How to Become a GREAT (Product) Leader - What The Top 1% Does

E28 - High Achiever in Focus Series - Our guest is Monica Millares, a fintech powerhouse who went from an intern to a successful Senior Product Leader, scaling digital banks and fintech products from zero to millions.She’s been at the forefront of fintech innovation, leading product teams around the globe, from joining Tandem Bank in 2015 as their first product hire when digital banking was just emerging, to leading BigPay's evolution into one of Southeast Asia's largest neobanks with over 1.3 million customersMonica knows what it takes to build great products and product teams that drive real impact.You may have seen her on stage at Money2020 in Amsterdam, Vegas, and Bangkok, or heard her insights on industry-leading shows like Breaking Banks Europe, Asia Tech Podcast, and The FML Podcast.But here’s what most people don’t know—her success didn’t just come from strategy and execution. The real breakthrough? The deep inner work she did to overcome limiting beliefs and the hidden challenges of leadership.In this episode, we dive into:- What it really takes to become a great senior product leader (and what no one tells you).- Why stepping up to leadership is harder than most people expect—and the biggest mistake people make.- Breaking through limiting beliefs—especially in a male-dominated industry.- How the immigrant mindset and the boiling frog effect shaped her resilience.- How personal development transformed her career and life —drawing from Tony Robbins, Matthew Hussey, coaching, pranayama breathing, and other healing modalities that made all the difference to her journey.- The mental traps that hold product leaders back—and how to break free from them.- The future of product leadership, AI’s impact, and how to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving space.If you want to break into senior product leadership, overcome the roadblocks holding you back, and thrive in your career, this episode is for you.0:00:00 Introduction0:00:59 The Biggest Challenge In Moving Into Leadership0:04:44 Why Stepping Up Is Hard0:09:23 What Drew Monica Into A Product Leadership Role0:15:06 Biggest Mental Barriers And Obstacles – Personal0:18:47 Inner Struggles, Limiting Beliefs0:23:36 Personal Development Tools To Deal With Life Crises0:34:50 How Monica Centers Herself0:40:35 How Self-Development Translated Into Professional Success0:44:52 The Immigrant Mindset And The Boiling Frog0:49:22 Where Personal Development Meets Senior Product Management0:57:59 Fire Questions1:02:08 The Future Of Product Leadership (AI, Etc.)About this Special Series:“High Achiever in Focus” is a deep dive into the minds and lives of top performers—entrepreneurs, executives, and high achievers. What does it *really* take to succeed? The success visible to you is just the tip of the iceberg. This series dives into the 90%, beneath the surface to uncovers their true authentic stories: Their highs and lows, the habits and mindset that fuel them, the struggles they’ve faced along the way, and the personal side of their journey. Get in touch in the comments below or…➤ Follow Monica and her work:Linkedin: monicamillares➤ Follow Adam:Instagram: adam.haluskaLinkedIn: adamhaluska