Jacquelyn Zemlak

Why this persona fits the audience

She leads product at a London SaaS company and is also launching a weekend AI note-taking app with one freelance designer. The side project is a Next.js build with auth, billing, embeds, API/webhooks, logging, and manual test cases that she keeps in Notion and spreadsheets.

• Age: 34
• Location: London, UK
• Occupation: technical product manager
• Income: GBP 92k salary + side-project revenue
• Education: Bachelor's in computer science
• Company size: mid-sized (200-500 employees)
• Years in role: 6

“The real magic happens when you can take a complex problem, break it down into manageable pieces, and build something genuinely useful for people.”

Jacquelyn Zemlak, 34, is a seasoned Technical Product Manager based in London, UK, with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. Her career trajectory has been marked by a consistent drive to understand both the 'what' and the 'how' of product development. She currently leads product initiatives at a mid-sized SaaS company, where she's known for her ability to translate user needs into actionable technical requirements and her knack for navigating complex stakeholder landscapes. Her professional life is characterized by a deep dive into product analytics, meticulous roadmap planning, and close collaboration with engineering teams. She thrives on the challenge of shipping impactful features, often spending her days in a cycle of meetings, spec writing, and data analysis, all while managing the inherent pressures of a fast-paced tech environment. Beyond her full-time role, Jacquelyn is actively building a side project: an AI-powered note-taking application. This venture, developed in her spare time with a freelance designer, is a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for AI. The app is built using Next.js and incorporates essential features like authentication, billing, embeds, and API/webhooks, reflecting her technical depth. She meticulously tracks its progress and requirements using a combination of Notion and spreadsheets, a process that mirrors her organized approach to her day job. This dual focus highlights her commitment to continuous learning and her desire to create tangible value, even outside of her corporate responsibilities. Jacquelyn values her work-life boundaries, understanding that sustained productivity requires dedicated downtime. She is financially prudent, saving for future property ownership while enjoying her London life, which includes exploring culinary delights and occasional countryside escapes. Her ambition extends beyond her current roles; she aims to grow within the product management field and establish a presence in the AI product community, all while maintaining a sustainable pace.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Jacquelyn's typical weekday begins around 6:30 AM with a quick check of emails and industry news over coffee. By 8:00 AM, she's on her commute to the London office, often listening to a podcast. Her workday is packed: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM is usually dedicated to reviewing overnight metrics or urgent requests. The rest of the morning is filled with cross-functional meetings – product strategy, sprint planning, or user feedback sessions. Lunch is typically a quick affair, often eaten at her desk while reviewing competitor analysis. Afternoons involve deep work: writing product requirements, collaborating with engineering on technical specifications, or analyzing user behaviour data. She aims to leave the office by 6:00 PM, using her commute home to decompress or listen to more podcasts. Evenings are for dinner, a brief period of relaxation, and then often 1-2 hours dedicated to her side project, focusing on coding or planning with her designer.

Lifestyle

Jacquelyn lives alone in a well-organized flat in Clapham, London. Her routine is structured: early mornings often involve a quick workout or catching up on industry news before her commute. She values her evenings and weekends for personal projects and social connections, consciously setting boundaries to avoid burnout. She enjoys exploring London's diverse food scene with friends and occasionally takes weekend trips to the countryside for hiking. Financially, she's saving diligently for a future down payment on a property, balancing her current lifestyle with long-term goals.

Work life

As a Technical Product Manager at a growing SaaS company, Jacquelyn navigates the complexities of balancing user needs with engineering feasibility. Her days are a mix of stakeholder meetings, roadmap planning, writing detailed product specs, and diving deep into analytics dashboards. She works closely with a dedicated engineering team, often acting as the bridge between business objectives and technical execution. The pressure to consistently deliver impactful features while managing technical debt is a constant undercurrent. She relies heavily on Jira for task management and Confluence for documentation, but finds herself increasingly using Notion for personal project planning.

Relationships

Jacquelyn maintains a close-knit circle of friends, mostly met through university and previous jobs, with whom she shares her ambitions and challenges. She has a good rapport with her immediate team at work, particularly her engineering lead, who respects her technical acumen. Her freelance designer, a key collaborator on the side project, communicates primarily via Slack and occasional video calls, fostering a professional yet friendly working dynamic.

How they decide

Jacquelyn is a highly analytical and research-driven decision-maker. She gathers data, weighs pros and cons systematically, and often consults with trusted peers or mentors before committing to a course of action. For work-related decisions, she prioritizes evidence from user research and product analytics. For her side project, she leans on her technical understanding and the designer's input, but ultimately makes choices based on feasibility and potential user impact.

How they sound

Speaks clearly and precisely, with a measured pace. Her tone is generally professional but can become more enthusiastic when discussing product ideas or technical challenges. She avoids excessive jargon unless speaking with engineers, preferring clear, concise language. Uses British colloquialisms sparingly, but her accent is distinctly London. Tends to frame ideas with data or logical reasoning. Can be direct when discussing scope or priorities.