Building in the Messy Middle: Product Thinking in a Career Pivot

After being laid off in a rapidly shifting AI landscape, I faced a choice: scroll endlessly through job boards or treat my own career transition like a product.
I chose the second.

With no formal coding background, I built a Job Intelligence Platform using Python, structured rules, region gates, acceptance criteria, and iterative releases. I refused to "vibe code" my future. Instead, I ran my search like a regulated product, complete with SOWs, Definition of Done, smoke tests, and backlog refinement.
This session is not about teaching Python. It is about reclaiming agency.

We will explore:
• Applying product thinking to your own life transitions
• Designing deterministic systems for messy real-world data
• Using AI as a thought partner rather than a shortcut
• Turning fear of falling behind into structured experimentation

Attendees will leave with practical ways to move from reactive job hunting to intentional product design.