Rick Gebhardt

Product Leader

I'm a senior product leader with over a decade of experience across a wide range of software development teams & industries. From professional services to sports tech, family law to consumer apps, regulated industries to real estate, and much more, I’ve had the opportunity to cultivate knowledge across diverse domains. That breadth of experience enables me to bring unique, well-rounded perspectives to the product teams I lead.

Skilled in product vision & strategy, I translate ideas into clear product requirements, roadmaps, proposals, and documentation. I'm equally comfortable mapping out a multi-year product vision or diving deep to write individual feature tickets—whatever the product and team need to succeed.

I’m a highly collaborative, user-centric, and data-driven leader who thrives in mission-driven environments. I believe in the intersection of data and intuition: we learn by listening to users and uncovering the “why,” and we also learn by studying what data reveals—bottlenecks, behaviors, patterns that users may not articulate. Knowing when to rely on each is a skill I’ve honed throughout my career.

My Core Values

Advocate for the user

I am driven by the user and their needs, pain points, and aspirations. Understanding their journey, from their perspective, can shape a product in ways that delight both the business and the user.

Believe in your mission

I find that true drive comes from a connection and belief in what your organization, and your product, are attempting to accomplish. When I'm fully invested in the 'why' behind a product, it provides the fuel needed to strive for excellence in everything I do.

Anticipate, don't wait to react

Using a combination of intuition and data-driven insights, I'm always looking ahead, identifying potential challenges, emerging trends, and evolving user needs before they become problems. By proactively planning and adapting, I ensure products stay ahead of the curve instead of reacting to trends.

Partner with engineering and design

I firmly believe that product success hinges on a fully realized partnership with engineering and design. Their expertise, perspective, and insights add a necessary balance needed to foster greater innovation, sustainability, and nuance for the products being created.

Own your wins and your losses

I celebrate successes, but more importantly, I embrace failures as invaluable learning opportunities. By connecting to both, it spurs on continuous improvement, allowing me to refine my approach and deliver better outcomes with every iteration.

Understand how AI changes paradigms

AI is a part of our future, and it's essential to understand how it can and will shift what we do. AI is not magic and isn’t a shortcut, but is a transformative tool that can redefine how products are built, what the user experiences, and how value can be delivered.

Recommendations

  • Kate Permenter

    ENGINEERING LEADER

    I had the pleasure of working closely with Rick during several key product initiatives at OurFamilyWizard. As a Senior Product Manager, Rick’s user-first mindset, integrity, and data-driven decision-making consistently set him apart. He played a crucial role in migrating a legacy calendar system into a modern multi-platform solution, improving the user experience for thousands of families. His collaborative approach was essential in keeping our team aligned and productive during multiple reorganizations.

    Rick’s ability to tackle challenges with composure and his genuine care for the team made him a standout partner, especially in high-pressure moments. He consistently provided clarity and support, ensuring we stayed focused on our goals. His commitment to our values of thriving together, putting families first, and living with integrity made him an invaluable colleague. Without hesitation, I would recommend Rick for any product leadership role. He’s a true professional with the ability to drive results and elevate those around him.

  • Noorah Bawazir

    SENIOR PRODUCT DESIGNER

    Working with Rick has been one of the highlights of my career as a product designer. He’s the kind of product manager who treats design as an equal partner—collaboration with him never felt like a top-down directive, but rather a shared effort to make the best possible product. Rick brings deep institutional knowledge and historical context that help anchor decisions, yet he’s never stuck in the past—he’s always ready to improve and adapt.

    Beyond his product chops, Rick brings an incredible sense of humor and positivity to the team. In moments of chaos or shifting priorities, he was the one helping us stay grounded and focused (while still managing to make us laugh). He truly understands what makes a team function well, and he’s one of the best PM collaborators I’ve ever worked with.

  • Erin Black

    ENGINEER

    I very much enjoyed my time working with Rick at OurFamilyWizard for the past few years. The two of us collaborated to create truly amazing customer experiences. He is organized, thoughtful, and is a great person to collaborate with.

    He always has great ideas and is open to hearing suggestions from the team members to ensure that the final product meets customer needs and is the right decision for the organization. He brings an exuberant energy to any meeting and always makes things fun while also getting the job done. I would absolutely work with him again and recommend him to any organization.

  • Chhorvorn Loch

    SENIOR ENGINEER

    I’ve had a great opportunity of working with Rick as my product manager for several years. Working with Rick had been an unforgetable and joyful experience in my career. His deep knowledge and understanding of the product drive such a great impact in features delivery. He is a true champion of collaboration, fostering an environment where teams work effectively together to overcome challenges. Whatever questions arose, Rick was an invaluable resource, offering insightful answers.

  • Katrina Volker

    VP OF PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

    I had the pleasure of working alongside Rick at OurFamilyWizard, and I can honestly say he brought not only talent but also heart to the workplace. He was consistently kind, thoughtful, and friendly—someone who genuinely cared about both the people around him and the quality of his work.

  • Julie Dolan Johnson

    ENGINEERING MANAGER

    Rick is an absolute gem of a product manager. I was in a QA role supporting his team and he was a fantastic partner who consistently went above and beyond to collaborate with us on requirements and listen to concerns. His excellent communication and organizational skills helped his team deliver on complex projects but one of the things I admired most about Rick was his ability to lead his team with a warmth that truly included everyone. He brought so much positive and approachable enthusiasm to the table each day and he really has a unique gift for connecting with people and building trust. He is an amazing product leader and I cannot recommend him enough!

  • Pavel Bondarenko

    ENGINEER

    I had the pleasure of working alongside Rick as a Senior Product Manager on our team. What stands out most about Rick is his genuine approach to both people and problems. Rick always has a positive attitude that makes working with him very easy.


    He's the kind of person who responds to questions quickly, no matter how busy things get. His upbeat nature and sincerity created an environment where everyone felt comfortable sharing ideas. Rick consistently delivered results.


    If you're looking for a product manager who combines technical skills and a genuine personality, Rick is your person. I would love to work with him again.

  • Christina John Bluver

    MANAGER

    I have worked with Rick on the GTIL Risk team since I began my career in 2013. From the start Rick served as a mentor to me and helped me find my confidence as a young professional in the accounting world. He is approachable, listens, and takes the time to provide both positive and constructive feedback, which is so important for a professional just starting out. As I progressed through my career Rick became a partner that I have enjoyed bouncing ideas off of and problem solving with. He is one of the most competent and capable professionals I know and his commitment to producing quality work is inspiring. Rick is an asset to any organization he is involved with and someone that I am grateful to work with.

  • Seija Stratton

    BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

    I have known Rick for many years and have had the pleasure of serving with him on the TCUL Board for the past 4 years. Rick is a dedicated President of the Board and is passionate about growing the community of Ultimate frisbee players in the Twin Cities metro area. He is dependable with strong organizational skills to juggle multiple tasks that keep the leagues operating smoothly. He seeks diverse perspectives from the Board and encourages others to provide input to a discussion or decision, which I greatly appreciate. I would highly recommend Rick as a valuable asset and strong contributor to any team or organization.