:00 – Finding your story and refining your positioning
17:00 – How internal brand builds influence at work
22:00 – The difference between self-promotion and storytelling
27:00 – Advice for introverts: how to network without shouting
33:00 – Helping others shape their voice
37:00 – What Barney looks for when hiring
42:00 – Can your brand evolve as you grow?
47:00 – Where to start if you're building from scratch
50:00 – Connect with Barney

🔗 Connect with Barney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barneyokelly/
🔗 Follow Ivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivanburic/

Crafting Stories That Close: The Art of Presentation in B2B SaaS with Mikey Mioduski

🚀 INTRO
In this episode, I sat down with Mikey Mioduski, founder and CEO of GhostRanch Communications, to dive deep into a side of product marketing that often gets overlooked: presentations.

Mikey has worked behind the scenes of some of the biggest enterprise SaaS deals—crafting decks that don’t just tell a story but drive decisions. Whether it’s an investor pitch, a big sales moment, or an internal narrative to align the org, Mikey and his team live at the intersection of storytelling, design, and strategy.

We talked about the gap between design and messaging in B2B, the hidden cost of bad decks, and why the best presentations start with narrative clarity. If you’ve ever been tasked with “just making the deck look nice,” this conversation will change the way you think about slides forever.

📌 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Great decks are strategy tools. They aren't just visuals—they shape how your audience feels, understands, and remembers your product.
• The design vs. messaging gap is real. Most teams focus on what looks good instead of what connects—and Mikey’s work bridges that gap.
• Product marketers are presentation owners by default. But without the right toolkit or guidance, they’re often set up to fail.
• Clarity > Creativity. The best presentations aren’t flashy—they’re focused, intentional, and built around a sharp narrative.
• The internal pitch matters. Before you convince customers or investors, you need to sell the story inside your company.

💬 QUOTE FROM MIKEY
"We always say, if the presentation’s job is to move someone from point A to point B…you better be crystal clear on what A is—and where B is supposed to be."

📚 WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR

• Product marketers who own the deck but want more confidence and impact.
• Founders trying to pitch clearly to investors or early customers.
• Designers and writers collaborating on strategic storytelling.
• Anyone tired of ugly slides and unclear messages.

⏱ CHAPTERS
0:00 – Intro
3:10 – Mikey’s path from agency work to founding GhostRanch
7:40 – What makes a presentation actually effective
13:15 – Common mistakes product marketers make with decks
20:10 – Sales decks vs. product launches vs. internal presentations
28:30 – Why great storytelling starts with knowing your Point A
34:45 – The cost of unclear internal communication
41:20 – Final advice for marketers who want to up their presentation game

🎧 Listen if you want to:

• Own your next big deck like a pro
• Understand how storytelling drives strategy
• Learn the difference between good design and smart design