Ship Smarter. Scale Faster. Build With Confidence—Without the Full-Time Hire.

I partner with startups and growing tech companies to tackle their toughest product challenges—from AI integration to process optimization.
By combining the strategic insight of a senior PM, the technical fluency of an engineer, and a human-first approach to AI, I help teams bridge the gap between great ideas and real-world execution—solving complex problems and delivering results that scale.

✅ 15% dev workload reduction
✅ 64% faster issue resolution
✅ $80K+ annual savings delivered

Who I Work With

I partner with early and growth-stage companies who need experienced product leadership but aren't ready for a full-time PM—or need extra horsepower for critical initiatives.You might need me if:
• You're building AI features but lack AI product expertise
• Your team is stuck in analysis paralysis or scope creep
• Manual processes are draining your team's productivity
• You need to ship something important under tight deadlines
• Engineers and stakeholders aren't aligned on priorities

What I Do

⚡ Process Optimization Audit (2-4 weeks)
Best for: Teams drowning in inefficient workflows or manual busyworkYou'll get:
• Current state assessment with bottleneck analysis
• Automation opportunity identification
• Tool/system recommendations with • ROI projections
• Implementation roadmap
• Quick wins you can execute immediatelyInvestment: $3,000–$5,000 project-based
Example: I reduced manual triage work by 50% at naviHealth, delivering ~$80K+ annual savings.

🤖 AI Feature Integration (6-10 weeks)
Best for: Companies ready to ship AI capabilities, not just talk about themYou'll get:
• AI opportunity assessment & vendor evaluation
• Feature scoping with realistic success metrics
• Prompt engineering strategy
• Integration roadmap & technical requirements
• Launch support & iteration planningInvestment: $8,000–$12,000 project-based
Example: I launched AI-powered FAQ chatbot pilot at 2U in 6 weeks—validated user engagement and informed future personalization roadmap.

🚀 Product Strategy Sprint (4-6 weeks)
Best for: Validating ideas, scoping features, or unblocking stuck initiativesYou'll get:
• Product discovery & user research
• Feature definition with detailed PRDs
• Technical requirements & prioritized user stories
• Roadmap recommendations
• Stakeholder alignment workshopsInvestment: $6,000–$9,000 project-based

🎯 Fractional PM (3-6 months)
Best for: Teams needing ongoing product leadership without full-time commitmentYou'll get:
• Embedded PM support (~20 hours/week)
• Roadmap management & sprint planning
• Backlog grooming & prioritization
• Stakeholder communication & alignment
• Feature launches & data-driven iterationInvestment: Custom pricing retainer; Scope tailored to your needs.

Need Something Specific? Choose À La Carte Services

Not ready for a full engagement? These focused offerings deliver immediate value and can be the perfect starting point for working together.

ServicePriceLengthGoal(s)Deliverables
🔹 Product Strategy Audit$1,500–$2,0002-week engagementDeep-dive review of your product, competitive landscape, and opportunity areas.- 10–15 slide report +
- 1-hour presentation with recommendations
🔹 Roadmap Alignment Workshop$1,500–$3,000Half-day to full-day facilitated sessionGet stakeholders aligned on priorities and create a clear, actionable roadmap.- Prioritized roadmap +
- Success metrics framework (OKRs/KPIs)
🔹 Feature Scoping & PRD$2,000–$3,5001-2 week engagementTransform your idea into detailed requirements ready for development.- Complete PRD with user stories, acceptance criteria, and technical requirements
🔹 Stakeholder Alignment Workshop$1,200–$1,5002-3 hour facilitated sessionUnstick organizational gridlock and get everyone moving in the same direction.- Alignment on priorities, clear next steps, and decision documentation
🔹 User Research Sprint$2,500–$3,5002-week engagementValidate assumptions and uncover user needs through structured research.- Research findings report +
- Actionable recommendations
🔹 AI Readiness Assessment$1,800–$2,5001-week engagementEvaluate if AI makes sense for your product and identify the highest-impact opportunities.- Assessment report with AI opportunity roadmap +
- Vendor or tool recommendations

🔹 Product Strategy Audit — $1,500–$2,000
2-week engagement
Deep-dive review of your product, competitive landscape, and opportunity areas.
Deliverables: 10–15 slide report + 1-hour presentation with recommendations🔹 Roadmap Alignment Workshop — $1,500–$3,000
Half-day to full-day facilitated session
Get stakeholders aligned on priorities and create a clear, actionable roadmap.
Deliverables: Prioritized roadmap + success metrics framework (OKRs/KPIs)🔹 Feature Scoping & PRD — $2,000–$3,500
1-2 week engagement
Transform your idea into detailed requirements ready for development.
Deliverables: Complete PRD with user stories, acceptance criteria, and technical requirements🔹 Stakeholder Alignment Workshop — $1,200–$1,500
2-3 hour facilitated session
Unstick organizational gridlock and get everyone moving in the same direction.
Deliverables: Alignment on priorities, clear next steps, and decision documentation🔹 User Research Sprint — $2,500–$3,500
2-week engagement
Validate assumptions and uncover user needs through structured research.
Deliverables: Research findings report + actionable recommendations🔹 AI Readiness Assessment — $1,800–$2,500
1-week engagement
Evaluate if AI makes sense for your product and identify the highest-impact opportunities.
Deliverables: Assessment report with AI opportunity roadmap + vendor recommendations

Not sure which service fits your needs? Book a free 30-minute consultation and I'll help you identify the right approach.

