Cigdem Heaver
Cigdem Heaver

Senior Product Manager

When I first approached James, I had been job searching for five months with no clear strategy. At the same time, I’d left my role due to personal reasons, moved back home, and was navigating major life changes. I needed clarity, confidence, and direction — and that’s when I turned to James. My application success rate was very low, but James quickly changed that. After rebuilding my CV together, I started getting noticed by major companies. He then gave me a clear, structured plan for improving my pitch and interview performance, which kept me focused and accountable. Within three months, I landed an excellent new role with a highly competitive salary. What I appreciated most was James’s mix of professionalism, warmth, and responsiveness. His coaching is practical, tailored, and genuinely transformative. I’d highly recommend James to any PM looking to elevate their career. I’ll also continue working with him as I grow into the Product Leader I aspire to be.
Cigdem Heaver
Cigdem Heaver

Senior Product Manager

When I first approached James, I had been job searching for five months with no clear strategy. At the same time, I’d left my role due to personal reasons, moved back home, and was navigating major life changes. I needed clarity, confidence, and direction — and that’s when I turned to James. My application success rate was very low, but James quickly changed that. After rebuilding my CV together, I started getting noticed by major companies. He then gave me a clear, structured plan for improving my pitch and interview performance, which kept me focused and accountable. Within three months, I landed an excellent new role with a highly competitive salary. What I appreciated most was James’s mix of professionalism, warmth, and responsiveness. His coaching is practical, tailored, and genuinely transformative. I’d highly recommend James to any PM looking to elevate their career. I’ll also continue working with him as I grow into the Product Leader I aspire to be.

Nov 15, 2025

Nov 15, 2025

Alex Sheard
Alex Sheard

PM @ Kraken

James was my coach for four months, and I honestly couldn’t recommend him more. He has a broad set of skills and experience, and he adapts his coaching to what you actually need. Over the months we worked together, we dug into experimentation, stakeholder management, ways of working, and support across ongoing discovery and delivery. We also stepped back to look at the bigger picture and my career goals for the next three to five years. I recommend James not just because he’s a great coach, but because he’s a genuinely lovely human who cares about product and will back you all the way in your growth.
Alex Sheard
Alex Sheard

PM @ Kraken

James was my coach for four months, and I honestly couldn’t recommend him more. He has a broad set of skills and experience, and he adapts his coaching to what you actually need. Over the months we worked together, we dug into experimentation, stakeholder management, ways of working, and support across ongoing discovery and delivery. We also stepped back to look at the bigger picture and my career goals for the next three to five years. I recommend James not just because he’s a great coach, but because he’s a genuinely lovely human who cares about product and will back you all the way in your growth.

Nov 13, 2025

Nov 13, 2025

 Mahmoud El-Azzeh
Mahmoud El-Azzeh

VP Product

I had the pleasure of spending time with James through both Product Sphere and in 1:1 settings and I cannot understate how valuable his insight is, especially when it comes to building your online profile on LinkedIn. James helped me understand the dynamics of content creation, what engages people and generates new followers, all while formulating a personal brand that has helped me unlock doors with new opportunities both personally and professionally. Every meeting with James has resulted in unearthing a new learning that is both practical and effective. When you combine James' depth of knowledge, personability and his practical-focused coaching style, you effectively have a tri-force of wisdom. I highly recommend James to Product people at any point in their career who are looking to go to the next level!
 Mahmoud El-Azzeh
Mahmoud El-Azzeh

VP Product

I had the pleasure of spending time with James through both Product Sphere and in 1:1 settings and I cannot understate how valuable his insight is, especially when it comes to building your online profile on LinkedIn. James helped me understand the dynamics of content creation, what engages people and generates new followers, all while formulating a personal brand that has helped me unlock doors with new opportunities both personally and professionally. Every meeting with James has resulted in unearthing a new learning that is both practical and effective. When you combine James' depth of knowledge, personability and his practical-focused coaching style, you effectively have a tri-force of wisdom. I highly recommend James to Product people at any point in their career who are looking to go to the next level!

