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Adam Thomas

Adam Thomas

Product leader, coach, and educator focusing on strategy and AI

Harlem, NY
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Joined January 2026
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Summary

Adam Thomas is an experienced product leader with over 15 years in product management, strategy, and team leadership. He has managed multi-million dollar product portfolios and led product strategy at companies such as Google (via Philosophie), SmartRecruiters, and Informed.co. His expertise spans SaaS strategy, B2B platforms, and AI product development. maven+1
He is the founder and CEO of Approaching One, a product consultancy dedicated to helping leaders empower their teams to deliver impactful software. As part of this, he developed the 'Survival Metrics' framework, a tool used globally to clarify product strategy and make informed 'stop/pivot/invest' decisions, moving product managers from order-takers to strategic leaders. authory+4
Adam is also a dedicated educator, serving as Adjunct Faculty at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). At MICA, he teaches in the Masters of Professional Studies in UX Design, applying real-world product development experiences to academic settings. He also contributed to the 'AI for Product Management Course' for Pendo and Mind the Product. mica+2
His thought leadership extends to public speaking and writing, with contributions to Built In, Medium, Mind the Product, and various podcasts. He frequently discusses the importance of organizational alignment, the impact of behavioral psychology and cognitive biases in product teams and hiring, and effective communication in product strategy. airfocus+2

Work

Education

Projects

Writing

Driving Organisational Alignment with Survival Metrics

September 1, 2021

A podcast interview discussing his Survival Metrics framework and how it helps product leaders drive organizational alignment, drawing from his experience as a product leader and coach.

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Columnist for Built In

Regularly writes articles for Built In, sharing his insights on product management, focusing on topics like the psychology of product teams and hiring practices.

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Contributions to Mind the Product and Medium

Authored articles and contributed insights to platforms like Mind the Product and Medium, discussing tips for optimizing product teams and strategies.

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