
Dave Ruzius
@daveruzius
I build product-led teams and AI-enabled digital products.
What I'm looking for
I'm helping Draslovka build a product team that applies AI and innovative technology to make gold and other metals mining more sustainable, efficient, and profitable. Through Producttape.io, I help startups and scaleups become product-led companies.
I've led product strategy, discovery, growth, and mobile products at SmartRecruiters, LMC, Mews Systems, Monster.com, and more. I also mentor product professionals through ADPList and bring a pragmatic, business-minded bias to action across B2B and B2C products.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Mentor Product Management
adplist.org
Mar 2025 - Present (1 year 7 months)
Doing what I do best and love doing; talking Product Management while helping anyone interested in Product Management to advance their career or solve a burning product issue.
Mentor Product Management
Adplist
Mar 2025 - Present (1 year 7 months)
Mentoring individuals in product management to advance their careers or solve product issues.
Doing my best to help build a happy and performing product team that applies AI and Innovative Technology in making gold (and other metals) mining a bit more sustainable and for sure more efficient and profitable. See https://www.draslovka.com/metoptima
Product Management Consultant
Producttape.io
Jul 2019 - Present (7 years 3 months)
With Producttape.io I help start-ups and scale-ups with becoming product-led companies by providing consulting in the areas of:
* building a product organization and teams
* product discovery & delivery
* team hiring & establishing rhythm
* targets (OKRs)
* product strategy & roadmap
Engagements:
* Product Manager at FIDOPOLI.com
* Product Consultant and coach at FitSit.io
* Product Marketing at
Product Lead
Salsita Software
Dec 2023 - Aug 2024 (8 months)
Helped by a great team, I have been driving the transformation from a successful software development agency into an even more successful product company with the sexiest AI powered 3D product configurator the world has ever seen. https://3dconfigurator.ai
That Product Guy (CPO) at Nelisa.com
Nelisa
Jan 2023 - May 2023 (4 months)
Together with a great team we tried to make Nelisa the greatest job matching and talent sourcing platform in CZ and beyond.
(Engagement ended prematurely due to company re-organization)
Responsible for:
* Redesign product dev processes and team
* Product Roadmap & Strategy
* Discovery & Delivery using Dual Track Agile
* OKR adoption
* Pushing for becoming a data driven org
* Whatever it took :)
Sr. Product Manager Smartr
SmartRecruiters
Jun 2021 - Sep 2022 (1 year 3 months)
Smartr was Smartrecruiters' initiative to help every job seeker land the job that they deserve.
Together with the team, I was responsible for overall product experience, job tracking, AI powered job recommendations and insights, user onboarding & activation.
https://smartr.me
(Engagement ended prematurely due to company re-organization)
Managing product for a Dog-Breeding Marketplace Start-up. Focus on product discovery using the JTBD and ODI framework. Developing a mobile app for dog breeders to manage their puppy litters. <3
Interim (Product) Marketing Manager
CodeNOW
Jan 2021 - Jun 2021 (5 months)
Managing all (product) marketing activities for the world class cloud-native development and DevOPS platform called CodeNOW.
Teaching an online class on Product Management
Managed a product team and created the product strategy to speed-up new customer implementation.
Focused on:
* self-onboarding
* self-implementation
* opening a new market of smaller properties using self service technology and smart product training on the fly.
In addition I have helped the CPO and Product Team to improve existing product and agile development processes and practices.
(Engagem
Co-Organizer ProductTank Prague
Mind the Product
Jan 2017 - Nov 2019 (2 years 10 months)
Co-Founded Producttank in the Czech Republic and co-organized meetups for over 1000 product enthusiasts. I was responsible for running the #innovation stream.
https://facebook.com/producttankprague
Product Manager Práce za rohem
LMC
Nov 2016 - Jun 2019 (2 years 7 months)
I have taken the mobile application Práce za rohem (over 1 million downloads and 4.5* rating) to the next level by developing B2B services and expanding abroad (Poland).
Product Manager Prace.cz
LMC
Apr 2013 - Nov 2016 (3 years 7 months)
Defined and executed the product strategy of Prace.cz, the largest online recruitment site in Czech Republic focused on skilled work.
