Product Leader

Serving Start-Ups, Scale-Ups & Fortune 500s

from Concept to Launch & Beyond

Available for interim, consulting, or full-time product leadership.

110+
Products Launched
60+
Industries Served
4
Company Exits
1.24B
Exit Value
20+
Years of Experience
Julian Whitaker headshot

Trusted by Founders, Startups, Investors, & Fortune 500



About Me

Focus. Clarity. Execution.

I help teams navigate complexity and move forward with clarity.

I bring a full-stack, end-to-end view of product — balancing user needs, business goals, technical constraints, and organizational reality. I excel in ambiguity, cut through noise, and map a strategic path that gets real traction. My approach is grounded in design thinking, applied well beyond design — from early concept through delivery. I forge strong relationships, align cross-functional teams, and stay relentlessly focused on what users truly need.

Dartboard with golden dart hitting bullseye - representing precision and focus in product strategy

Common Challenges

Uncommon Expertise

Solve Smarter, Deliver Faster

We built it, but they didn't come.

We keep missing deadlines.

Our MVP never got traction.

Our team can't agree on a roadmap.

We're not sure what to build next.

Our users aren't engaged.

We need a product leader who's done this before.

We're not sure if we have product-market fit.

We keep adding features, but user growth is flat.

Our users don't seem to 'get' the product.

We're not sure what problem we're really solving.

Stakeholders keep changing their minds.

We're building too much at once and not finishing.

We don't have a clear vision for the next quarter.

Our sprints always go off track.

We're stuck in endless meetings with little progress.

We built it, but they didn't come.

We keep missing deadlines.

Our MVP never got traction.

Our team can't agree on a roadmap.

We're not sure what to build next.

Our users aren't engaged.

We need a product leader who's done this before.

We're not sure if we have product-market fit.

We keep adding features, but user growth is flat.

Our users don't seem to 'get' the product.

We're not sure what problem we're really solving.

Stakeholders keep changing their minds.

We're building too much at once and not finishing.

We don't have a clear vision for the next quarter.

Our sprints always go off track.

We're stuck in endless meetings with little progress.

We built it, but they didn't come.

We keep missing deadlines.

Our MVP never got traction.

Our team can't agree on a roadmap.

We're not sure what to build next.

Our users aren't engaged.

We need a product leader who's done this before.

We're not sure if we have product-market fit.

We keep adding features, but user growth is flat.

Our users don't seem to 'get' the product.

We're not sure what problem we're really solving.

Stakeholders keep changing their minds.

We're building too much at once and not finishing.

We don't have a clear vision for the next quarter.

Our sprints always go off track.

We're stuck in endless meetings with little progress.

We have a backlog full of unfinished work.

We struggle to turn ideas into shipped features.

Churn is high and retention is low.

We're not getting meaningful feedback from users.

We don't know why people stop using our product.

Our onboarding isn't converting new signups.

Our team is working hard, but not together.

There's a disconnect between product, engineering, and design.

We struggle to get buy-in from stakeholders.

We don't have a clear owner for product decisions.

We don't have a clear go-to-market plan.

We're struggling to differentiate from competitors.

Our growth has plateaued.

We're not confident in our data or metrics.

We lack a repeatable product development process.

Communication breaks down between remote teams.

We have a backlog full of unfinished work.

We struggle to turn ideas into shipped features.

Churn is high and retention is low.

We're not getting meaningful feedback from users.

We don't know why people stop using our product.

Our onboarding isn't converting new signups.

Our team is working hard, but not together.

There's a disconnect between product, engineering, and design.

We struggle to get buy-in from stakeholders.

We don't have a clear owner for product decisions.

We don't have a clear go-to-market plan.

We're struggling to differentiate from competitors.

Our growth has plateaued.

We're not confident in our data or metrics.

We lack a repeatable product development process.

Communication breaks down between remote teams.

We have a backlog full of unfinished work.

We struggle to turn ideas into shipped features.

Churn is high and retention is low.

We're not getting meaningful feedback from users.

We don't know why people stop using our product.

Our onboarding isn't converting new signups.

Our team is working hard, but not together.

There's a disconnect between product, engineering, and design.

We struggle to get buy-in from stakeholders.

We don't have a clear owner for product decisions.

We don't have a clear go-to-market plan.

We're struggling to differentiate from competitors.

Our growth has plateaued.

We're not confident in our data or metrics.

We lack a repeatable product development process.

Communication breaks down between remote teams.

Insights into Action

Patterns, Personas, & Precedents

Deep experience across diverse products, industries, and markets gives me the edge to guide you effectively.

My Recommendations

I've worked with some great people.

Here's what they said.

Julian is our Davinci.


Basheer headshot
Basheer

CEO, Integnlogy

Julian is a full-stack product manager—strategic, hands-on, and driving teams to deliver far beyond expectations.


Jason headshot
Jason

CEO, Presence

Invaluable to any team building modern software—strategic, fast, and business-savvy.


Jon headshot
Jon

VP Product & Strategy, Work & Co

A unique talent—reimagines the business, builds world-class UX, and drives complex product vision end-to-end.


Rene headshot
Rene

Product Leader, Google

Thinks big and bold, yet never misses a detail. A rare and invaluable partner from day one.


Brian headshot
Brian

CTO, Greenlight Guru

Built trust across teams and customers alike—Julian leads with empathy, clarity, and true ownership.


Ray headshot
Ray

VP & GM, Olo

Julian is our Davinci.


Basheer headshot
Basheer

CEO, Integnlogy

Julian is a full-stack product manager—strategic, hands-on, and driving teams to deliver far beyond expectations.