Why Work With Me

👩🏼💻 I speak both engineer and business

I started as a software engineer, so I understand technical constraints and can talk architecture with your dev team. But I've spent 4+ years as a Product Manager, so I know how to connect technical decisions to business impact.Translation: Faster alignment, better decisions, less friction.

🔺 I've shipped in high-stakes environments

✓ Regulated industries (healthcare/HIPAA, government, education)
✓ Hard deadlines (CEO announcing on TV, funding-dependent launches)
✓ Complex stakeholder landscapes (Finance, Legal, Clinical, Marketing, Engineering)Translation: I won't crumble when things get hard.

📏 I deliver measurable results

Every project in my background has quantifiable impact:Reduced dev workload by 15% through CMS integration at 2U
Cut issue resolution time by 64% through process redesign at naviHealth
Saved $80K annually via triage automation
Launched $5M international partnership programTranslation: You'll see ROI, not just deliverables.

🤖 I bring timely AI expertise

• Launched AI FAQ chatbot pilot at 2U (2024)
• IBM AI Product Manager certified (Sept 2025)
• Generative AI for Product Managers certified (Sept 2025)Translation: I understand AI hype vs. reality and can help you ship something that actually works.

Case Studies from my Career

ProjectDescriptionLink
Contentful + Optimizely IntegrationHow I eliminated the developer bottleneck for content updates and reduced deployment time from days to minutesCMS Integration Case Study
Military Discount MVP LaunchDelivering a full MVP in 6 weeks with executive pressure, scope creep, and a CEO TV announcement deadlineMilitary Discount Case Study
AI-Powered FAQ Chatbot PilotValidating user engagement with AI support and uncovering behavioral insights for future featuresAI-Powered FAQ Chatbot Pilot Case Study

Testimonials

What Colleagues and Coworkers Say About Working With Me:

Colleague Testimonials

Prioritization & Influence
“Erin is laser-focused with prioritization. Her roadmap management is an art and leaders trust her to make decisions on behalf of the user, business, and product.”
— Brian Hong, Group Product Manager at 2U
Collaboration & Energy
“One of the best Product Managers I’ve ever worked with. Erin brings clarity, alignment, and positive energy that lifts up the entire team.”
— Valeria Berbel, Sr. QA Analyst at 2U
Strategic Thinking
“Strategic, empathetic, and team-centered—Erin ties every decision back to value and vision. A true product leader.”
— Jonathan Prenosil, Sr. Product Manager at Robots & Pencils (2U colleague)
Execution & Momentum
“Her ability to problem-solve and move projects forward is second to none.”
— Jannkarlo Gamarra, Program Director - Strategic Student Financing at 2U
Calm Under Pressure
“She’s an excellent product manager—calm, focused, and driven, even amid challenges. Her impact speaks for itself!”
— Poonam Kalinani, VP, Platform at 2U
Reliable Leadership
“Erin was a consistently professional, positive, and effective project lead. I always trusted her to lead the way.”
— Daryn Zongrone, Operations Manager at Nashville Film Festival

About

Hi, I'm Erin—a product consultant who helps startups ship smarter, faster, and with confidence.
My path to product management was unconventional: I started as a software engineer after attending Nashville Software School's bootcamp, worked on everything from government applications to healthcare systems, and eventually transitioned into product management.
That engineering background? It's my superpower. I can:• Debug why your feature is technically complex
• Speak developer language fluently
• Spot automation opportunities others miss
• Bridge the gap between "what we want" and "what's actually possible"Over the past 5+ years as a PM at 2U and naviHealth, I've:• Optimized enrollment flows for 50+ university partners
• Launched AI features, international partnerships, and military discount programs
• Automated processes that saved $80K+ annually
• Navigated Finance, Legal, Clinical, and Marketing stakeholder chaosMy approach: I ask good questions, cut through ambiguity, align messy stakeholders, and help teams ship things that matter.When I'm not consulting, you'll find me:
* Painting original artwork (which I sell as prints and POD products online - check out Erin Orstrom's Art if you're interested.)
* Tending my garden,
* Playing an engaging first-person RPG game (Currently playing Horizon: Forbidden West)
* Traveling - both locally and internationally (ask me about the weirdest thing I ate in Japan!)Currently taking on select consulting projects (~20 hrs/week) while exploring full-time PM opportunities.

Contact

Ready to work together?
Book a free 45-minute consultation where we'll:• Discuss your biggest product challenges
• Explore if we're a good fit
• Outline a potential engagement scopeNo pressure, no sales pitch—just a conversation about how I might help.

615.669.5603

Erin Orstrom on LinkedIn

Based in Nashville, TN (Central Time)

Blog

Published Articles on LinkedIn