Aug 27, 2025

Aug 27, 2025

Desmond Leo
Desmond Leo

Chief Product Officer @ (TBA)

I don't think I would have made it through my job search in one piece without James. Before joining his community, I spent over a year applying on my own. It was exhausting and pretty demoralising. As a senior leader, I thought I had things fairly well-polished, but James provided invaluable insight that helped me stand out even more. His resume reviews, mock interviews, and LinkedIn feedback were extremely helpful. He was also willing to review each one as many times as it took to get things right. On top of that, he supported me through a negotiation process that didn’t follow any standard playbook. It wasn’t a typical job offer (it was more like a business conversation) and he helped me think through it from multiple angles, not just as a candidate but as a peer. What really made a difference, though, was the space he created. Being surrounded by others facing the same tough market helped me get out of my own head. That network kept me sane, gave me perspective, and helped rebuild my confidence at a time I really needed it. If you’re a product professional or product leader navigating this market, James gets it. And he’s willing to provide you with real, thoughtful support.
Desmond Leo
Desmond Leo

Chief Product Officer @ (TBA)

I don't think I would have made it through my job search in one piece without James. Before joining his community, I spent over a year applying on my own. It was exhausting and pretty demoralising. As a senior leader, I thought I had things fairly well-polished, but James provided invaluable insight that helped me stand out even more. His resume reviews, mock interviews, and LinkedIn feedback were extremely helpful. He was also willing to review each one as many times as it took to get things right. On top of that, he supported me through a negotiation process that didn’t follow any standard playbook. It wasn’t a typical job offer (it was more like a business conversation) and he helped me think through it from multiple angles, not just as a candidate but as a peer. What really made a difference, though, was the space he created. Being surrounded by others facing the same tough market helped me get out of my own head. That network kept me sane, gave me perspective, and helped rebuild my confidence at a time I really needed it. If you’re a product professional or product leader navigating this market, James gets it. And he’s willing to provide you with real, thoughtful support.

May 24, 2025

May 24, 2025

Andrew Shapiro
Andrew Shapiro

Lead Product Manager

After over a year of unsuccessful solo job searching during a particularly challenging period, working with James was a game-changer. His coaching helped me transition from extended unemployment to receiving two competitive offers simultaneously for roles I was genuinely excited about. James brought incredible energy to each session and coached me through every aspect of the process—from interview preparation to framing my experiences in ways that resonated with hiring managers. His guidance during salary negotiations was particularly valuable, helping me secure a 15% compensation increase that more than covered his coaching fee. What sets James apart is his combination of strategic expertise and genuine investment in his clients' success. He worked tirelessly to help me achieve the outcomes I needed to move forward in my career. I highly recommend working with James—he truly transforms both your approach and your results. I'm excited to continue working with him as I grow in my new role.
Andrew Shapiro
Andrew Shapiro

Lead Product Manager

After over a year of unsuccessful solo job searching during a particularly challenging period, working with James was a game-changer. His coaching helped me transition from extended unemployment to receiving two competitive offers simultaneously for roles I was genuinely excited about. James brought incredible energy to each session and coached me through every aspect of the process—from interview preparation to framing my experiences in ways that resonated with hiring managers. His guidance during salary negotiations was particularly valuable, helping me secure a 15% compensation increase that more than covered his coaching fee. What sets James apart is his combination of strategic expertise and genuine investment in his clients' success. He worked tirelessly to help me achieve the outcomes I needed to move forward in my career. I highly recommend working with James—he truly transforms both your approach and your results. I'm excited to continue working with him as I grow in my new role.

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Shahnoza Tursunzoda
Shahnoza Tursunzoda

🌍 Product Manager with 5 years of product experience | 🤝 B2B, B2C & B2B2C | ☁️ SaaS | 🚀 0→1 | 🎰 iGaming & MarTech | 🔐 Identity Verification | 🎓 King’s College London Certified | Fluent in CN, ENG, RU, UZ, TJK

