Get to know me

Hi, I’m Kenan Birsin! (Pronounced Ken-on Beer-sin, but honestly, I rarely correct people.)

I thrive at the intersection of strategy, technology, and customer experience—turning big ideas into market-leading products. Most recently, I was a Senior Director of Product Management at Verizon, where I led teams through the entire product lifecycle—from market research and competitive analysis to roadmap development and agile execution. My focus? Building products that drive real impact, simplify complexity, and put customers first.

I look forward to working together!

Principles

People First—Always. Work is just one part of life, not all of it. I’ve seen leadership cultures where employees were expected to give 100% of their time to the job—I don’t believe in that. Instead, I follow a simple principle: take care of yourself, so you can take care of the people you love, so you can take care of the business. A thriving team starts with healthy, fulfilled individuals.

Ask for Help. Offer Assistance. Success isn’t a solo act. The best teams work together—asking for help when they need it and offering support when others do. Whether it’s learning something new, hitting a deadline, or tackling a challenge, collaboration is key. I don’t believe in hierarchy for hierarchy’s sake—I lead by balancing the needs of the business, the team, and each individual. If that balance ever feels off, let’s talk.

See Something? Say Something. Nothing changes if we accept things as they are. Culture breaks when silence becomes the norm. I believe in speaking up—whether it’s challenging the status quo, flagging a blind spot, or sharing crucial information. This applies at every level and in every direction—up, down, and sideways. Open, honest conversations make teams (and companies) better.

How I like to Lead

I don’t lead with titles, and I don’t believe in following someone just because they have the highest rank. Great decisions don’t come from hierarchy—they come from knowledge, collaboration, and critical thinking. If we default to the HIPPO (Highest Paid Person’s Opinion), we risk making choices that serve power rather than progress. That’s bad for employees, customers, and ultimately, the business itself.

I see leadership as coaching and mentorship, not command and control. My approach is built on three key principles:

1️⃣ Listen & Learn – Leadership starts with listening. There’s always something new to learn, and the best ideas can come from anywhere.

2️⃣ Use Data, Not Assumptions – I make decisions based on facts, not gut feelings. If data is missing, I seek it out. If information is unclear, I validate it. And most importantly, I share what I know so my team can make informed decisions.

3️⃣ Be Present, Prepared & Predictable – Great teams thrive on consistency. Being available, well-prepared, and reliable builds trust and keeps us all moving in the right direction. I’ll be the first to admit—this is something I continuously work on.

Leadership isn’t about power—it’s about empowering others. That’s how I strive to lead every day.

My Product Philosophy

As a product leader, my role is to set the vision, define clear goals, and provide the strategic context teams need to succeed. Once that foundation is in place, I trust the teams to find the best ways to execute, experiment, and deliver impact.

I take full accountability for our outcomes, staying closely connected to OKRs, progress, and key decisions—guiding with context, aligning leadership, asking the right questions, and ensuring we’re solving the right problems. If priorities shift or trade-offs push us in the wrong direction, we adjust—because clarity and conviction are critical to success.

I don’t believe in rigid frameworks; strategy and process should adapt to the team, not the other way around. What I do expect is efficient, thoughtful execution. Strong product leadership means identifying the right work, driving alignment, removing blockers, and continuously improving—both the product and the team.

We’ll plan annually and quarterly as a team, with product leaders driving sprint-level execution with their cross-functional partners. Our focus isn’t on shipping features for the sake of it—it’s about delivering outcomes. Together, we’ll ensure the product continuously improves, meets objectives, and exceeds customer expectations.

Organizations I Support

Apps & Software I Know

Figma

Plan View

GSuite

Jira

tableau

Google Analytics

Adobe Analytics

Smartsheet

Slack

qualtrics XM

Microsoft 365

Microsoft Teams

© 2024 Kenan Birsin