📄 LinkedIn Guide

LUIS CALDERON

Data-Driven Product Leader | PLG/Consumer/SMB Expert | AI/ML Pioneer
📧 luis@calderon.com
📱 703.786.7899
📍 San Diego, CA
🔗 linkedin.com/in/luiscalderonmba

Executive Summary

Data-Driven Product Leader—PLG/Consumer/SMB Expert. Turn user insights into growth through analytics, experimentation, and AI. Equally comfortable managing teams OR being hands-on IC.

Consumer product leader since 2013 across iconic brands: TurboTax ($900M, 4M+ users), Ancestry ($800M subscriptions), eBay (global marketplace). Now run SketchPop ($3M consumer e-commerce) as CEO. Core superpower: data-driven decision making—analyze user behavior, run experiments, use insights to ship features that drive conversion and retention. Distinguished by shipping AI/ML products BEFORE ChatGPT hype, then rapidly adopting modern LLMs. Rare combination of:

  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Analyze user behavior across millions of sessions, run A/B tests, use cohort analysis and funnel optimization to prioritize ruthlessly—my core superpower. Track record: +2% checkout conversion at eBay ($100M+ lift), 30% mobile conversion lift at Ancestry, 5% revenue lift from abandon cart
  • Product-Led Growth: Led $900M PLG business at Intuit with zero sales team—freemium models, self-serve onboarding, conversion optimization. Also led growth initiatives at Ancestry ($800M subscriptions) and eBay marketplace
  • Consumer/SMB at Scale: Served 4M+ solopreneurs at TurboTax, millions of consumers at Ancestry and eBay—understand consumer behavior, retention, engagement metrics deeply across multiple product types
  • AI/ML for Growth: Shipped 4 AI products to reduce friction and drive conversion at Intuit (pre-ChatGPT), deployed modern LLMs at SketchPop (40% cost reduction)
  • Multi-Scale Experience: $900M enterprise (Intuit) → $800M consumer subscriptions (Ancestry) → Global marketplace (eBay) → $3M SMB (SketchPop)

Seeking: VP Product, Director Product, or Principal PM roles at PLG/consumer/SMB companies (Notion, Canva, Figma, Duolingo, Shopify) where data-driven decision making drives growth. Equally comfortable managing a team OR being the solo IC product hire—I thrive in both.

About Me (LinkedIn)

I'm a data-driven product leader who turns user insights into growth. Equally comfortable managing a team OR being the solo IC product hire. Consumer product leader since 2013 across TurboTax, Ancestry, eBay—deep AI/ML expertise, proven conversion optimization.

At Intuit, I led the $900M TurboTax Self-Employed business as Principal/Group PM serving 4M+ solopreneurs. Managed 4 PMs while staying hands-on—drove 10-15% CAGR ($100-150M annual growth) through data-driven decisions, A/B testing, and shipped 4 AI/ML products that reduced friction and improved conversion.

My superpower: using data analysis to make the right product calls. At TurboTax, analyzed user behavior to identify drop-offs, then shipped AI features that increased completion rates. At Ancestry, led growth initiatives achieving 30% mobile lift and 5% revenue boost from abandon cart. At eBay, drove $100M+ business lift through 2% checkout optimization. Pure PLG motion—no sales team, self-serve at scale.

As CPO of SketchPop ($3M consumer e-commerce, 20% margins), I wear many hats: solo product leader working with engineers, plus marketing, operations, finance. Use AI as decision-making partner—design experiences, automate tasks, optimize funnels. I write specs, analyze data, work with engineers daily, ship fast.

I thrive in both leadership and IC roles. Led product teams at Intuit (4 PMs) and eBay (6+ analysts), now solo product leader at SketchPop—what matters is shipping great products and building great culture.

What I bring:

  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Track record—+2% at eBay ($100M+), 30% at Ancestry, 5% revenue lift
  • Product-Led Growth: Led PLG at scale (TurboTax $900M, Ancestry $800M, eBay)—freemium, self-serve
  • AI/ML for Growth: Shipped 4 AI products at Intuit (pre-ChatGPT); use AI as force multiplier at SketchPop
  • Consumer at Scale: Led products serving millions—TurboTax (4M+ users), Ancestry, eBay since 2013
  • Hands-On Execution: Work with engineering, write specs, ship products personally
  • Team & Culture: Hire and scale PM teams (Intuit, eBay) while building great culture

Currently seeking: VP Product, Director Product, or Principal PM roles at PLG/consumer/SMB companies where data-driven decision making drives growth. Open to managing a team OR being solo IC hire—I thrive in both.