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A post of appreciation! In a market as competitive and uncertain as today’s, the value of genuine support and expert guidance cannot be overstated. I’m grateful to James Gunaca for his thoughtful mentorship and encouragement throughout my recent efforts in navigating the employment landscape. The mock interviews, in particular, have been instrumental in helping me build confidence and seeing my blind spots. James is the founder of Product Sphere - a product management community that believes in elevating each other and supporting career paths in product management. I’ve met and worked with people from around the globe and felt supported by every member of the community I engaged with. A special thank you to Desmond Leo who has always been open to get on a call and provide valuable feedback on my work. Your insights made a significant impact, and I deeply appreciate the time and care you invested. I feel fortunate to be part of a huge product community that has been so open to meet, share and learn. Thank you for being such an important part of my journey. If you are looking for the next step in your product journey, I couldn’t recommend working with James more!
Shahnoza Tursunzoda
Shahnoza Tursunzoda

🌍 Product Manager with 5 years of product experience | 🤝 B2B, B2C & B2B2C | ☁️ SaaS | 🚀 0→1 | 🎰 iGaming & MarTech | 🔐 Identity Verification | 🎓 King’s College London Certified | Fluent in CN, ENG, RU, UZ, TJK

linkedin-post
A post of appreciation! In a market as competitive and uncertain as today’s, the value of genuine support and expert guidance cannot be overstated. I’m grateful to James Gunaca for his thoughtful mentorship and encouragement throughout my recent efforts in navigating the employment landscape. The mock interviews, in particular, have been instrumental in helping me build confidence and seeing my blind spots. James is the founder of Product Sphere - a product management community that believes in elevating each other and supporting career paths in product management. I’ve met and worked with people from around the globe and felt supported by every member of the community I engaged with. A special thank you to Desmond Leo who has always been open to get on a call and provide valuable feedback on my work. Your insights made a significant impact, and I deeply appreciate the time and care you invested. I feel fortunate to be part of a huge product community that has been so open to meet, share and learn. Thank you for being such an important part of my journey. If you are looking for the next step in your product journey, I couldn’t recommend working with James more!

May 8, 2025

May 8, 2025

Shayla Rao
Shayla Rao

Product @ Journyz | B.S. Computer Science

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Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend a Product Management webinar hosted by Itai Leibowitz & James Gunaca from Kadima Careers. I gained a ton of valuable insights about what it takes to be a successful product manager and how to grow your career and network in this field. I even got to connect with some some great product folks! If you’re interested in breaking into product or leveling up your career, I highly recommend attending one of their sessions in the future! #ProductManagement #CareerGrowth #KadimaCareers
Shayla Rao
Shayla Rao

Product @ Journyz | B.S. Computer Science

linkedin-post
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend a Product Management webinar hosted by Itai Leibowitz & James Gunaca from Kadima Careers. I gained a ton of valuable insights about what it takes to be a successful product manager and how to grow your career and network in this field. I even got to connect with some some great product folks! If you’re interested in breaking into product or leveling up your career, I highly recommend attending one of their sessions in the future! #ProductManagement #CareerGrowth #KadimaCareers

May 8, 2025

May 8, 2025

S
Serena

Product Manager

James’ resources really helped me boost my CV and LinkedIn profile. Practical tips and clear guidance. Highly recommend 🙌
S
Serena

Product Manager

James’ resources really helped me boost my CV and LinkedIn profile. Practical tips and clear guidance. Highly recommend 🙌

Mar 16, 2026

Mar 16, 2026

SA
Sheetal Aher

Joining James’s Product Manager Job Search Accelerator program was a turning point in my job search. With his guidance, I was able to secure my next role in just two months, something that would have been much more difficult without the structure and support the program provided. One of the biggest benefits was having a clear, step-by-step strategy for approaching the job market. Instead of feeling scattered or unsure about what to prioritise, I had a practical plan that helped me stay focused and make steady progress each week. The five focused workshops were extremely valuable, offering practical frameworks and insights that helped me tailor my approach to my goals and challenges. James has a great ability to simplify what can often feel complicated. His advice was always practical, thoughtful, and easy to apply immediately. I’m grateful for the guidance and would strongly recommend his program to anyone looking for a more structured and effective way to navigate their job search.

