Ramli John

Author of Product-Led Onboarding (+30K copies sold) | First Round Fast Track Mentor | Content Director at Appcues.

⭐️ Follow me for helpful tips to onboard, delight, and keep your customers coming back to your product.
📔 Author of Amazon #1 bestselling book "Product-Led Onboarding." 👉 𝙎𝙀𝘼𝙉 𝙀𝙇𝙇𝙄𝙎, Founder of GrowthHackers.com: "Product-Led Onboarding is 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 embarking on the critical activity of improving their user onboarding." 


⚡️ I use my multi-disciplinary skills in marketing, design, and software development to help product-led SaaS companies analyze their whole customer's journey and funnel to identify growth opportunities to 2-3X their MRR. 

Often, that means designing and implementing experiments to increase activation rate (trial-to-paid or free-to-paid conversions), decrease churn rate, or increase average revenue per user (ARPU)

If you asked my friends and colleagues how they would describe me, they'd say I'm resourceful, proactive, and entrepreneurial

►► CONTACT INFO
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▷ Write me a note at ramli [at] ramlijohn.com

Founder

A weekly show and newsletter for marketers looking to level up their marketing and career. I interview world-class marketers to uncover the secrets, strategies, and frameworks behind their wins. In each episode, guests reveal three things:  (1) a marketing power-up,  (2) a real-world example of that in action, and (3) a power-up that’s helped them take their career to the next level.

Ramli "RJ" John

I just hired my first full-time employee. Not an assistant. A Chief of Staff. And it's my wife, Joanna Ruth! Here's why:

For 1.5 years, I resisted hiring. I wanted to stay solo as long as possible—full control, no coordination costs, just me and clients.

Then I wrote down the job description for what Delight Path actually needs this year.

Someone who can:
→ Create content and community systems
→ Bring the vision to life (not just execute tasks)
→ Scale the impact for product leaders I had in mind

I realized: this isn't an assistant role. It's 2nd in command.

And Joanna is perfect for it:

1. She's built more than I have!

Joanna's self-published over 47 Montessori education books (I need to catch up)! She's a proven system-builder, not just an idea person.

2. She follows instructions when I wing it (let's talk about building IKEA furniture!) 

Joanna forced me to create SOPs for everything. She's started documenting processes I've been running on instinct. Business became transferable, not just in my head.

3. She connects deeper to people than I do

People call me emotionless sometimes (fair). She cares about people on a level I don't naturally access. It's why she studied early childhood education focused on autism and behavioral science. 

Community needs that energy, not just my frameworks

Transitioning Delight Path from 100% consulting revenue to 50% media + community requires coordination I can't do alone.

Before hiring, I asked:
→ Am I hiring for tasks or for leverage?
→ Can this person make decisions without me?
→ Will this free me to do what only I can do?

If it's not yes to all three, it's an assistant role (nothing wrong with that, but not what I needed).

What's Next:

Joanna starts immediately with partnerships and community for Product Leaders Lab. As we scale, she moves into the Integrator (EOS) role, and I move into the Visionary role.

The onboarding forced me to document everything—SOPs for content, client work, and community management. Business became a system, not just me.
I'm excited to build something meaningful together again (we organized a large youth church conference before we got married).

Please join me in welcoming Joanna to Delight Path.

What's been your experience bringing someone into your solo business?

PS. If you're thinking about staying solo versus hiring, Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell has been super helpful. Changed how I think about the business.

Building a community for product leaders (VP and Director-level). Founder @ Delight Path. 2x best-selling author. New book “Eureka” now available. Author of “Product-Led Onboarding” (+40K copies sold).

Most podcasts are interview-style. That won't cut it in 2026! It's why I'm doing a high-production narrative format for my new show: Product Leaders Lab (coming in Feb).

I turned my living room into a recording studio this Monday. Shot the intro and teaser with my creative producers, Carlo and Justine. 

Here's how it works:

Two veteran product leaders. Same impossible scenario. Completely different approaches.

One episode breaks down their decisions, what worked, what didn't, and the lessons that actually matter.

Episode 1 premieres February 24th: "The AI Adoption Pressure"

Netali (VP of Product) and Greg Leach (Senior Director of New Business) faced the same problem: their teams were drowning in prompt engineering.

Netali's solution? She created a new role, "Prompt Ops," to centralize AI expertise and protect PM capacity.

Greg's approach? He became the chair of the company's AI committee to remove red tape and encourage the adoption of internal AI tools. Over 100 people attended the first demo (out of 230 employees).

Two leaders. Two strategies. Both worked.

