Show Notes
We’re joined by Bhavesh Ratanpal. product leader, author, and long‑time practitioner of yoga philosophy, for a unique conversation about his book Product Ashtangi and how ancient Vedic wisdom can change the way we build products and lead teams.Bhavesh shares his journey from growing up in a family of priests in India, to a career in software development and product management at places like TD Bank, Citibank, and TELUS, and now to founding human‑centric AI startups in Canada. Along the way, he kept returning to one insight: a calm, clear mind makes better product decisions. Product Ashtangi is his attempt to codify that, combining the eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga with modern product practice.
Join Matt and Moshe as they explore with Bhavesh: What “Product Ashtangi” means and why the first product you work on is yourself How the eight limbs of yoga (starting with Yama - truthfulness, ethics, ego‑awareness) translate into everyday product decisions The difference between building from ego and cosmetics vs. focusing on real user pain and social welfare How to shift between observer and experiencer modes so you can see problems clearly instead of reacting emotionally Stories of applying these principles in practice, from enterprise migrations and platform decisions to Bhavesh’s current AI products (pet adoption and strata governance) Treating your life like a product: personal sprints, self‑retros every two weeks, and continuously “shipping” a better version of yourself How karma yoga and product management align when you see products as vehicles for societal good, not just business metrics The structure of the book:Part 1 – theory connecting yoga sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and product thinking Part 2 – practical ways to adopt the eight limbs in your product work
Where to start if you’re curious: books, practices, and small mindset shifts you can apply this week And much more! Want to learn more or get the book? Website: http://bhaveshratanpal.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhaveshratanpal You can also connect with us and find more episodes: Product for Product Podcast: http://linkedin.com/company/product-for-product-podcast Matt Green: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgreenproduct/ Moshe Mikanovsky: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikanovsky Note: Any views mentioned in the podcast are the sole views of our hosts and guests, and do not represent the products mentioned in any way.
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