Mastermind - Proactive Product Leadership

Proactively drive value with your product.

A 3-month mastermind for product leaders ready to create focus for their team and stop being reactive. Learn how to lead with buy-in, clarity, and confidence.

Many product leaders walk into a new role with a clear vision:
better ways of working, stronger customer focus, and outcomes that matter.

But pretty soon you’re back in the old rut, leading a reactive team that bends to the loudest stakeholder voice in the room, without the context or clarity to make high quality product decisions.

Sound familiar?

You’re not alone. The pressure is real to drive outcomes for the business while simultaneously delivering exactly what your stakeholders are asking you to build. How do you get alignment on process improvement when you’re buried in the day-to-day fire fighting?

Getting real traction for change takes more than good ideas. It takes influence, strategy, and support.

What This Is

The Proactive Product Leadership Mastermind is a 3-month, small-group program for experienced product leaders who want to:

  • Transform their product org from reactive to proactive

  • Get buy-in from cross-functional and executive stakeholders

  • Roll out more intentional, strategic processes

  • Work on what really matters, driving better results for customers and for the company

  • Improve the working relationship between Product and other teams like Engineering and Sales

This is not a “class.” It’s part group coaching, part workshop, and part support group. It’s a structured, high-touch program that meets you where you are and helps you make visible progress.

Why Join

Your participation isn’t just about professional growth, it’s about delivering results your organization can see.

  • Fewer last-minute pivots and less wasted work

  • A more focused product roadmap that sticks

  • Clearer customer value, tied to business goals

  • Stronger trust and alignment with key partners

  • A team that feels led, not just managed

Who It's For

This mastermind is for you if:

  • You’re a Director or VP of Product (or equivalent) at a mid-size or large company

  • You know what needs to change, even if you’re not sure how to do it

  • You have the authority and relationships to start something real, even if it’s small at first

  • You’re tired of playing defense and are ready to lead proactively

  • You’re ready to put in the work and get out of your comfort zone

It’s not for you if:

  • You’re just getting starting in Product, or you’re an IC who wouldn’t feel comfortable inviting a VP+ to a 1:1

  • You don’t have a desire to work with departments outside Product, Engineering, Design

  • You work at a company that has “no politics”

  • You’re looking for a quick fix or canned solution

How It Works

  • 6 live mastermind sessions (every two weeks, 1.5 hours each), virtual format

  • Small group format (8 participants max), including hot seats, frameworks, and shared problem-solving

  • Two 1:1 coaching sessions with Melissa (midpoint and end of program check-in)

  • Peer accountability partners between sessions, with specific homework assignments

  • Slack channel + email support throughout

  • Follow-up group session 3 months after the program ends

  • Optional weekly or biweekly 1:1 coaching with Melissa (at additional cost)

What You'll Get

  • A proof-of-concept for a more proactive and strategic way of working

  • Effective decision-making through clear context and goal-based prioritization

  • A proactive roadmap that is resistant to last minute changes

  • More confidence in delivery estimates through collaborative definition of outcomes and goals

  • Stronger alignment with internal stakeholders and executives on goals and process

  • A next-steps plan for team organization and training to support outcome-oriented development

  • Greater confidence in your own product leadership abilities

  • Ability to reclaim your time from stakeholder whack-a-mole

  • A trusted group of peers for ongoing support

What We’ll Cover

The exact curriculum adapts to the group’s needs, but likely topics include:

  • Assessing your organization’s current state and identifying obstacles

  • Understanding other people’s motivations and incentives, and how to speak their language

  • Creating influence across functions by building rapport and trust, not pushing an agenda

  • Aligning on objectives and strategy, and getting the right people in the room

  • Adjusting the roadmap focus from features to outcomes and from reactive to proactive

  • Using collaborative roadmap design without losing your authority or control

  • Rolling out new processes, incrementally

  • Maintaining progress over time

  • Managing up

About Your Facilitator

Hi, I’m Melissa Appel. I wrote THE book on stakeholder alignment for product leaders. I help product leaders create meaningful change in their organizations to drive better outcomes for customers and for the company. As a coach and fractional product leader, I utilize my 20 years of hands on product management experience in companies of various sizes and in various industries.

Interested?

Spots are limited to 8 product leaders.
Apply now to join the next cohort.

Fall 2025 Cohort Dates: Thursdays 11:30am - 1:00pm ET, Sep 11, Sep 25, Oct 9, Oct 23, Nov 6, Nov 20

Investment

The cost of the program is $1,800.

Testimonials

  • Melissa has been an invaluable partner in my product leadership journey. She has helped me create robust roadmaps while navigating complex stakeholder relationships. Her experience in recruiting and developing product talent really helped me to build a great team. Beyond her strategic insights, Melissa's thoughtful guidance as a sounding board has helped me to be the best product leader I can.

    Helen, Chief Product Officer

  • As I was reflecting on my job search, I kept thinking about how helpful and encouraging you were throughout the process—I truly appreciate all of your insights, advice, and support. It made a real difference, and I just wanted to say thank you.

     Alicia - Product Manager (recently started at a new company)

  • Melissa is thoughtful, responsive and genuinely cares to provide the appropriate level of guidance. She has been invaluable in helping me navigate the personality dynamics of a very small startup as a Founding Member. She excels at identifying my blind spots, particularly when I'm feeling overwhelmed, and helps me decouple my emotional responses by offering a fresh perspective each time.

    Eliana - Head of Product

  • Melissa is an absolutely great Product Coach. What’s special about her is that she thinks beyond Product Teams and their Products. Some adoption problems cannot be tackled with further product development and features. Melissa helped us realise that in order to achieve our goals we needed the whole company rallying with us.

    Pedro - Chief Product Officer

  • I look back at the time and advice you gave me during my search with such positive feelings. You really helped me reframe how I spoke about my work and impact which was incredible advice and helped open up conversations and opportunities. Thank you again for your generosity and support during that difficult transition.

    Aliza, Director of Digital Experience and Design