Jason headshot
Jason

CEO, Presence

Invaluable to any team building modern software—strategic, fast, and business-savvy.


Jon headshot
Jon

VP Product & Strategy, Work & Co

A unique talent—reimagines the business, builds world-class UX, and drives complex product vision end-to-end.


Rene headshot
Rene

Product Leader, Google

Thinks big and bold, yet never misses a detail. A rare and invaluable partner from day one.


Brian headshot
Brian

CTO, Greenlight Guru

Built trust across teams and customers alike—Julian leads with empathy, clarity, and true ownership.


Ray headshot
Ray

VP & GM, Olo

Julian is our Davinci.


Basheer headshot
Basheer

CEO, Integnlogy

Julian is a full-stack product manager—strategic, hands-on, and driving teams to deliver far beyond expectations.


Jason headshot
Jason

CEO, Presence

Invaluable to any team building modern software—strategic, fast, and business-savvy.


Jon headshot
Jon

VP Product & Strategy, Work & Co

A unique talent—reimagines the business, builds world-class UX, and drives complex product vision end-to-end.


Rene headshot
Rene

Product Leader, Google

Thinks big and bold, yet never misses a detail. A rare and invaluable partner from day one.


Brian headshot
Brian

CTO, Greenlight Guru

Built trust across teams and customers alike—Julian leads with empathy, clarity, and true ownership.


Ray headshot
Ray

VP & GM, Olo

A visionary—focused, concise, and always pushing the edge of what’s possible.


Stephen headshot
Stephen

CFO, JTE Electrical

Julian’s brilliance and ability to listen unlocked innovation our team was hungry for.


Alex headshot
Alex

Sr. Infrastructure Engineer, Clari

Translates massive complexity into powerful, elegant solutions. Smart, diligent, and fast.


Craig headshot
Craig

CEO, Awasu Design

A huge asset—balances user insight, tech constraints, and strategy to deliver what matters.


Larry headshot
Larry

CPO, Grokstream

Listens deeply, thinks clearly, and solves tough problems with sound judgment.


Marty headshot
Marty

SVP Solutions, AlphaStruxure

Super talented and consistently applauded by clients for innovative, elegant solutions.


Kim headshot
Kim

Creative Director, Aible

A visionary—focused, concise, and always pushing the edge of what’s possible.


Stephen headshot
Stephen

CFO, JTE Electrical

Julian’s brilliance and ability to listen unlocked innovation our team was hungry for.


Alex headshot
Alex

Sr. Infrastructure Engineer, Clari

Translates massive complexity into powerful, elegant solutions. Smart, diligent, and fast.


Craig headshot
Craig

CEO, Awasu Design

A huge asset—balances user insight, tech constraints, and strategy to deliver what matters.


Larry headshot
Larry

CPO, Grokstream

Listens deeply, thinks clearly, and solves tough problems with sound judgment.


Marty headshot
Marty

SVP Solutions, AlphaStruxure

Super talented and consistently applauded by clients for innovative, elegant solutions.


Kim headshot
Kim

Creative Director, Aible

A visionary—focused, concise, and always pushing the edge of what’s possible.


Stephen headshot
Stephen

CFO, JTE Electrical

Julian’s brilliance and ability to listen unlocked innovation our team was hungry for.


Alex headshot
Alex

Sr. Infrastructure Engineer, Clari

Translates massive complexity into powerful, elegant solutions. Smart, diligent, and fast.


Craig headshot
Craig

CEO, Awasu Design

A huge asset—balances user insight, tech constraints, and strategy to deliver what matters.


Larry headshot
Larry

CPO, Grokstream

Listens deeply, thinks clearly, and solves tough problems with sound judgment.


Marty headshot
Marty

SVP Solutions, AlphaStruxure

Super talented and consistently applauded by clients for innovative, elegant solutions.


Kim headshot
Kim

Creative Director, Aible

Products

Things I've Built

Products and platforms transforming companies and users.

FileMaker Pro

Apple

FileMaker Pro

Database Software

Aria

Aria Systems

Aria

Billing Platform

Family Finder

AT&T

Family Finder

Communication Platform

GuideRails

Integnology

GuideRails

AI Platform

Lubricants

Chevron

Lubricants

Industrial Management

Smarter Hammer

GE

Smarter Hammer

IoT Platform

My Services

How I help

Whether you're stuck, scaling, or just starting out — I help transform product uncertainty into strategy, traction, and working software.

Product Strategy

Clarify goals, priorities, and product direction.

Align teams around a roadmap that makes sense

Zero-to-One Execution

Define, design, and ship a real, usable MVP.

Turn early ideas into buildable, adopted products

Product-Market Fit

Find the friction. Fix the gap. Make it click.

Align your product with what users actually need

AI Product Strategy

Move from vague ideas to working AI features.

Define and deliver AI that adds real value

Traction & Delivery Support

Get a stuck product moving again.

Unblock execution and rebuild forward momentum

UX & Onboarding Fixes

Simplify complex flows and reduce drop-off.

Make the product feel clear, usable, and aligned

Outcome-Focused Product Work

Everything I do ties to results — not vanity metrics.

Focus on real progress, not surface features

Cross-Functional Clarity

Connect product, engineering, design, and leadership.

Reduce confusion and accelerate decision-making

My Contact

Let's work together

Whether you're building, fixing, or rethinking your product — I can help. I bring deep experience, fast pattern recognition, and clarity others miss.

Location

San Francisco, CA.

Schedule a Meeting

calendly.com/julian-m-w

Send me a message