⚡ #2: December 24 Issue

In This Tech Bear:

• Meet Angèle, Senior Product Manager at Cleo AI POV

• The best rooftop sauna in London for cold nights

• A new tinder-like-but-not-for-dating-app where you can connect with other likeminded women

• My go-to 1st snow of the year cookie recipe

• Haha, Oh God, I had a comedy show blast

Read time: 5-7 minutes.

This Month’s Guest

I met Angèle in February this year (although it seems much longer!). She worked with a friend of mine at Peanut and I somehow thought she could be a nice person to connect in the PM London world. We decided to go out for a drink in Shoreditch after work, and from that moment, it was just so easy to stay in touch.

She is not only a super talented PM (so we got loads to talk about and gossip over the tech space), but also full of life! When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her running, hiking, or climbing whatever mountain she can find—it’s her version of “relaxing.” In fact, last Friday she said she was going camping. In November.

Angèle Lenglemetz has been in product for about six years. Right now, she’s a Senior Product Manager at Cleo AI, where they are on a mission to make managing money less stressful and a lot more fun—think overdraft dodging, credit building, and budgeting with a bit of sass.

Before Cleo, she was helping women connect on Peanut and figuring out how to make global payments at Wise less painful (and maybe even enjoyable). She gets a kick out of taking really complicated things, like AI or international money transfers, and turning them into something that feels effortless.

Find Angèle on Linkedin

Angèle on working life 🤓

What’s the most enjoyable part of your job? And the least enjoyable?

The most enjoyable part of my job is the creative problem-solving—taking a messy, complex issue and working with a brilliant team to craft a solution that makes life easier for users. It’s that moment when an idea clicks, and you can see how it’ll genuinely help someone. Plus, working on a product with personality, like Cleo, adds an extra layer of fun and creativity.

The least enjoyable part? Probably chasing down people for answers or updates. It’s a necessary evil, but I’d happily trade the endless Slack messages and follow-ups for more time spent building or brainstorming. Also, let’s be honest, nothing kills the vibe quite like a really dry compliance meeting.

What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received about your career?

The worst advice I ever got was, “If you don’t know what you want to do, just go into consulting.” That was my first job out of uni, and honestly, it was not the vibe for me. Sure, consulting gives you a lot of exposure, but for me, it felt more like being shuffled around than actually finding my direction. I spent most of my time questioning if this was really how I wanted to spend my days. Spoiler: it wasn’t.

And then there’s all the career ladder advice. “Climb the ladder,” they said, as if life was some linear, perfectly planned ascent. But honestly, I’ve always felt more like a monkey—swinging from one area to another, exploring, experimenting, and figuring things out on my own terms. For me, growth isn’t about sticking to a straight path; it’s about discovering what excites me, even if it’s not a rung higher.

Angèle on getting the most out of London 💂‍♀️

What’s the most underrated thing about living in London?

The most underrated thing about living in Hackney is how perfect it is for running and outdoor adventures. The big parks like Victoria Park and Hackney Marshes are incredible for long runs or a casual game of frisbee with friends. You can go from pounding the pavements to being surrounded by greenery in minutes—it’s like a little escape without leaving the city.

And the contrast is unbeatable. One moment you’re in the calm, serene Hackney canals, and the next, you can hop over to Soho for all the chaos and buzz of central London. It’s wild to have that balance of energy and tranquility in your day-to-day life.

What’s your favourite hidden gem in London?

My favorite hidden gem in London has to be Netil Sauna. It’s this rooftop sauna tucked away in Hackney, and it’s pure magic. You’re sweating it out with incredible skyline views, and somehow it feels like the most peaceful spot in the city—even with London buzzing below. It’s the perfect place to unwind, especially after a long run or a chaotic day. Plus, the vibe is super chill and unpretentious, which makes it feel like a true local secret.

Angèle on self & wellbeing 🧘‍♂️

Tell us about a moment you were proud of yourself.

A moment I’m really proud of was when I started writing on Medium. As a non-native English speaker, I was so worried that my writing wouldn’t be good enough or that no one would care to read it. But I had this secret dream of being published by UX Collective, and I kept at it. When my 4th article was accepted and published by them, it felt like such a huge milestone. It wasn’t just about the publication—it was proof that I could take a chance on something that scared me and make it happen.

Find her on Medium.

What’s one bad habit you’re proud you kicked—and one you just can’t quit?

One bad habit I’m proud to have kicked is jumping out of bed like a maniac every morning, even on weekends, and surviving on just five hours of sleep. Slowing down has been a big goal for me, and I’ve started prioritizing rest, which feels like such a win.

But one habit I just can’t seem to quit? A cheeky cigarette when I’m out having a drink. It’s not a regular thing, but sometimes the vibe just calls for it!

