From Bioengineering to CPO: Lessons from a Nonlinear Product Journey

Episode notes

Have you ever planned your career perfectly… only to find yourself on a completely different path? In this episode of Beyond Product Management , Heather Miller dives into why product careers are rarely linear — and why that’s a huge advantage. From her early days as a Bioengineering major with plans for medical school, to QA and EMR compliance, to global product management and now fractional CPO work, Heather shares her nonlinear journey and the lessons she’s learned along the way. You’ll hear: How seemingly unrelated skills from your background can become your biggest assets The power of being seen and recognized at pivotal moments in your career Funny, humanizing stories from college labs, QA misadventures, and working with global teams Actionable takeaways for staying open to unexpected opportunities while pursuing your goals Heather also weaves in a mini-example from podcast guest Josh Budman — another Bioengineering major who pivoted from med school aspirations to become a 2x founder — highlighting the beauty of leveraging your foundation in unexpected ways.