Ideal fit: PLG companies (Notion, Canva, Figma), consumer products (Duolingo, Grammarly), SMB tools (Shopify, Faire). I work best where product leaders are hands-on, data-obsessed, culture matters.

Location: San Diego preferred, open to remote, willing to travel to LA/SF.

Professional Experience

📋 Select Experiences to Include on Resume

Principal Product Manager (Group PM) - AI/ML Products

Intuit - TurboTax Self-Employed
2021 - 2024 | Mountain View, CA

Led $900M TurboTax Self-Employed business as Principal/Group PM serving 4M+ solopreneurs, freelancers, and gig workers. Managed team of 4 PMs and delivered 10-15% CAGR ($100-150M annual growth) through data-driven product decisions and AI-powered innovation.

Product-Led Growth & Data-Driven Execution:
  • Pure PLG motion serving millions with zero sales team—freemium model, self-service onboarding, product-driven conversion
  • Analyzed user behavior across millions of sessions using cohort analysis, funnel optimization, A/B testing to identify friction and drive decisions
  • Shipped features that increased freemium-to-paid conversion, reduced drop-off rates, improved completion rates using data insights
  • Deep understanding of solopreneur/SMB needs through qualitative research and quantitative analysis of engagement metrics
Shipped 4 AI/ML Products for Growth:
  • Expense Categorization AI: ML model auto-categorizes expenses from receipts/transactions, reducing manual entry 60%+ and improving completion
  • Deduction Finder ML: Predictive algorithm using HITL training identifies missed deductions—increased average refund $1,200+, drove upsell
  • Audit Risk Predictor: ML model predicts IRS audit risk and suggests optimizations, reducing user anxiety and improving trust/retention
  • Document Extraction AI: OCR/AI extracts data from tax documents (W-2s, 1099s, receipts), removing friction and improving conversion
Impact & Leadership:
  • Delivered 10-15% CAGR on $900M+ business through data-driven experimentation and AI features
  • Hired and mentored 4 Product Managers focused on PLG and AI/ML
  • Coordinated with engineering, design, data science, marketing—hands-on PM leadership
  • Established experimentation framework and metrics-driven culture across product org

Skills: Product-Led Growth, Data Analysis, A/B Testing, Consumer Product Management, AI/ML Products, Freemium Models, Conversion Optimization

Chief Product Officer (CPO) - AI Transformation

SketchPop LLC (Custom Caricatures, Turned Yellow, Make Me Jedi brands)
2024 - Present | San Diego, CA

CEO of $3M consumer e-commerce (20% margins, 30-person team). Wear multiple hats: solo product leader, marketing, operations, finance. Use AI as decision-making partner for product, marketing, operations.

Data-Driven Consumer E-commerce Growth:
  • Analyzed user behavior to identify funnel drop-offs—shipped optimizations improving conversion
  • Used cohort analysis for repeat purchase drivers—implemented campaigns reducing churn
  • Ran A/B tests on pricing, bundling, upsells—data-informed decisions to optimize revenue
  • Built dashboards tracking LTV, CAC, retention, engagement—used insights to prioritize roadmap
  • Deep Shopify expertise: custom apps, workflow automation, analytics
AI-Powered Product & Operations:
  • Use AI (Claude, GPT-4) as thought partner for product decisions—analyze data, evaluate options, pressure test ideas
  • Design new customer experiences from concept to launch using AI to iterate on flows, copy, positioning
  • Automate marketing with AI: ad copy generation, email campaigns, customer segmentation
  • Deploy AI chatbots for customer service automation, achieving cost reduction while maintaining quality
  • Use AI for operational decisions: demand forecasting, artist staffing/capacity planning, pricing, inventory
Hands-On Product Leadership:
  • Work with engineers on product specs, technical requirements, implementation
  • Analyze user data daily to inform product roadmap and prioritization
  • Ship fast—use AI to accelerate decision making and execution without adding headcount

Impact: Operate at $3M revenue with 20% margins. Leverage AI as force multiplier for decision making across product, marketing, operations.

