The unlikely path to product leadership
From Architectural Engineering to AI strategy — a career built at the intersection of technology and business.
I'm Scott Bleasdell, a product executive based near Denver, Colorado. I've spent 20+ years leading product organizations at companies ranging from Microsoft to PE-backed SaaS startups, with nearly a decade focused on using AI to transform how businesses operate.
My path to product leadership wasn't the typical one. I studied Architectural Engineering at UT Austin, then spent eight years writing code before discovering that my real talent was at the intersection of technology and business strategy. That technical foundation has been the biggest differentiator in my career: I don't just understand what software and AI can do in theory, I understand how to build it into products that actually work.
The common thread across everything I've done is transformation. At CallRevu, I led an AI-native product pivot that cut COGS by 93%. At Dye & Durham, I established and launched a strategy to consolidate 50+ products into a unified platform while also leading the technology organization and reducing operating costs by $20M+. At Net2Phone, I expanded a telephony product into a full UCaaS suite and opened an entirely new market in South America.
I believe in transparency as a leadership principle — not just as a value statement, but as a practical enabler. The best product organizations I've built are ones where information flows freely, people feel safe to challenge ideas, and decisions are made with the best available data rather than the loudest or most powerful voice.
What I believe
AI should amplify humans
The best AI products don't replace people — they eliminate the tedious work so humans can focus on what they do best. Every AI implementation I've led starts with understanding where human time is being wasted.
Transparency enables speed
Teams that share information freely make better decisions faster. I build cultures where bad news travels fast, data is accessible, and people are empowered to act on what they see.
Simplification is part of strategy
Especially in PE-backed vertical SaaS, the winning move is almost always simplification. Consolidate products, streamline workflows, reduce complexity — that's where real value lives.
Build for outcomes, not features
Nobody buys features. They buy outcomes. Every product decision should connect to a customer problem or business result you can measure.
There's always a better way
Technology innovations are constantly reshaping what's possible, and that pace will only accelerate. My dream is to build solutions that aren't just incremental improvements but genuinely better than what exists today — more innovative, more intuitive, and more impactful for the people who use them.
When I'm not building products
The same mindset that drives my product work shows up in everything else I do. I restore cars — there's something deeply satisfying about bringing a machine back to life, understanding every system, and making it better than it was. I build things from wood, where patience and precision matter more than speed. I ski, which is the closest I've found to the feeling of shipping something great. And I'm an audiophile, because the difference between good and great is always in the details.
I live in Denver, Colorado with my family.