Jeff Sample

Product Builder · Experiential Learning · AI

Professional Summary

Product builder in education focused on experiential learning, community, and innovative learning environments. Founder of a platform connecting learners with real-world employer work through live, cohort-based programs and enterprise partnerships. Interested in operating at the forefront of AI within an AI-native company, building products and programs that help users and clients learn and apply the most current AI capabilities.

Core Skills

Product & Learning Design: Product strategy, experiential learning design, cohort-based learning, curriculum systems, customer discovery

AI & Emerging Technology: AI product development, applied AI workflows, prompt tooling, AI-native product thinking

Programs & Community: Live programming, community building, cohort operations, facilitator networks, stakeholder engagement

Growth & Operations: GTM strategy, enterprise partnerships, CRM (Salesforce), process design, operational scaling

Tools: SQL, HTML/CSS, Figma, Notion, Asana, JIRA, Google Workspace, ChatGPT, Claude, Claude Code, Lovable

Professional Experience

Nexus GamesFounder & CEO
2025–Present
  • Received an innovation grant and raised $500K to explore a gaming and education concept
  • Ran early-stage product experiments to test concepts and generate learnings; ultimately did not continue pursuing the concept
Ziplines EducationVP of Product
2024–2025
  • Joined as VP of Product following the acquisition of Clicked. Responsible for the integration of the Clicked learning product into the core product. – Integration put on hold due to shift in organizations priorities.
ClickedFounder & CEO
2020–2024
  • Built an experiential learning platform delivering live, cohort-based programs connecting learners with real-world employer work
  • Built and managed a network of 50+ coaches delivering live, cohort-based programs at scale
  • Operated high-volume live programming: ~13 sessions per week with a lean team of ~2.5 FTE supporting delivery
  • Built systems to rapidly create and launch programs, reducing curriculum and session setup time from ~5 hours to ~30 minutes and enabling new sessions to be launched in under 24 hours
  • Developed enterprise partnerships with organizations including Salesforce and IBM to deliver hands-on learning experiences
  • Delivered strong learner outcomes: NPS of ~84, 97% used Clicked in job applications, and job placement outcomes resulted in a 77% increase in learner wages
  • Went to market in April 2022 and scaled to ~$1.5M in revenue in ~2.5 years, reaching ~$1M ARR prior to acquisition
  • Acquired by Ziplines Education in 2024 to integrate Clicked's experiential learning platform into its core offering
FlashtalkingVP, Strategy
2019–2020
  • Led GTM strategy across ad serving, personalization, and data infrastructure to help prepare the company for acquisition
Deloitte Consulting LLPSpecialist Leader, Customer & Marketing
2017–2019
  • Built and scaled a product-led services business unit to ~$40M in revenue in ~18 months, growing the team from 4 to ~100 practitioners
  • Reached $11.5M in sales against a $2.5M target (80–90th percentile performance)
  • Led enterprise engagements across digital strategy, product, and marketing transformation for clients including Citi, Visa, Lenovo, and Sony
  • Designed and delivered large-scale training and learning programs across business units within the AdTech practice
Interpublic GroupVP, Advertising Operations
2014–2017
  • Worked cross-functionally with executive leadership to redesign Ad Operations service offerings and team structure
  • Oversaw West Coast Ad Operations across multiple business units and mentored a team of 20+ employees
  • Partnered across Product, Analytics, and Performance Media teams to drive new business opportunities and expand utilization
  • Achieved top performance rating (Level 6/6, top ~5% of organization) across review periods
Earlier Experience
2008–2014
  • Engineering and adtech/martech roles across agencies and startups: Sharethrough, Razorfish, Universal McCann, and Carat.

Education

UC Berkeley Haas · Executive MBA Program (Dropped Out)

CSU Sacramento · BS Finance, BS Marketing

Certifications

AI Product Management Certificate · Product Faculty