Select Page

about

Getting to

Know Me

My name is Juan Carlos and I am a product leader. I have a penchant for storytelling, an interest in reframing narratives, and excitement for life design. The world can be a better place for everyone, and I want to be a part of the solution.

ABOUT

Getting to

Know Me

My name is Juan Carlos and I am a product leader. I have a penchant for storytelling, an interest in reframing narratives, and excitement for life design. The world can be a better place for everyone, and I want to be a part of the solution.

In Brief

Getting To Know Me?

I am Senior Director of Product at Intercare, a therapy provider.

I write about mental models and illustrate children’s books. 

I was a Product Leader at StackCommerce, a native commerce platform.

And VP of Product at Sunday Goods, a cannabis startup.

Before that, I was Head of Product at Onward, an anti-addiction app.

My foster care film, Know How, helped pass watershed legislation.

I also directed the metaverse documentary Second Skin.

And founded a non-profit to curb climate change.

 

THE WHERE

Deep Dive Into My Past

Here’s what I’ve been up to most of my life.
From work to feature films and other major projects. 

SUNDAY GOODS

VP of Product

Sunday Goods grows all-natural, top-quality cannabis that produces specific effects through high-integrity growing. Effects that shine through a respect for the whole plant.

Adhere to a user centric feature development process

Currently designing a customizable multi-store site for a regulated product

Managing a fully remote team

ONWARD

Head of Product & Content

Onward helped users overcome behavioral addictions by tracking screen time, blocking unwanted usage, and delivering real-time guidance via an AI chatbot.

Executed a product strategy and vision for the anti-addiction app

Shepherded iOS app development

w

Wrote scripts for a coach chatbot

Participant Media

Director of Social Impact

Participant Media is the leading media company dedicated to entertainment that brings social awareness and engages audiences to participate in positive social change.

Guided an innovative digital platform to harness millions to effect social change

Helped design a system to examine and score the social impact of entertainment

Won Cynopsis’s Social Good Award for Best Environmental Campaign

Filmography

Know How

Writer & Director

Know How is a feature film musical that captures the reality of life in foster care from the point of view of those living in it — youth struggling in the system.

Released theatrically, on Netflix, and Participant Media’s channel

Won multiple best film awards including IndieWire Project of the Year

Petition helped pass watershed foster care legislation

Second Skin

Director & Editor

Second Skin is a documentary about online gamers who lead double lives in the virtual and real world. The film delves into the economy and psychology of technology and how it pertains to human identity.

Premiered opening night of SXSW

R

Voted the #4 Documentary of 2008

Released theatrically and on Hulu

SUNDAY GOODS

VP of Product

Sunday Goods grows all-natural, top-quality cannabis that produces specific effects through high-integrity growing. Effects that shine through a respect for the whole plant.

Adhere to a user centric feature development process

Currently designing a customizable multi-store site for a regulated product

Managing a fully remote team

ONWARD

Head of Product & Content

Onward helped users overcome behavioral addictions by tracking screen time, blocking unwanted usage, and delivering real-time guidance via an AI chatbot.

Executed a product strategy and vision for the anti-addiction app

Shepherded iOS app development

w

Wrote scripts for a coach chatbot

participant media

Director of Social Impact

Participant Media is the leading media company dedicated to entertainment that brings social awareness and engages audiences to participate in positive social change. 

Guided an innovative digital platform to harness millions to effect social change

Helped design a system to examine and score the social impact of entertainment

Won Cynopsis’s Social Good Award for Best Environmental Campaign

Filmography

Know how

Writer & Director

Know How is a feature film musical that captures the reality of life in foster care from the point of view of those living in it — youth struggling in the system.

Released theatrically, on Netflix, and Participant Media’s channel

Won multiple best film awards including IndieWire Project of the Year

Petition helped pass watershed foster care legislation

Second Skin

Director & Editor

Second Skin is a documentary about online gamers who lead double lives in the virtual and real world. The film delves into the economy and psychology of technology and how it pertains to human identity.

Premiered opening night of SXSW

R

Voted the #4 Documentary of 2008

Released theatrically and on Hulu

Projects

Projects

White Roof Project

Founder & Product Lead

I founded White Roof Project; a nonprofit focused on curbing climate change by painting black rooftops with energy saving reflective white paint in 2010. 

Activated over 1150 volunteers

Coated over 496,000 square feet of roof

Partnered with 175 organizations

Popten Magazine

Founding Editor

The magazine is a home for folks obsessed with quantifying pop culture and reading top ten lists. 

Garners between 40-75K unique visitors per month

i

Managed a community of 15 writers

Guest bloggers included journalists from the NY Times and the Hollywood Reporter

White Roof Project

Founder & Product Lead

I founded White Roof Project; a nonprofit focused on curbing climate change by painting black rooftops with energy saving reflective white paint in 2010. 

Activated over 1150 volunteers

Coated over 496,000 sq. feet of rooftop

Partnered with 175 organizations

Popten Magazine

Founding Editor

The magazine is a home for folks obsessed with quantifying pop culture and reading top ten lists. 

Garners between 40-75K unique visitors per month

i

Managed a community of 15 writers

Guest bloggers included journalists from the NY Times and the Hollywood Reporter

THE WHAT

Defining My Discipline

Every product leader is different and comes with a special skillset that’s additive to a greater whole. I love collaborating with smart folks on complex projects.

Vision

It’s the foundation of where all my projects begin and gives breath to the higher purpose that aligns and drives teams.

Strategy

A vision without a plan isn’t much good. A strong roadmap delivers those clear milestones that take a project from concept to creation.

Design

Thinking through UX and UI problems was where I first found a love for building products. It remains one of my favorite parts of the process.

Analytics

Good product decisions emerge from understanding what users are doing and trusting the data you have built your hypotheses on.

i

User Research

Understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations by speaking and listening to customers is the path to success.

Release Management

None of it matters unless you ship it! Managing a backlog, prioritizing work, and releasing valuable features makes or breaks a product.

Deep Dive Into Mental Models

Deep Dive Into Mental Models

Mental models are thinking tools. They simplify complexity so you can solve problems and make decisions more confidently. Sound interesting? Get my newsletter.

An email with the link to download your free personal branding book has been sent your way!

Download The Independent Creative's Guide to Personal Branding — It's Free!

And subscribe to my bi-weekly newsletter on mental models. Once signed up, I'll email you the download link.

An email with the link to download your free personal branding book has been sent your way!

Download The Independent Creative's Guide to Personal Branding — It's Free!

And subscribe to my bi-weekly newsletter on mental models. Once signed up, I'll email you the download link.

An email with the link to download your free personal branding book has been sent your way!