SA
Sheetal Aher

Joining James’s Product Manager Job Search Accelerator program was a turning point in my job search. With his guidance, I was able to secure my next role in just two months, something that would have been much more difficult without the structure and support the program provided. One of the biggest benefits was having a clear, step-by-step strategy for approaching the job market. Instead of feeling scattered or unsure about what to prioritise, I had a practical plan that helped me stay focused and make steady progress each week. The five focused workshops were extremely valuable, offering practical frameworks and insights that helped me tailor my approach to my goals and challenges. James has a great ability to simplify what can often feel complicated. His advice was always practical, thoughtful, and easy to apply immediately. I’m grateful for the guidance and would strongly recommend his program to anyone looking for a more structured and effective way to navigate their job search.

Mar 12, 2026

Mar 12, 2026

Luke M
Luke M

Senior Product Manager

I managed to land myself a new role in a space I was targeting. James' coaching and interview tips helped a whole lot, thank you!
Luke M
Luke M

Senior Product Manager

I managed to land myself a new role in a space I was targeting. James' coaching and interview tips helped a whole lot, thank you!

Jan 13, 2026

Jan 13, 2026

H
Harrison

Group Product Manager @ Capital One

Working with James was an absolute pleasure. I was stuck in my career and not really getting traction with any new opportunities. Finally, I decided to try coaching. I met with several prospective coaches, but honestly, within seconds of meeting James, I knew immediately that he was the right choice. He made me feel at ease and confident naturally, and I couldn’t have gotten to where I am now without his help. He helped me with everything, from resume building, to story telling and practice interviews. The system he’s put together is really well thought out and helpful. I couldn’t express more gratitude for his time, and I would recommend him to anyone looking to follow the same path that I did. Thank you, James!
H
Harrison

Group Product Manager @ Capital One

Working with James was an absolute pleasure. I was stuck in my career and not really getting traction with any new opportunities. Finally, I decided to try coaching. I met with several prospective coaches, but honestly, within seconds of meeting James, I knew immediately that he was the right choice. He made me feel at ease and confident naturally, and I couldn’t have gotten to where I am now without his help. He helped me with everything, from resume building, to story telling and practice interviews. The system he’s put together is really well thought out and helpful. I couldn’t express more gratitude for his time, and I would recommend him to anyone looking to follow the same path that I did. Thank you, James!

Dec 22, 2025

Dec 22, 2025

K
Krishna

Senior Product Manager

James has a remarkable ability to guide you in mapping your experience to the job requirements and presenting it with the right narrative and at the right level. He doesn’t just help with interviews — he teaches you how to pitch yourself confidently, structure your story, and communicate your value effectively. James is approachable, friendly, and understands the ask of the hour perfectly. I have been part of James’ product community for 1 year, and he is a great product coach. His guidance makes a real difference in building confidence and clarity in any high-stakes situation.
K
Krishna

Senior Product Manager

James has a remarkable ability to guide you in mapping your experience to the job requirements and presenting it with the right narrative and at the right level. He doesn’t just help with interviews — he teaches you how to pitch yourself confidently, structure your story, and communicate your value effectively. James is approachable, friendly, and understands the ask of the hour perfectly. I have been part of James’ product community for 1 year, and he is a great product coach. His guidance makes a real difference in building confidence and clarity in any high-stakes situation.

Dec 11, 2025

Dec 11, 2025

R
Redditor
Hey just letting you know that this is an excellent work and you’re contributing a ton to the PM community.
R
Redditor
Hey just letting you know that this is an excellent work and you’re contributing a ton to the PM community.

Sep 9, 2025

Sep 9, 2025

Neethu Rani
Neethu Rani

Product Leader | Amazon, Oracle Alum

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You have been a great support for me last couple of months. I was very hesitant to put this phase out there in public but some words of yours helped me to go all out. Thanks to you!
Neethu Rani
Neethu Rani

Product Leader | Amazon, Oracle Alum

linkedin-comment
You have been a great support for me last couple of months. I was very hesitant to put this phase out there in public but some words of yours helped me to go all out. Thanks to you!

