S2:E7 - Ask for What You Want: Careers, Contracts, and Building Product That Work Everywhere

In this episode of Practical Product Management, we sat down with our longtime friend and former Amazon colleague Jen Bloom. Jen’s had a fascinating career across Microsoft, Amazon, and Stripe—and has built deep expertise in global payments, compliance, and fintech partnerships.

We talked about the value of falling into product management, the unexpected ways mentorship evolves, and why domain expertise is still one of the most underrated superpowers in tech. Jen shared what it’s like launching products in global markets like Turkey and Germany, how different cultures approach payments and trust, and what she’s learned about negotiation—both in business and in her own career.

Whether you're navigating a career transition, building fintech products, or learning to ask for what you're worth, this episode is full of practical insights and encouragement.

Key Takeaways

• Product Management Doesn’t Have One PathJen’s journey from accounting to tech to product shows that many PMs don’t start out with the title—and that’s okay. What matters is curiosity, learning in context, and growing with mentors (and sometimes, friends).

• Domain Expertise is a SuperpowerJen's deep knowledge of payments has helped her build trust across partnerships, legal, and product teams. T-shaped skills are important—but that deep vertical knowledge can be your differentiator.

• Global Products Need Local WisdomWhat works in one market can backfire in another. The team shares stories from launching payments in Turkey, Germany, and India—where even removing friction can reduce trust.

• Negotiation is a Life Skill, Not Just a Job SkillFrom moving countries to vendor contracts, the team discusses how to ask for what you need, build win-win outcomes, and develop a negotiation muscle—especially as women in tech.
  

Questions for Product Managers

1. What part of your background are you undervaluing because it isn’t “classic PM”?

2. How deep is your domain expertise—and how are you using it to build influence or trust?

3. Are you asking for what you want in your career, or waiting for someone to offer it?

4. When building globally, are you listening deeply enough to local behaviors, or assuming your way will work everywhere?

Share your thoughts here or go to our "Ask Us" section to make a suggestion for topics or guests you'd like to see.