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40: Product Leaders Who Don’t Learn AI Will Be Replaced (with Rebeca Assunção)

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Manage episode 498243875 series 3575018
Content provided by Polly Allen. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Polly Allen or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

For more on building AI products and careers, along with early course announcement and special pricing, subscribe to the AI Career Boost mailing list at https://aicareerboost.com/interested

THE GUEST

Rebeca Assunção is a senior product leader driving innovation at the intersection of AI, mobility, and no-code tools. With over a decade of experience across e-commerce, transit tech, and smart cities, she currently leads the digital product team at NEOM, shaping a seamless AI-powered system for one of the world’s most ambitious urban development projects—an entirely new, future-forward e-city in Saudi Arabia. Known for her hands-on leadership style, Rebeca builds rapid local prototypes to accelerate validation and guides teams through complex, enterprise-scale launches. Outside of her professional work, she is an active investor championing tech-for-good ventures in fintech, sustainability, and health.

THE SUMMARY

AI is a multiplier, not a magic wand: Rebeca uses AI to extend her tiny team’s reach—writing specs, validating vendors, and building working prototypes solo. It’s not just about innovation; it’s survival when you’re understaffed and under pressure to deliver fast.

The “average” product manager is done: AI will automate the middle. Rebeca argues PMs need to pick a lane: either go deep into growth or become technically fluent. The days of generalists writing Jira tickets are over.

Don’t build unless you must: Her rule is simple—only build in-house if the product is unique, high-impact, and the team has the skills. Otherwise, buy or license. Time, expertise, and complexity should dictate, not ego.

NEOM’s ambition? Kill the UX entirely: The vision is frictionless transport. If a bus is cancelled, the system quietly rebooks you. No alerts, no stress. But this requires deep hardware integration, not just clever software.

Internal tools matter too: She built a roadmap assistant that lets teams chat with strategy docs and get feature suggestions. Not just a cool demo—it’s a real step toward aligning product culture in a non-product-native org.

THE SHOW

Weekly conversations with the AI’s top product leaders. Join Polly Allen as she discovers the paths to success in the world of AI.

THE LINKS

Have a question you want us to answer? Send it through to [email protected]

Rebeca Assunção

LinkedIn: https://ae.linkedin.com/in/rebecaoramassuncao

My links

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pollymallen/⁠

AI Career Boost: ⁠https://www.aicareerboost.com/⁠

  continue reading

56 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 498243875 series 3575018
Content provided by Polly Allen. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Polly Allen or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

For more on building AI products and careers, along with early course announcement and special pricing, subscribe to the AI Career Boost mailing list at https://aicareerboost.com/interested

THE GUEST

Rebeca Assunção is a senior product leader driving innovation at the intersection of AI, mobility, and no-code tools. With over a decade of experience across e-commerce, transit tech, and smart cities, she currently leads the digital product team at NEOM, shaping a seamless AI-powered system for one of the world’s most ambitious urban development projects—an entirely new, future-forward e-city in Saudi Arabia. Known for her hands-on leadership style, Rebeca builds rapid local prototypes to accelerate validation and guides teams through complex, enterprise-scale launches. Outside of her professional work, she is an active investor championing tech-for-good ventures in fintech, sustainability, and health.

THE SUMMARY

AI is a multiplier, not a magic wand: Rebeca uses AI to extend her tiny team’s reach—writing specs, validating vendors, and building working prototypes solo. It’s not just about innovation; it’s survival when you’re understaffed and under pressure to deliver fast.

The “average” product manager is done: AI will automate the middle. Rebeca argues PMs need to pick a lane: either go deep into growth or become technically fluent. The days of generalists writing Jira tickets are over.

Don’t build unless you must: Her rule is simple—only build in-house if the product is unique, high-impact, and the team has the skills. Otherwise, buy or license. Time, expertise, and complexity should dictate, not ego.

NEOM’s ambition? Kill the UX entirely: The vision is frictionless transport. If a bus is cancelled, the system quietly rebooks you. No alerts, no stress. But this requires deep hardware integration, not just clever software.

Internal tools matter too: She built a roadmap assistant that lets teams chat with strategy docs and get feature suggestions. Not just a cool demo—it’s a real step toward aligning product culture in a non-product-native org.

THE SHOW

Weekly conversations with the AI’s top product leaders. Join Polly Allen as she discovers the paths to success in the world of AI.

THE LINKS

Have a question you want us to answer? Send it through to [email protected]

Rebeca Assunção

LinkedIn: https://ae.linkedin.com/in/rebecaoramassuncao

My links

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pollymallen/⁠

AI Career Boost: ⁠https://www.aicareerboost.com/⁠

  continue reading

56 episodes

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