Product VP: I Got Shushed in a C-Suite Meeting — And It Redefined My Leadership (Heidi Gibson)

In this episode, Heidi Gibson, product and growth leader with stints at companies like GoDaddy, Typeform, and Bill.com, reflects on the pivotal lessons from her unconventional career path. From welding nuclear submarines to becoming VP of Product, Heidi shares how resilience, feedback, and self-awareness shaped her leadership journey.

Heidi opens up about the realities of imposter syndrome, learning to present to executives, and navigating tough interpersonal conflicts as a manager, all while building a reputation as a trusted, people-first leader.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why tailoring your communication for executives can change your career trajectory
• How to confront imposter syndrome with practical reframing techniques
• Why early intervention is the key to resolving team conflicts before they escalate

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(01:18) Heidi’s early life and education

(02:03) Starting career and moving into tech

(02:49) Building Kmart e-commerce and ISP

(04:37) Joining GoDaddy and career growth

(05:20) Developing executive presentation skills

(07:28) Thank you to our sponsor, Navattic

(13:38) Imposter syndrome in growth teams

(22:52) Starting a growth team at GoDaddy

(24:30) Applying growth fundamentals successfully

(27:54) Strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome

(31:46) Navigating difficult workplace conversations

(50:01) Seeking guidance and finding mentorship

A huge thanks to this episode’s sponsor:

Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value

Resources:

Connect with Heidi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidigibson

Substack: https://heiditheproductgirl.substack.com/

Connect with Andrew:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/

Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.co

Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

Join Growth OS: https://deliveringvalue.co/growth-operating-system