Skills: Consumer E-commerce, Data Analysis, Shopify, AI for Product Management, AI for Decision Making, LLM Integration, Conversion Optimization, A/B Testing, P&L Management

Founder & Principal Consultant

GrowthAlchemyLab
2024 - Present | Remote

Founded AI/ML product consulting practice advising consumer, e-commerce, and PLG companies on AI strategy and implementation. Specialize in helping companies leverage LLMs and AI agents to drive measurable growth outcomes—conversion optimization, retention, cost reduction.

AI Product Strategy & Implementation:
  • Advise consumer/PLG companies on AI product strategy, feature prioritization, roadmap development with focus on user impact and ROI
  • Guide AI operations deployment: chatbots, AI agents, workflow automation using GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, Llama for customer-facing applications
  • Help companies build vs. buy decisions for AI features and evaluate AI vendors/platforms for consumer use cases
  • Develop AI metrics frameworks tied to product KPIs: conversion, retention, engagement, LTV
  • Hands-on prompt engineering, LLM orchestration, AI agent frameworks for production deployments
Client Engagements (Consumer/E-commerce Focus):
  • E-commerce Platforms: AI chatbot deployment for customer service automation (40%+ cost reduction), personalized product recommendations, order management AI
  • Consumer Product Companies: AI-driven user onboarding, conversion optimization, retention tools using LLMs
  • PLG/SMB Tools: AI features for self-serve products, automation for SMB workflows, AI-powered help/support systems
  • Ivo.AI: Product advisor for AI sales automation (SMB/solopreneur focus)—AI agent architecture, LLM integration strategy
Impact & Outcomes:
  • Helped clients achieve 30-50% cost reduction through AI automation while maintaining/improving customer satisfaction
  • Guided AI feature launches improving customer retention 15-25% and engagement metrics
  • Enabled fast AI implementation with hands-on guidance vs. theoretical strategy—ship AI products quickly

Skills: AI/ML Consulting, Consumer Product Strategy, LLM Integration, AI Agents, GPT-4/Claude/Gemini, E-commerce AI, PLG, Conversion Optimization

Managing Partner

Epilogue Capital
2018 - Present | San Diego, CA

Founded investment firm focused on acquiring and operating profitable consumer/SMB businesses. Hands-on operator approach combining product leadership with business management.

Portfolio Management & Operations:
  • SketchPop Acquisition & Growth: Acquired custom art e-commerce business, scaled to $3M revenue with 20% margins through AI-powered product innovation and operational improvements
  • Data-Driven Investment Thesis: Focus on consumer/SMB businesses with strong unit economics where product improvements and AI can drive growth
  • Hands-On Product Leadership: Act as product leader/CEO for portfolio companies, applying product management expertise to drive growth
  • Operational Improvements: Implement data analytics, AI automation, conversion optimization, retention strategies across portfolio companies

Skills: M&A, Business Operations, Product Strategy, Consumer/SMB Expertise, P&L Management, Growth Strategy

Director of Product Management - Growth

Ancestry
2016 - 2017 | San Francisco Bay Area

Director of Product for $800M consumer subscription business. Led acquisition, conversion, and growth initiatives for top-of-funnel product experiences and shopping cart optimization.

Product-Led Growth & Conversion Optimization:
  • Abandon Cart Feature: Built, tested, and rolled out abandon cart email campaign resulting in 5% revenue lift—data-driven approach to win-back users
  • Mobile Conversion Optimization: Led mobile app conversion initiative achieving 30% lift in mobile app subscriptions through improved onboarding flow and checkout experience
  • Shopping Experience Innovation: Designed and shipped new product shopping experiences that improved top-of-funnel conversion and customer acquisition
  • Customer Journey Mapping: Launched customer advocacy initiative documenting end-to-end journey with key metrics and pricing across product experience
Cross-Functional Leadership:
  • Collaborated with Finance, Product, Marketing, Member Services to identify growth opportunities and address friction points
  • Defined go-to-market strategy and coordinated integrated marketing planning for subscription business
  • Used data analysis and A/B testing to optimize conversion funnel and maximize subscription revenue

Skills: Consumer Subscriptions, Conversion Optimization, Mobile Product Management, Growth Strategy, A/B Testing, Product-Led Growth

Product Leader - Payments & Customer Connection

eBay Marketplaces
2013 - 2015 | San Francisco Bay Area

Product leader for eBay Payments (checkout, cart, installments) and Customer Connection (My eBay, sign-in, registration) serving massive consumer marketplace at scale.