Angèle’s recommendations:

Tell us your favourite…

…podcast?
My favorite podcasts are Les Baladeurs and Lenny’s Podcast. Les Baladeurs is all about adventures, with incredible stories that transport you to wild, remote places—it’s perfect for fueling my love of exploring. And Lenny’s Podcast is my go-to for all things product. It’s packed with insights and inspiring conversations that always leave me with something new to think about.

…Youtube channel?
My favorite YouTube channel is Epicurious, especially their 4 Levels of Chefs series. It’s the perfect mix of fun and food, and the best part is, I don’t need to engage my brain to enjoy it. Just sit back, relax, and watch people tackle the same dish at wildly different skill levels—it’s entertaining and oddly satisfying.

…winter drink?
It has to be mulled wine.

Hot December Events & Meetups

December is a slow month for events and networking (and honestly, thank god, because November was insane). People are normally joining their company’s Christmas social and preparing to switch off and recharge.

The Product Group London December 2024

• When: 5th/Dec

• Organised by: The Product Group London

• Price: Free (🆓)

• About: Topic of the Night: Product Planning. Annual plans, quarterly plans, monthly plans or no plans, on the night we will explore how product teams create and manage their plans. Topics we’ll cover include planning topics, methods and approaches; business and stakeholder alignment; timing and frequency; selling and gaining buy-in for plans; team and stakeholder involvement and roles; sharing and communicating plans; challenges; implementation and managing changes, and planning best practices.

• Speakers: Suki Sandhu, CPO at Gaming Realms. Suki is a seasoned product executive with over 20 years experience working on B2C and B2B digital solutions. With a focus on gaming, technology and telecommunications, Suki has successfully scaled global digital products and led diverse teams at Gaming Realms, IGT, Gamesys, Inspired Gaming and AOL in the US, UK, Sweden, Netherlands, Gibraltar and Russia.

Online Panel: Product Management in the UK, US, Europe, and UAE - is there a difference?

• When: 9th/Dec

• Organised by: Women in Product UK

• Price: £10 (💸)

• About: ​In this online panel, we'll discuss talk about the differences (or lack of?) in product management practices, maturity, and skill levels in the UK, US, Europe, and UAE. This is a HOT TOPIC as Product Management is a relatively new field (globally), and the level of maturity greatly varies in various markets.

• Speakers: Ed Biden, CPO and Founder @Hustle Badger, ​Nicholas Goubert, CPTO @Ocean Technologies, Navya Rehani Gupta, CPO @Talent.com, Tony Pagliocco, SVP Product @ALDAR.

Great event directories:

• Top UK Product Events.

• 150 Events for Investors.

Connect with other amazing women:

PD Ladies is partnering with Betty, a new girls-only app that helps you connect with amazing women who vibe with you! 🥳

As Miranda, founder of PD Ladies, said: forget the typical profile layout (we are all tired of the same boring UI) – Betty lets you create a Personality Board that showcases your interests and style in a fun, visual way - hope you like mine 😃 💅 Whether you're looking for a gym buddy, career advice, or just someone to grab a coffee with, this app makes it super easy to meet girls like you. ☕✨

Well, I gave it a try and this is the profile it came up for me (and I must say I quite liked it and it reminded me of my 00s journaling era!). Give it a go and maybe we can match for a coffee over there!

Hot Resources

🤖 Over 200 time-saving tools. All curated by Alastair Preacher, CPO and writer at Product Tapas Newsletter.

💻 Skill up this holiday. Check this Online Directory Blueprint video and learn how to create in a couple of days a directory website.

🧑‍🏫 Let me teach you. Easy five prompt engineering tactics that will boost your favourite AI as a tool:

London Lifestyle & Fun

⛄ When quaff-tide approaches (what?) Find a linguistic celebration of the festive season in this Winter Dictionary.

🍪 It looks like it snowed the other day. And when it’s the first day of snow, I have my go-to sweet and salty chocolate cookies recipe.

🪥 Damn, I forgot to pack my toothbrush. So that it doesn’t happen again, check out this great travel packing checklist before you pack for Christmas.

🐦 Haha, Oh God. This Colorado comedian based in London is bloody awesome and you should go to her stand-up gig this month.

I couldn’t stop laughing at Lianna Holston’s latest solo comedy show. Born in Colorado and now based in London, she is a truly a gem. Check her upcoming gigs for a fun night out, and you'll never see pigeons the same way again.

See you on the next one!

Beatriz 👋

P.S. If you got this far, THANK YOU. I created a personal goal to send at least 1 email per month, for the next 6 months, so I can understand if this topic is interesting to other people besides myself. So if you have a few minutes available now, I’d love to know your opinion about today’s edition if you reply to this survey form. Thank you so much! 😎