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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

I want to say a big thank you to James for all his coaching and support. His help in getting me through the early competency rounds was absolutely invaluable. I’ve recently accepted a new role at Bupa. I came a very close second to an internal candidate for the role that James helped me prepare for, but I stayed in touch with the team and have now secured a Lead Product Manager position within their Clinics area.

Working with James was a game-changer. I came into our session with a strong background but a lackluster resume. James helped me frame my experience clearly, highlight the right achievements, and target my job search effectively. Because of his guidance I submitted resumes and got A LOT more interviews.

James is a powerhouse of a public speaker, having taken to the stage at Product Unleashed twice in 2025, including most recently at our Unleashed Summit conference. James is a professional in every way, from first point of contact, to after the final slide and beyond. Nothing is too much trouble, he'll roll his sleeves up and promote things, deliver on the day, and is always humble + highly approachable when attendees want to chat after he's dropped his knowledge and left the mic on fire 🔥 If you're thinking about booking James to talk, STOP! Just do it. You won't regret it for a moment.

James delivered a super actionable and engaging session at Product Weekend Leaders Circle. What stood out was how he made sure it wasn’t just about sharing his insights. He drew out the best from everyone in the room, making it a true community conversation.

Navigating the product management job market felt daunting until I found Product Sphere and James Gunaca. James crafted a supportive environment with group sessions, community tools, and meet-ups that connected me with fellow job seekers. Crucially, his personalized resume reviews and mock interviews gave me the edge I needed. Product Sphere equipped me with the confidence and refined skills to ace my interviews and secure my new role. It's truly a game-changer for product professionals looking to elevate their job search.

I joined the Product Sphere community because my CV wasn't converting into interviews, and when I did reach the interview stage, I found myself jumping around too much in my responses. James was amazing at helping me rework my CV and prepare for interviews through mock scenarios. His guidance on optimising my LinkedIn profile and mastering the STAR method was incredibly valuable and helped me land my next Product role. I highly recommend James as both a coach and mentor!

You are deeply knowledgeable and great at conveying patterns, themes and actionable insights. I have been actively looking for work for the last eight months, although only out of “stealth mode” for the last two months, and have learnt a lot.

I had the opportunity to learn from James through the one-month PM Career Boost program at Kadima Careers, which included group coaching calls, a self-led LinkedIn optimization course, and a one-on-one session where I could ask James anything I needed related to my job search. Joining the program was one of the best moves I made. It was affordable, focused, and packed with practical insights. James and the team brought sharp product thinking and a clear, practical approach to resumes, interviews, and overall strategy. They were thoughtful, direct, and honest, which helped me cut through the noise and focus on what I needed to. I left the program with stronger product stories, sharper positioning, and a clearer path forward. A few weeks after wrapping up the program I landed a remote contract PM role that feels like a solid next step. I’d definitely recommend the program to other product-focused professionals, and I’d consider working with James again as I continue to grow in my career.

James Gunaca delivered an exceptional presentation at the WaveMakers Ripple Summit, focusing on building and growing careers in tech. His insights were incredibly valuable for the audience of early and mid-career professionals, providing them with actionable advice and inspiration. The high-quality production of his talk further enhanced the impact of his message, making it a memorable experience for all attendees.

James presented an excellent talk at our first-ever WaveMakers Ripple Summit, focusing on advancing careers in tech. His insights provided significant value to early and mid-career professionals, and gave practical advice and motivational guidance. The production quality of his presentation also heightened its impact, making it a remarkable experience for all attendees! Will definitely work with him again!

I enjoyed James Gunaca’s presentation on Amazon’s Product Operating Model. James’ presentation and Q&A, specifically his deck and verbal interaction, were concise and to the point. He cleared up some inaccurate information I’d heard and gave me insights that Amazon, as successful as it is, had struggles similar to the teams in my career journey. As a result, I have a more educated perspective and sense of optimism that amazing results don’t require ideal circumstances. I’m looking forward to what James does next!

James is a very talented product professional who has brought a wealth of experience and value to our Product and Design Leaders community. He goes above and beyond to support and provide true insights into the ever changing ecosystem of product. I would highly recommend getting in touch with James for any of your needs!

James is a real asset to the product community. His article, "A Deep Look at the European Job Market for Product Managers", was one of the standout pieces on my blog, Product Speak, this year. Not only did it spark genuine conversation and positive feedback, but it also became our most viewed article by a good margin! James has a knack for creating content that’s both insightful and practical, making complex topics feel approachable and valuable for everyone involved. If you’re looking for someone who can deliver real impact through content that resonates, James is your go to.

From Product Manager to Product Leader. James has everything we need to know in order to learn, grow and apply the right skills to land our dream roles. I went from a complete stranger to James content, to subscribing to all latest PM insights and apply his 20yrs of industry knowledge to my own professional development and career growth. He has helped me apply and repackage myself as a Senior Product Manager landing more interviews at the companies I used to get auto rejected from.

Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) Global Community is thankful to James Gunaca for doing an amazing presentation: "Amazon’s Product Operating Model: A Peek Behind The Curtain". James Gunaca’s presentation on Amazon’s product operating model offers a compelling and insightful exploration into the company's strategic frameworks. Drawing from his extensive experience, James delves into the intricacies of Amazon's approach to product development, highlighting the importance of adapting strategies to specific contexts and learning from both successes and failures. He provides a balanced perspective by discussing notable achievements like Amazon Prime and AWS, as well as less successful ventures such as the Fire Phone and the Amazon Scout project. By debunking common myths about Amazon's internal processes and emphasizing the company's culture of experimentation and rapid iteration, James delivers a nuanced understanding of effective product management practices within one of the world's leading tech companies. Here is the link to James's recording: https://www.keystepstosuccess.com/2025/06/less-talks-amazons-product-operating-model-a-peek-behind-the-curtain-with-james-gunaca/

I had the pleasure of attending a webinar hosted by James about his experiences at Amazon and the Product Operating Model he utilized working in their various business units. James gave a thoughtful and engaging talk outlining his work offering details on what worked well and not in various environments. We also came away with some high level concepts that are worth enacting in our own workplaces. I welcome the chance to hear more from, and interact with James in the future.

James helped me navigate through an increasingly difficult job market and job search process. He is uniquely capable at separating fact from fiction amidst a dynamic and constantly evolving career field. Working with him provided the clarity I needed and helped me improve my interviewing, storytelling, and positioning skills to land a role I am stoked on! Would highly recommend to anyone in the product management field who feel like they need a boost!

James came and delivered a talk on the importance of storytelling in product with tips and tricks on how to get it right. He immediately made everyone feel comfortable and welcome, his approach is to connect with each individual with kindness and interest which was fab to observe. The team were inspired to consider how they could improve storytelling as a craft in their roles and followed it up with a group discussion to step through real life examples of how to put his advice into practice.

I recently received a job offer, and I believe the work I did with James significantly contributed to that success. The stories I wrote during our time together proved to be invaluable, and the experience encouraged me to be more thoughtful about the roles I pursue in the future. I’m incredibly grateful for his support throughout the process.

I received improved clarity in my job search and career development process and improved confidence in my resume.

I recommend investing in coaching sessions with James. Being able to see the job search 'from above', rather than being trapped inside it has already made a difference to my levels of hope and confidence.

Ex-Amazonian James blew my mind with his insights on 'S curve and some modules' (which I am still pretending to understand) while making me feel like Bezos-level thinkers. His delivery? Exceptional, like Prime shipping for the soul.

James was crucial to my success during my interview processes for a product manager role. He is very knowledgeable and patient and helped me navigate the challenging product sense interview. We did a mock interview that helped me get the confidence I needed. I highly recommend his services!

James was incredible in guiding me through the revamp of my CV and helping me practice interview questions. I finally received an offer in April '25, and I have received the same level of support through the offer negotiation, securing an 8% increase in compensation.

James is the steady anchor everyone needs when navigating challenging career transitions. For me, this support was invaluable when grappling with the incredibly tumultuous job market this year (2024). James’ coaching combines deep empathy and compassion with ultimate professionalism. He takes your development and goals as seriously as you do. During my job search and coaching from James, I noticed a 150% uplift in response to jobs I applied to directly. James also provided advice and tips on specific interview processes, as well as opportunities to do mock interviews, providing systematic and actionable feedback. In such a challenging job market, James kept me going with a personalised, down-to-earth, and shame-free approach. I genuinely believe I wouldn’t have secured my new role as quickly—or as confidently.

James brings his experience and expertise, but most importantly his humanity. He is very empathetic and compassionate to the struggle that can be job hunting.

Working with James has been such a game-changer for me. He offers so much more than just career advice—whether it’s helping with my resume, setting clear goals, or prepping for interviews, everything he does is tailored based on individual needs. He’s not afraid to challenge my thinking either, which has really helped me see things more clearly and push past my own limits. What I love most is how much he genuinely cares and is always asking everybody ‘How he can I help?’. He truly wants to see people thrive and reach their full potential. James is down-to-earth, honest, and works with you at any stage of your career.

Thanks to James’s guidance, I’ve gained clarity on my career goals and improved how I communicate my value in interviews. It’s fundamentally shaped how I approach my career, and I couldn’t recommend James more highly.

I don’t think there is a better career investment I could have made than this! I have clarity on how to address so many unknowns with the help of the tools/strategies you’ve shared me. Your coaching style makes it easy for me to remember what we discussed because of the practicality of our discussions which helps me apply the lessons whenever challenges reappear in a new way. I also appreciate that you are such a great listener and you push me to figure things out (with your steady guidance).  I appreciate that you are also one of my cheerleaders and probably the only person who fully understands the depths of my work, challenges, and wins. Looking forward to working with you forever!