In addition taken on the product owner role for Prace.cz in a SCRUM based development team.
Business Owner Prace.cz
LMC
Jan 2014 - Dec 2015 (1 year 11 months)
Defined and executed the business development strategy for Prace.cz. Responsible for the inception of new business models and creation of strategic alliances and partnerships.
Provided leadership to the Prace.cz team consisting of a UX designer, marketing manager, tech lead and developers. Definition and management of team OKRs.
Founder
TheWorks Coworking
Nov 2009 - Jan 2014 (4 years 2 months)
I have established a mixed Czech and International Coworking community and kicked-off the concept of coworking in CZ by organizing casual working events (Jelly). Brought together over 100 independent workers, entrepreneurs and micro-companies to work and collaborate.
Product Manager Mobile
LMC
Apr 2011 - Dec 2013 (2 years 8 months)
Defined and executed LMC's mobile strategy for the Jobs.cz and Prace.cz properties. Launched 'Brigady do Kapsy' after 2 months on 3 platforms and won 'Application of the Year' award in business segment.
Sr. Product Marketing Manager
ZOOM International
Jul 2009 - Feb 2011 (1 year 7 months)
Defined and managed Zoom International Online (and Offline) Product Marketing Strategy.
* Redesigned and launched the new Zoom website
* Creation of sales material and case studies
* Organized industry events
* Won Cisco Partner Marketing Award
ZOOM International is a leading provider of multimedia recording and quality management solutions for contact centres, financial trading floors and emergen
Founder
bringsome.com
Jul 2007 - Dec 2010 (3 years 5 months)
Bringsome.com was dedicated to bringing travelers and people with a mondial taste together. I have founded this P2P platform to enable the delivery of any goods by travelers to other. Unfortunately Bringsome after a few iterations was sunset.
Consulted on SOA Transformation Business Strategy for the Czech Ministry of Education (Nova Maturita program)
Senior European Product Manager Mobile
Monster.com
Jan 2007 - Feb 2008 (1 year 1 month)
(Engagement ended prematurely due to company re-organization)
Define and realize Monster EU's strategy on mobile services and products.
- Maintain Monster's mobile product roadmap
- Define mobile product functional specifications
- Definition of product metrics and reporting
- Execute vendor and partner management
- Collect & consolidate European requirements
- Manage product prototyping
- Work
Team and Tech Lead R&D
Monster.com
Jul 2006 - Dec 2006 (5 months)
Leading a 'pod' in Monster Labs Prague focussed on R&D to explore, research and prototype new technologies and business opportunities for Monster.com.
Kick start Monster's mobile strategy and road map.
Educate Monster on New Product Development and Innovation practices
Product Manager & Tech. Consultant
DHL IT Services
Nov 2004 - Jun 2006 (1 year 7 months)
Technical Consultant Middleware and SOA
- Product Manager SOP (Service Oriented Platform)
Collect and consolidate requirements
Oversee product development
Educate DPWN on best practices
- Work closely with McKinsey Company on DHL's Managed Integration Program (MIP) to evangelize SOA System and Enterprise Architecture best practices throughout DPWN
- Educate company on SOA best practice
Sr. Consultant
Whitehorses
May 2004 - Nov 2004 (6 months)
Sr. Consultant Oracle, Java, XML, System Integration
Sr. Consultant
Cumquat Information Technology
Jan 2001 - Apr 2004 (3 years 3 months)
Oracle, Java and XML. Oracle Portal. Did different projects using different Oracle and Oracle related technologies.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
PearceMayField
Certified, Prince2 Practitioner
2006 - 2006
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)
Course Work, Artificial Intelligence
2002 - 2005
Artificial Intelligence
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Course Work, Artificial Intelligence
2002 - 2005
Course work in Artificial Intelligence.
Emmaus College Rotterdam
Graduated, Highschool Atheneum
1983 - 1989
Atheneum with Dutch, English, German, Math, Economics I and II, Geography
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
Portfolio
draslovka.com/metoptimaSalary expectations
Job categories
Skills
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