Joshua Karp
5.0
(8)
VP of Product Coaching: Break into PM, Get Promoted, Become a Leader
Studied at USC Marshall School of Business
Hiring Manager at Paramount
Successful clients at
Available Friday at 10:00 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Joshua's Coaching Offerings
Custom hourly · $225/hr
Get help with Cover Letters, General Exploration, and .
Joshua’s Product Management Qualifications
Experience level: VP of Product
20+ people coached for Product Management
I’ve spent nearly two decades building consumer products — from early social media to e-commerce and now large-scale streaming platforms — and today I’m a VP of Product responsible for both product strategy and the people behind it. Over the years, I’ve hired, mentored, and developed product managers at every stage: people trying to get their first PM role, experienced PMs trying to get promoted, and strong operators struggling to grow into leadership. What I’ve learned is that most candidates don’t fail because they lack intelligence or work ethic — they fail because no one has ever clearly explained how hiring managers actually evaluate product talent. I’ve sat on the other side of the table hundreds of times. I know what makes a candidate stand out, what quietly disqualifies someone, and how interviewers interpret your answers even when they don’t say it out loud. My coaching is practical and honest. I won’t teach you how to “perform” like a product manager — I’ll help you think like one. We’ll work on how to structure your stories, how to communicate judgment, how to handle ambiguous questions, and how to show leadership even if you don’t yet have the title. I’m also very aware that job searches can feel stressful and isolating. I try to make sessions collaborative and supportive, not evaluative. You can ask anything — including the questions you feel embarrassed to ask elsewhere. My goal is simple: help you walk into interviews calm, clear, and confident, and help you understand why things are happening during the process so it stops feeling random. Whether you’re trying to break into product, transition from another role, or level up into senior PM or leadership, I’ll meet you where you are and help you create a plan that actually works in today’s hiring market.
Joshua can help with:
Cover Letters
General Exploration
Skill Building
Strategy & Vision
Resume Review
Behavioral Interview Prep
Salary Negotiation
Execution
Networking Strategy
Promotion Strategy
LinkedIn Review
Influence & Collaboration
Product Case Interview Prep
About Joshua
I didn’t start my career in product — I found my way into it. After working in media and entertainment, I went back to business school thinking I’d move into traditional marketing. But while I was there, social media exploded. Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter were reshaping how people interacted with media in real time, and I became fascinated by the shift in consumer behavior. I decided to pivot and took my first product role at MySpace during its hyper-growth years. It was chaotic, ambiguous, and the best training ground I could have asked for — I learned quickly that product isn’t about having the right answers, it’s about learning how to think. Since then I’ve spent nearly two decades building consumer products across marketplaces, e-commerce, and streaming, and today I’m a VP of Product leading large-scale direct-to-consumer experiences.
Why do I coach?
I coach because I genuinely enjoy helping people navigate moments I remember clearly myself — breaking into product, figuring out how to grow, and understanding what leaders are actually looking for. My goal isn’t just to help someone pass an interview, but to give them confidence and clarity about where they’re going and how to get there.
Work Experience
Vice President, Product Management
Paramount
October 2022 - Present
Hiring Manager
Lead the product organization for BET+, one of Paramount’s fastest-growing direct-to-consumer streaming services. Responsible for product strategy and execution across the end-to-end customer experience, supporting a platform that brings together iconic TV and film, a growing slate of originals, and the full Tyler Perry collection. Partner closely with multidisciplinary teams across product, engineering, data, design, and platform services to build scalable, engaging consumer experiences and drive long-term growth. Executive Management, Product Strategy and +5 skills
Senior Director of Product Management
Paramount
October 2017 - September 2022
Interviewer
Served as a senior product leader during the early growth of BET+, the direct-to-consumer streaming service launched as a joint venture between Paramount and Tyler Perry. Led product initiatives focused on scaling the platform through major feature launches, rapid platform expansion, and an increasingly personalized customer experience. Previously owned product efforts driving revenue growth across conversion, retention, and personalization for SVOD and AVOD streaming experiences supporting global brands including BET+, MTV Play UK (D2C), Comedy Central, Paramount, and Nickelodeon. Also led the launch of multiple Paramount brands on Amazon Echo devices, enabling voice-driven video playback and expanding hands-free viewing experiences. Product Strategy, Customer Acquisition and +3 skills
Director of Product Management
WWE
April 2015 - October 2017
Interviewer
Led product strategy and the end-to-end customer experience for WWE’s highest-traffic digital properties, serving a global audience across web and external publishing platforms. Oversaw roadmap definition, experimentation, and platform evolution across mobile and desktop to drive engagement, content discovery, and subscription growth. Product Strategy, Video and +3 skills
Management Consultant, Digital
Digital Insight
October 2013 - April 2015
Advised and partnered with media companies and early-stage startups to define product strategy and deliver high-impact consumer experiences across e-commerce, video, content, and mobile. Led the end-to-end relaunch of Money.com for Time Inc., spanning UX redesign, CMS replatforming, and large-scale content migration. Also worked closely with founders at stealth startups to design and validate mobile-first product experiences across e-commerce, travel, and social enterprise. Product Strategy, Mobile Devices and +3 skills
Director of Product Management
Nordstrom
April 2012 - September 2013
Hiring Manager
Led product strategy and the end-to-end customer experience for a Nordstrom-backed fashion e-commerce startup, guiding the evolution of desktop and mobile platforms to drive growth, conversion, and repeat engagement. Owned product direction, prioritization, and UX, partnering closely with cross-functional teams to scale the business during a period of rapid growth. Product Strategy, Customer Acquisition and +2 skills
Senior Product Manager
Break.com
October 2010 - October 2011
Led product strategy and user experience for Break.com, a high-traffic consumer humor and video platform, with a focus on driving engagement and repeat usage. Product Strategy, Video and +3 skills
Product Manager
TheLadders
April 2009 - May 2010
Product Manager
My Space
June 2006 - March 2008
Interviewer
Education
USC Marshall School of Business
MBA, Marketing & Entrepreneurship
Activities and societies: Presented global internet strategy to Sony Corporation in Tokyo / Vice President, Sports Business Organization / Graduate Marketing Association / Business of Entertainment Organization
Rutgers Business School
B.A., Political Science & Journalism
8 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Joshua has helped Leland clients get into Paramount