I've already recorded:

→ Christine Itwaru (VP of Product at Userflow): "The Launch Recovery" - How protecting her team after a launch disaster became her defining leadership moment.
→ Michelle Green (Director of Product at Coley): "The Strategy Misalignment" - When customer success and product saw the same problem completely differently.
→ Nesrine Changuel, PhD (Author of "Product Delight," former PM at Google, Spotify, Skype): "The Competitive Moment" - How she became Google Meet's first PM for Delight during the pandemic and chose benchmark against, "If we were all in a physical room, how would the experience be better?"

I'm scheduled to record with other amazing product leaders:
Betsy Shaak, Joseph King, Chris Downey, Jason Knight, Gabrielle Bufrem, Lauren Schuman, Deepti Pradeep, Angela Sze, Lilach Yaniv, Warren Dombowsky, Nick Cust, Purnima Bihari, and Aakash Gupta.

I'm looking for more VPs, Directors, or Heads of Product who want to share their defining leadership moments.

DM me or tag someone below.

PS. Bookmark this for when you're stuck on an impossible decision and need to see how other leaders navigated it. First episode drops February 24th.

2025: The year I learned focus has a price tag. Turned 40. Ran my first half marathon. Doubled my income while working fewer hours.

But here's what nobody tells you about Year 1 of consulting:

The wins are incredible. The valleys are brutal.

Some months hit $50K. Others dipped to $2K. I got ghosted after proposals. Had deals go sideways. Watched summer dry up completely.

Before I left my job, April Dunford told me: "Don't try to do too many things at once. Focus on one thing and get REALLY good at it."

So I said no to:
→ Newsletter sponsorships (even when I needed the money)
→ Course launches
→ Content creation I actually loved

The result? My biggest deal ever—with a Fortune 100 company.

But it came at a cost: I didn't create anything I'm truly proud of last year. No podcasts. No creative projects. Just focused execution.

That changes in 2026.

I'm launching Product Leaders Lab—a community + media brand for VPs, Directors, and Heads of Product. Already have 22 founding members and $60K in sponsorships locked.

Also launching a documentary-style podcast: One impossible scenario. Three veteran product leaders. Three completely different approaches. 20-25 minutes, not 60+ minute rambling.

First episode launched in Feb 2026: "The AI Ambush" - Your CEO announces an AI pivot without telling you. Product team panics. Board meeting in 48 hours. What do you do?

And I'm also running the Chicago Marathon in October to raise $2,500 for a close friend fighting stage 4 cancer.

2025 was depth. 2026 is reach.

What's one thing you're most proud of from 2025?

PS. Full year-in-review in the newsletter.

2025 has been the most transformative year of my life. Not just professionally, but personally, emotionally, and physically. Just like my review of 20

Open article: 2025 in review: the year everything changed by Ramli John • 9 min read

2025 in review: the year everything changed

In this live workshop, Becki Floyd will share how to turn user feedback into working AI prototypes within a day.  

Engineers can now use AI to ship in hours, not weeks. If UX can't keep pace, product decisions happen without user input.

Becki redesigned her entire UX process to work at AI speed:

✅ Async video research + AI analysis = user insights in hours (not weeks)
✅ Morning feedback → afternoon prototypes using Replit and ChatGPT
✅ High-fidelity prototypes that developers can ship immediately
✅ Process that keeps UX leading when speed matters most

This isn't about adding more tools to your stack. It's about rebuilding how UX works when AI-powered devs are shipping code faster than traditional research cycles allow.

This is her framework:

1. Gather insights in hours (async video + AI synthesis)
2. Build working prototypes the same day (tools that compress design-to-dev)
3. Lead product direction at AI speed (process over perfection)

We kick off the workshop tomorrow (Wednesday, January 21) at 9 AM ET

Bring your PMs, designers, and developers. This is for teams trying to stay user-led when everything moves faster.

Register: https://luma.com/9bwpea6x

What's your biggest challenge in keeping UX involved when dev cycles get compressed?

Hotjar

🎙️ Podcast Host for Through the Looking Jar. Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/59BrubnJ0jflyeX17BWfZd 

📹 Live event host and moderator for monthly marketing, UX and product events. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyE6rbeyXRouk4P6MT9CNnDJp9TqsSXL0

Senior Content Marketing Manager (Writer and Editor)

Uberall

Freelance (Self employed)

Clients included Lufthansa Innovation Hub, Factory Berlin, ROSCOE magazine, Tourism Toronto, Crane Construction, The Coup Public Relations and acework.

 Senior Content Manager | Content Writer | Content Marketing (B2B and B2C)

Bookmark Content and Communications

 Content Writer | Editor | Proofreader | Fact Checker (Freelance) B2C

Ontario Ministry of Energy

Senior Content Writer | Content Manager| UX Writer

U SPORTS

 Content Writer | Editor | Proofreader (Freelance)

Town of Whitby

Lead Feature Content Writer (B2C)

Yellow Pages / Pages Jaunes – Canada

Portfolio here: https://www.yellowpages.ca/aut/nicole-gottselig-A178/

Digital Content Writer (Freelance) (B2B and B2C)

Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Organizing Committee

Editor 

Invesco Canada

Web Content Writer | Content Manager | UX Writer

Senior Content Marketing Manager at Hotjar / host of Through the Looking Jar podcast 🎙️ / Live event host / Meditation in the workplace facilitator

With a decade of expertise in content marketing, I specialize in creating clear, engaging narratives that connect brands with their audiences.

