Zero to One Leadership: Building Products, Confidence, and Conviction

What does it take to build a product from nothing? Scott Jones, VP of Product at Realeyes, shares his journey from analyst to product leader, the mindset shifts required to navigate ambiguity, and how to validate ideas in real time. If you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome in a leadership role or wanted a seat at the table for big product decisions, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Key Topics Discussed in This Episode The Art and Science of Product Leadership Scott explains how his background in film, music, and economics shaped his approach to product management, and why creativity and structure go hand in hand when building products from scratch. Managing Uncertainty: The Zero to One Playbook From handling imposter syndrome to validating ideas quickly, Scott shares how he builds confidence while leading new product initiatives – without waiting for perfect information. Experimentation, Sales, and the Power of Storytelling Why every product manager needs to be closer to sales, and how storytelling and strategic validation drive better decision-making in early-stage product development. Why Listen to This Episode? In this thought-provoking episode, you’ll gain:  A blueprint for navigating ambiguity – how to make decisions even when you don’t have all the answers.  Lessons in leadership – how Scott transitioned from individual contributor to leading product and strategy at an AI company.  Tips on experimentation and validation – how to gather the right signals before committing resources.  A behind-the-scenes look at AI-powered identity verification – Scott’s latest work at Realize and how it’s transforming fraud prevention. If you’re a product manager who wants to skill up your leadership game and own your decisions confidently, this episode is for you. Related Resources Check out these additional tools and resources to add to your PM belt:  Productside Resource Library  More Productside Stories Podcast Episodes  Explore Productside Courses