Consumer Marketplace at Scale:
  • Conversion Optimization: Led checkout optimization initiatives achieving +2% checkout conversion improvement—drove $100M+ business lift through data-driven improvements
  • Operational Excellence: Reduced checkout defects by 33% through improved quality processes and user experience testing
  • Mobile & Site Experiences: Shipped features across mobile and web platforms serving millions of buyers in global marketplace
  • Customer Satisfaction: Improved NPS scores through better payment experiences and customer registration flows
Data-Driven Product Analytics Leadership:
  • Global Payments Analytics: Led analytics team providing strategic insights for checkout/cart product decisions—conducted A/B tests, analyzed data, delivered actionable findings
  • Team Leadership: Managed team of 6+ analysts and managers supporting product releases and optimization initiatives
  • Metrics & KPIs: Recommended, tracked, and advised on key business and product metrics for payments and checkout experiences
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnered with product management, development, and business units to ensure timely releases and achieve business objectives

Skills: Consumer Marketplaces, E-commerce, Payments, Checkout Optimization, Data Analytics, Team Leadership, A/B Testing, Conversion Funnels

Education

MBA & MS (Dual Degree)

University of Michigan - Ross School of Business & School of Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Class of 2011
  • GMAT: 720 (Top 4%)
  • Focus: Strategy, Product Management, Technology, Sustainability
  • Network: 60,000+ Ross alumni globally, including extensive VC and tech company connections

BS Electrical Engineering

University of Virginia
Class of 2003

Core Skills

AI & Machine Learning

  • AI/ML Product Management
  • Large Language Models (LLMs)
  • Human-in-the-Loop (HITL)
  • AI Operations & Deployment
  • Prompt Engineering
  • GPT-4 / Claude / Gemini / Llama
  • AI Agent Architecture
  • Predictive Analytics

Product Management

  • Product Strategy & Roadmaps
  • Product-Led Growth (PLG)
  • Consumer Product Management
  • 0-to-1 Product Development
  • User Research & Customer Discovery
  • A/B Testing & Experimentation
  • Agile / Scrum Methodologies
  • Feature Prioritization
  • Go-to-Market Strategy
  • Freemium Models & Monetization
  • Partner Integrations
  • Rapid Prototyping & MVPs

Data & Analytics

  • Data Science & Analytics
  • Data-Driven Decision Making
  • SQL & Data Querying
  • Metrics & KPI Development
  • Data Visualization
  • Customer Analytics
  • Funnel Analysis & Optimization

Leadership & Operations

  • Team Building & Mentorship
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Cross-BU Coordination
  • Operational Turnaround
  • Change Management
  • Strategic Planning
  • M&A / Acquisitions
  • Post-Acquisition Integration
  • Customer Success Strategy
  • Workflow Design & Optimization

Industries & Domains

  • Fintech & Financial Services
  • E-commerce & Marketplaces
  • Consumer Technology
  • SMB/Solopreneur Products
  • AI/ML Applications
  • Tax & Compliance Software
  • Mobile Products
  • Subscription Business Models

Key Achievements

  • Dual-Era AI Pioneer (Top 1%): Shipped AI/ML at Intuit 2021-2024 BEFORE ChatGPT hype (Nov 2022), then deployed modern LLMs at SketchPop—rare combination bridging traditional ML + cutting-edge LLM implementation
  • Proven Growth at Scale: Delivered 10-15% CAGR on $900M business unit ($100-150M annual growth) through strategic AI/ML product initiatives at Intuit
  • Quantifiable AI ROI: Achieved 40% cost reduction through AI chatbot deployment while maintaining quality—demonstrates operational AI expertise beyond just product strategy
  • 4 Shipped AI Products: Expense Categorization AI, Deduction Finder ML (HITL), Audit Risk Predictor, Document Extraction AI—all serving millions of users at Intuit
  • Multi-Scale Experience: Shipped products at $900M enterprise (Intuit), $800M consumer subscription (Ancestry), global marketplace (eBay), and $3M SMB (SketchPop)
  • Team Leadership: Hired, mentored, and developed team of 4 Product Managers at Intuit; managed 6+ analysts at eBay; scaled operational team to 30 people at SketchPop
  • Consumer/PLG Expert: 15+ years leading consumer products and PLG initiatives—TurboTax (4M+ users), Ancestry ($800M subscriptions), eBay marketplace
  • Data-Driven Results: +2% checkout conversion at eBay ($100M+ lift), 30% mobile conversion lift at Ancestry, 5% revenue lift from abandon cart, 15% engagement improvement at Doctor.com