My work with leading SaaS companies, including Uberall and Hotjar, showcases my ability to craft content that not only informs but also resonates deeply with readers.

This experience has equipped me with a unique understanding of how to effectively communicate complex ideas in an accessible and captivating manner.

My background extends to event management and facilitating group meditation programs in the workplace, adding depth and versatility to my skill set.

This combination of professional experience and personal interests makes me a credible and compelling choice for any organization looking to enhance their content strategy and engage their audience in meaningful ways.

I am committed to delivering high-quality, impactful content that drives results and fosters lasting connections.

Nicole Gottselig

The sugar high is finally wearing off.

The last year felt like a collective sugar high.

We chased quick hits. 

We rode the dopamine spikes of "viral" posts that were forgotten 48 hours later. 

We watched "AI Slop" fill the feeds, creating a lot of noise but very little connection.

It fed the ego, but it starved actual authority.

Now? I feel us moving into a new frequency: The Steady Build.

It’s the sustained endorphins after a cold plunge or a long yoga session. 

It’s not frantic energy. 

It’s that smooth, protected "Flow State" where you stay in your own lane, building brick by brick.

Why the shift?

Because we aren't just feeding a social algorithm anymore. 

We are training the World's New Brain.

Right now, you have a rare window to write your own Wikipedia page that nobody can edit but you.

You can create the artifacts today that define how you are discovered for the next five years. 

If you wait, the stories and authority are already being built by those defining it now.

I’ve never been someone to hack a feed with loud opinions. 

For me, it has always been about being as human as possible.

If we want that "human-ness" to survive and be discoverable in AI search, we have to structure it so the machines can actually find it.

I’m not a salesperson. 

I don't care about growth hacks. 

I just want to make sure real expertise actually reaches the people looking for it.

I’m currently testing a new approach with a leader in my current role, and for myself.

We aren't yelling. 

We are simply quietly planting the facts and frameworks that define who we are.

Here is the exact framework (from my notes) that we are using:

1. The Void Test (Find the Gap)

Before we write, we check if the world actually needs our answer.

How: Go to Perplexity and ask: "Is there a specific, named framework for [The Problem I Solve]?"

If it cites a specific expert → The seat is taken.

If it lists generic tips → The seat is open.

Generic answers are the green light. That is where we plant the flag.

2. Name the Container (The Translation) 

AI struggles to index "vibes" or "nuance." It indexes Concepts. 

To make our humanity discoverable, we have to name it.

Don't just say: "Be more vulnerable." (That is a mood; AI ignores it).

Do say: "The Pratfall Effect." (That is a concept; AI cites it).

We give the system a clear "file name" to hold onto.

3. The Compounding Rule (The Density)

Authority requires density, not just frequency. 

We don't post random thoughts; we build a cluster.

Post 1: Define the New Term.
Post 2: Contrast it against the Old Way.
Post 3: Show the Proof (a story/case study).

This turns a perspective into a Fact.

I’m going to keep sharing what we learn as we build this. 

Are you’re also trying to show up in LLM search via LinkedIn or interested in trying?

Right now, you’re a secret. I make you an authority | Helping high-integrity leaders get found by humans and LLMs | Content Strategy @ UXCam

Your CEO's LinkedIn landed on your plate. Now what?

I've worked with brilliant marketers. People who can build funnels, write campaigns, and turn data into strategy.

But when it comes to executive content, they hit a wall.

A marketer can't speak for a CEO. And neither can AI. Not on its own.

Years ago, I led my company's first LinkedIn program. We went from zero views to thousands. 300 posts, all written by hand, before AI tools existed.

What I learned then still holds true.

AI tools can sound great if they've been fed real stories and original thought first.

But even brilliant execs skip the deep reflection that fuels real posts.

So they talk into a tool, get something that sounds "good enough," and post it.

And "good enough" blends into the AI slop.

The key isn't better prompts. It's better questions.

Someone who can sit with a leader, hold up the mirror, and pull out the stories they've stopped noticing.

The pivot that almost killed the company. The hire they got wrong. The bet that paid off.

That's the original thought. That's what makes the tools actually work.

If you're a marketer trying to get your exec to show up online, you already know the content can't come from you.

But it doesn't have to come from them alone either.

The right process makes it much easier.

What's been your biggest challenge getting leadership content out the door?

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taplio

The Battle

Ramli "RJ" John

Nicole Gottselig

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ramli "RJ" John's LinkedIn Performance

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