Experienced product leadership with a little more personality than most consultant sites allow
I am a product executive with more than 20 years of experience helping software companies build, modernize and scale products through critical stages of growth. My work sits at the intersection of product strategy, roadmap clarity, platform evolution and experienced leadership for teams that need better decisions, stronger focus and fewer expensive mistakes.
I have led product work across enterprise software, data, messaging and platform environments, but the through line has always been the same: helping growing companies build better products, make smarter decisions and avoid expensive mistakes.
The personal mark I use, m², comes from a long-standing nickname based on my initials, MM. And yes, azDrum is my last name backward. I first used it in my early freelance years, building interactive CD-ROMs and tradeshow kiosks for education and big pharma & telco clients in my Jersey backyard. I later recycled it for my MFA thesis work at SCAD, it grew an improperly used umlaut and was used to explore branding, recall and audience response. And when it came time to pick a name for my consultancy, recycling it yet again was a lot easier than coming up with something more pretentious. azDrum (pronounced “oz-drum”) has stayed with me because it is personal, memorable and still feels like me.
How I think
My approach is shaped as much by design and systems thinking as it is by product management.
I have formal training and multiple degrees in art and design, and that foundation still influences how I work. It shapes how I frame problems, how I look for patterns, how I simplify complexity and how I think about clarity, usability and fit.
I tend to zoom out before zooming in. I look for what is connected, what is misaligned and what is adding friction. Then I work toward practical decisions that move the business forward.
Why clients bring me in
- clearer product direction
- stronger prioritization
- more structure around product decisions
- an experienced outside perspective
- leadership during growth, change or transition
- someone who can bridge strategy and execution
I’m not here to add theory, process for process’s sake or vague innovation language. I help teams get clear, make better decisions and move forward.
The environments I know best
My experience is strongest in software environments where products, teams and decisions become more complex as companies grow.
- platform modernization
- data and identity systems
- personalization and decisioning
- orchestration and engagement platforms
- product operating models
- packaging and monetization decisions
- cross-functional alignment between product, engineering, design and go-to-market teams
I have also had the privilege of working with some of the most sophisticated brands on the planet. Many of the problems we solved then are still relevant now.
How I like to work
I do my best work with teams that want honest thinking, practical progress and a partner who can adapt to what the business needs.
Sometimes that means a focused package. Sometimes it means a broader retainer relationship. Sometimes it means helping leadership sort through ambiguity before making a bigger commitment.
In every case, the goal is the same: bring clarity, momentum and experienced judgment to important product decisions.