Trailblazing Women in Product Management: Amber Brown

Introduction and Welcome to Trailblazing Women in Product Management

Nicole Tieche | 00:00-00:30

Welcome to Productside Stories. I’m your host, Nicole Tieche. Today on our episode of *Trailblazing Women in Product Management,* I’m so excited to welcome my guest, **Amber Brown**, Senior Vice President of Global Product Management and Marketing at **Clario**. We get to hear so many interesting experiences and advice from Amber today. Welcome, Amber!

Amber Brown | 00:30-00:34

Oh, thank you for having me, Nicole. I’m excited to be here today.

Amber’s Journey from Finance to Product Management

Nicole Tieche | 00:34-00:49

Fantastic! I always love to break the ice with my guests and get to know a bit about what brought you into product management.

Amber Brown | 00:49-01:47

Great question, Nicole. What brought me into product management was actually the customer. I started my career in the finance industry in a private wealth division for a large financial institution. My job was to work with all the private wealth clients and make sure they were happy—there was nothing too big to handle when it came to customer needs.

You learn so much about customers—what’s important to them, how to keep them happy. I spent a lot of time working with product teams to find new ways to meet those needs. I became really interested in leading a proactive approach within organizations, not just fixing things for one customer but finding solutions that improve the experience for all. That’s what started my transition into product management.

Customer-Centric Product Management and the Human Connection

Nicole Tieche | 01:47-02:14

I love that. Everyone’s path into product is different, and I love that yours is rooted in customer focus.

Amber Brown | 02:14-03:16

Yes, absolutely. Product management is great because it’s both technical and people-driven. But at the end of the day, the goal of any organization is to serve their customers and those their customers serve.

For me, the excitement in product management comes from understanding what truly matters to customers—what upsets them, what makes them happy, and what they value when evaluating products. When you take that element seriously, you make better products, build better innovation, and create meaningful connections. At the end of the day, we’re all in the people business.

The Impact of AI on Customer Experience

Nicole Tieche | 03:16-03:34

That’s great. So, whether it’s about your customers specifically or in general, what’s inspiring you most about product management today?

Amber Brown | 03:34-04:52

You can’t go anywhere without hearing about AI. It’s everywhere! There’s so much exciting technology. On the product side and in marketing, we get calls all day long from companies with great AI tech—and we build our own, too. But what really interests me is how AI can improve the customer experience.

How does it help organizations serve customers better? How does it make their experience more personalized and meaningful? On the marketing side, AI helps us find broader audiences, gather more inclusive feedback, and understand pain points in ways we couldn’t before. But we have to stay mindful—not adopting AI just for the sake of it, but intentionally using it to move the needle for customers and the organization.

Leading Global Product and Marketing at Clario

Nicole Tieche | 05:03-05:34

Yes, intentionally using AI, not just for the sake of it. I love that. You’re relatively new to your position at Clario—tell me what that’s been like for you.

Amber Brown | 05:51-07:04

Joining Clario has been really exciting. It’s a great organization with great people, and I love our mission. Walking into this role, I took over both product and marketing, which has been an incredible opportunity.

One of the biggest goals of this role has been bringing multiple cultures together. Clario has grown through M&A, so there’s a strong focus on integration. I’ve always been interested not just in what people do but how they do it—how communication, collaboration, and culture come together to drive success.

Creating a Culture of Kindness

Amber Brown | 07:04-08:50

In the last several years, I’ve focused on defining communication strategies that help organizations propel forward and create great places to work. My passion project lately has been building a “culture of kindness” versus “niceness.”

Adam Grant talks about this—being “nice” often means avoiding conflict, while “kindness” means being empathetic and intentional, even when having hard conversations. A culture of kindness means helping people grow, having the right conversations, and maintaining respect and empathy.

At Clario, we’re exploring new perspectives and ways of working that bring people together. I call it meaningful collaboration—letting people know you care, that you’re there for them, and that they can feel proud of what we accomplish together.

Building Global Team Culture and Connection

Nicole Tieche | 09:48-10:18

That’s beautiful. You’ve talked a lot about culture. In your global role, how do you balance different cultures and communication styles across your teams?

Amber Brown | 10:20-11:34

Yes, we’re a global organization, and my team spans multiple countries. Everyone has different communication and working styles. Understanding those differences—how people prefer to be communicated with, what motivates them—is key.

I think leaders need to find their own ways to connect. For me, that’s humor. I love to laugh, and people usually hear me before they see me. Humor helps me connect authentically, and when you pair that with intentionality, it builds strong, happy teams.

Challenges in Product Management and Stakeholder Alignment

Nicole Tieche | 11:46-12:05

I love that. So what do you find most challenging in product management today?

Amber Brown | 12:05-13:45

Stakeholders. (laughs) If you’re in product, you’re basically the CEO of your product line. You bring people together—across R&D, business, and operations—and alignment is everything.

You have to truly love people and be curious about them. You can’t just email and hope things get done. You have to connect, influence, and build relationships that move everyone toward a shared vision. That’s what makes great product management—vision and connection.

Role Modeling Culture and Leadership

Amber Brown | 14:21-15:15

Product managers are role models. You can set the culture for your product line, team, and organization—no matter your level. I’ve seen how one strong leader can shift how an entire team behaves. If you want a great workplace, it starts with you.

Empowering Women in Product Management

Nicole Tieche | 15:54-16:16

So true. Now, let’s talk about women in product management. What advice do you have for women considering this field?

Amber Brown | 16:29-19:55

I started my career when career paths were very linear — one degree led to one job. Today, there are endless options. My advice to women is to stay open to opportunities that don’t fit a perfect mold.

My background in product and marketing gave me an edge when I moved into business turnarounds and transformations. Most people in that field focus on finance or operations, but my product mindset let me drive real customer change.

Also, learn to pitch yourself. Many leaders still don’t fully understand what product management is or the value it brings. You have to learn the art of selling — your ideas, your vision, and yourself.

Rejection isn’t personal; it’s feedback. Adjust your pitch and keep going.

Finding Community and Practicing Self-Promotion

Amber Brown | 20:30-21:00

Find your community. Surround yourself with women who’ll give you honest feedback. I still have a group of women I practice my pitches with — they challenge me and help me improve. Pitching yourself is hard, even after 20 years in marketing, so give yourself grace and keep practicing.

Leadership Lessons and The Legacy You Leave

Amber Brown | 22:06-24:12

One of the most impactful lessons I’ve learned came from Henry Cloud’s book *Integrity.* He says every leader leaves a “wake,” like a boat. That wake represents the impact we have on others — how smooth or rough it is depends on how we balance caring for people with getting things done.

You can’t undo the wake you leave, but you can learn from it. Today, I ask myself: Do people feel listened to, valued, and cared for after working with me? That’s the legacy I want to leave.

Closing Reflections and Takeaways

Nicole Tieche | 24:37-End

That’s such a beautiful reflection, Amber. Thank you for sharing your story, insights, and inspiration with us today. And to our listeners, thank you for tuning in to another episode of *Productside Stories.* Don’t forget to subscribe for more empowering conversations from the world of product management.