How curiosity didn't kill the cat w/ Amanda Groves

Product marketers aren't marketers—they're non-conformist rebels! Amanda Groves, VP of PMM at Enable, who rocketed from IC to VP in just 2 years explains why. She breaks down why PMMs need to be trolls under bridges, why slowing down actually speeds you up, and how painting and ultra marathons make her a better leader. We dive into the PMM-to-CMO pipeline, fighting AI Mad Libs, and why the best product marketers challenge everything with intention.

Warning: This episode might make you quit conforming and start rebelling.

What to gather in this convo:
• How to go from IC to VP of PMM in just 2 years (hint: be a rebel) 

• Why product marketers should be "trolls under bridges" 

• The slow-down-to-speed-up philosophy that's breaking Silicon Valley 

• What ultra marathons teach you about product marketing leadership 

• Why painting on the side makes you a better PMM leader 

• The "controllables vs. uncontrollables" framework that saves careers 

• How to fight the AI Mad Lib epidemic in your messaging 

• Why more PMMs should be gunning for CMO (and how to get there) 

• The non-conformist hiring strategy that builds killer teams 

• What PMM leaders are fighting for that ICs never see 

• The disagree-and-commit principle that changes everything

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction & Amanda's Weird LinkedIn Journey

01:00 Guest Introduction: IC to VP in 2 Years

02:00 The Big Question: Are Product Marketers Actually Marketers?

02:30 "We Are More Than Marketers" - The Non-Conformist Theory

04:00 What Makes a Non-Conformist PMM

05:00 Rebels Who Pull Invisible Threads

06:00 The Troll Under the Bridge Analogy

07:00 Slow Down to Speed Up Philosophy

09:00 Building PMM Foundations Without Crumbling

11:00 Career Trajectory: The Non-Linear Path

13:00 From Content to Demand Gen to PMM

15:00 Why Product Marketing Was "The Most Fun"

17:00 Current Role at Enable & Team Building

19:00 Ultra Marathons & Mental Fitness

21:00 The Painting Practice & Creative Outlets

23:00 Rapid Fire Round Begins

24:00 Worst Marketing Advice Ever Received

26:00 Budget Allocation Debates

28:00 The AI Mad Lib Problem

30:00 Customer Advisory Boards Discussion

32:00 PMM Career Paths & Fractional Trends

34:00 The PMM to CMO Pipeline

37:00 Product-Led Growth Companies as PMM Paradise

39:00Disagree and Commit Principle

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