Oct 22, 2025

Oct 22, 2025

Brian Sutherland
Brian Sutherland

Lead Product Strategy | AI Product Strategist

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Something that I always appreciated about your coaching James Gunaca is taking the disciplines we learn as Product Managers and Leaders and applying it to ourselves.
Brian Sutherland
Brian Sutherland

Lead Product Strategy | AI Product Strategist

linkedin-comment
Something that I always appreciated about your coaching James Gunaca is taking the disciplines we learn as Product Managers and Leaders and applying it to ourselves.

Oct 28, 2025

Oct 28, 2025

Alex Rechevskiy
Alex Rechevskiy

Former Group PM @ Google

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James, your reports have become the premier place on the internet to check what's happening with the PM job!
Alex Rechevskiy
Alex Rechevskiy

Former Group PM @ Google

linkedin-comment
James, your reports have become the premier place on the internet to check what's happening with the PM job!

Nov 15, 2025

Nov 15, 2025

Justin Jeffries
Justin Jeffries

Head of Product & CX

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Thanks ProductTank London for leading the conversation with James Gunaca, Maria Ladusane, and Surajan Singh. Great to hear from your experiences! 🚀
Justin Jeffries
Justin Jeffries

Head of Product & CX

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Thanks ProductTank London for leading the conversation with James Gunaca, Maria Ladusane, and Surajan Singh. Great to hear from your experiences! 🚀

Nov 15, 2025

Nov 15, 2025

Rounak Choudhary
Rounak Choudhary

Senior Product Manager

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After months of exploration, interviews, and conversations with different organizations, I've found the right fit. Shout out to James Gunaca and others at Kadima Careers for helping me get clear on my career strategy and find a path aligned with the areas I want to grow.
Rounak Choudhary
Rounak Choudhary

Senior Product Manager

linkedin-post
After months of exploration, interviews, and conversations with different organizations, I've found the right fit. Shout out to James Gunaca and others at Kadima Careers for helping me get clear on my career strategy and find a path aligned with the areas I want to grow.

Nov 15, 2025

Nov 15, 2025

Stephen Down
Stephen Down

Senior Product Manager

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Last week's #ProductTank in Brighton was one of those sessions that sticks. Open. Honest. Real talk about what it actually takes to climb the PM ladder. A few things that hit home: 1) Growth isn’t a checklist - it’s a story you craft (thank you Thor Mitchell). 2) Your career deserves a roadmap, not just a to-do list (James Gunaca nailed this). 3) Feedback hurts sometimes, but that’s where the magic happens (Eddie Sawyers said what we’re all thinking). It really resonated with me as someone building products in streaming, where the work is high stakes, timelines are tight, and success often means balancing creative vision with commercial reality. The same rules apply to careers: clarity, iteration, and feedback loops are everything.
Stephen Down
Stephen Down

Senior Product Manager

linkedin-post
Last week's #ProductTank in Brighton was one of those sessions that sticks. Open. Honest. Real talk about what it actually takes to climb the PM ladder. A few things that hit home: 1) Growth isn’t a checklist - it’s a story you craft (thank you Thor Mitchell). 2) Your career deserves a roadmap, not just a to-do list (James Gunaca nailed this). 3) Feedback hurts sometimes, but that’s where the magic happens (Eddie Sawyers said what we’re all thinking). It really resonated with me as someone building products in streaming, where the work is high stakes, timelines are tight, and success often means balancing creative vision with commercial reality. The same rules apply to careers: clarity, iteration, and feedback loops are everything.

Nov 15, 2025

Nov 15, 2025

Simon Wheatley
Simon Wheatley

Sr Manager of Product Management

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After spending this summer and autumn searching for my next role, I'm thrilled to say I've completed my first week at Pendo.io as Sr Manager of Product Management 🎉 And thanks to James Gunaca for helping me structure my search, amp up my applications, and improve my interviewing.
Simon Wheatley
Simon Wheatley

Sr Manager of Product Management

linkedin-post
After spending this summer and autumn searching for my next role, I'm thrilled to say I've completed my first week at Pendo.io as Sr Manager of Product Management 🎉 And thanks to James Gunaca for helping me structure my search, amp up my applications, and improve my interviewing.

Nov 15, 2025

Nov 15, 2025