Hi, I’m Lisa — I’m a product manager at an AI startup in San Francisco.
But that’s not where I started.

I studied chemical engineering and began my career in oil & gas. Since then, I’ve worked across management consulting, mining, cybersecurity, and logistics. I’ve moved between industries, cities (Calgary → Vancouver → Toronto → New York → SF), and roles — each time starting over with no clear roadmap.

I didn’t break into tech through a bootcamp, or a CS degree, or a “10x growth hack.” I figured it out one messy step at a time.

This newsletter is where I share that journey — the pivots, the awkward in-betweens, the wins that felt small but mattered. You’ll find essays here about:

  • Breaking into AI and product management from zero

  • Navigating male-dominated industries

  • Living and working in SF (and how it compares to everywhere else I’ve lived)

  • Preparing for PM interviews, especially when you don’t come from a traditional background

If you’re changing careers, entering tech later, or building something that doesn’t quite fit a box — you might find something helpful here. Or at the very least, familiar.

I write every couple of weeks and have a lot of freebies coming soon. You can subscribe below, and thanks for being here!

Want help with your career pivot or PM interviews? Book a consult.

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I’m a product manager at an AI startup in San Francisco. Before tech, I worked in oil & gas, consulting, cybersecurity, and logistics — and pivoted into product without a CS degree or a roadmap. This newsletter shares stories from the messy middle: care

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