Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
How do you go from being a self-described "introvert" waitress to the Chief Product Officer behind a global AI phenomenon?
In this episode of How I Broke Into Tech, we sit down with Aliona Slobodianiuk, the former CPO of Prisma Labs. Alyona led the team during the meteoric rise of Lensa AI’s "Magic Avatars," a feature that dominated the App Store, reached #1 in multiple countries, and took over every social media feed in 2022.
Aliona reveals the "behind-the-scenes" of that viral moment—including how her team worked nonstop for 14 days to launch before the competition. More importantly, she breaks down her Career Blueprint: how she used the empathy learned in the restaurant industry to identify user pain points and how she transitioned from e-commerce into the complex world of Machine Learning and Computer Vision.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to "fake" passion and hunger to jumpstart a career in tech.
- The 14-day "sprint" that led to millions of downloads.
- Why "soft skills" like communication are more vital than technical "hard skills" for leaders.
- How to navigate feeling "stupid" when entering a new technical field like AI.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
01:15 - First Job: From Waitressing to Empathy in Product
04:22 - Finding Product Management by Accident
07:54 - Taking the Leap into AI and Machine Learning
10:56 - The Tech Behind "Magic Avatars"
12:20 - Predicting Virality: How Lensa Hit #1
18:11 - The Career Blueprint: 3 Lessons for Tech Leaders
Ready to level up your career? 🚀
Get 50% OFF your Udacity subscription and start mastering the most in-demand tech skills today. Whether you’re into AI, Data Science, or Programming, now is the time to invest in yourself.
Promo Code: YOUTUBE50
Claim your discount here: udacity.com/experience?utm_source=organicsocial&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=campaigngtm&utm_content=youtubepromo
#ai #productmanagement #lensaai #techcareers #careerpivot #howibrokeintotech #productleader #womenintech
How do you go from being a self-described "introvert" waitress to the Chief Product Officer behind a global AI phenomenon?
In this episode of How I Broke Into Tech, we sit down with Aliona Slobodianiuk, the former CPO of Prisma Labs. Alyona led the team during the meteoric rise of Lensa AI’s "Magic Avatars," a feature that dominated the App Store, reached #1 in multiple countries, and took over every social media feed in 2022.
Aliona reveals the "behind-the-scenes" of that viral moment—including how her team worked nonstop for 14 days to launch before the competition. More importantly, she breaks down her Career Blueprint: how she used the empathy learned in the restaurant industry to identify user pain points and how she transitioned from e-commerce into the complex world of Machine Learning and Computer Vision.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to "fake" passion and hunger to jumpstart a career in tech.
- The 14-day "sprint" that led to millions of downloads.
- Why "soft skills" like communication are more vital than technical "hard skills" for leaders.
- How to navigate feeling "stupid" when entering a new technical field like AI.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
01:15 - First Job: From Waitressing to Empathy in Product
04:22 - Finding Product Management by Accident
07:54 - Taking the Leap into AI and Machine Learning
10:56 - The Tech Behind "Magic Avatars"
12:20 - Predicting Virality: How Lensa Hit #1
18:11 - The Career Blueprint: 3 Lessons for Tech Leaders
Ready to level up your career? 🚀
Get 50% OFF your Udacity subscription and start mastering the most in-demand tech skills today. Whether you’re into AI, Data Science, or Programming, now is the time to invest in yourself.
Promo Code: YOUTUBE50
Claim your discount here: udacity.com/experience?utm_source=organicsocial&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=campaigngtm&utm_content=youtubepromo
#ai #productmanagement #lensaai #techcareers #careerpivot #howibrokeintotech #productleader #womenintech
