Chris Painter – The Visionary (Professional & Impact-Focused)

About Me: The Narrative

I am a strategic product executive with a "hardware-first" DNA. My career began at IBM in Tokyo, where I spent years as a Product Design Engineer working on the early Thinkpads and then transition to Sony designing laptops in the VAIO division. This foundation in precision engineering and Japanese design philosophy shaped my approach to everything I’ve built since: a belief that the physical and digital should feel like a single, seamless experience.

Throughout my career, I have bridged the gap between visionary concepts and global-scale manufacturing. I’ve spent over two decades navigating the complexities of hardware lifecycles—from the initial CAD drawing to the factory floor. I thrive in the "skunkworks" environments where hardware and software are co-developed, having led the creation of category-defining devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick and T-Mobile’s SyncUp IoT portfolio.

Hardware & Global Manufacturing Expertise

I offer a unique depth in hardware productization that goes beyond typical product management:

• Design-Led Engineering: My roots in mechanical design and product planning at Sony allow me to speak the language of engineers and industrial designers fluently.

• Asian ODM Ecosystem: I have extensive experience collaborating with the world’s leading ODMs and CMs across Asia. I understand the nuances of supply chain management, DFM (Design for Manufacturing), and the critical path to moving from a prototype to millions of units.

• Ecosystem Orchestration: Whether it’s integrating satellite connectivity with Starlink for agricultural machinery or building a first-of-its-kind voice remote for Amazon, I specialize in hardware that serves as a gateway to a larger software and services ecosystem.

Side Projects & Passions

When I’m not architecting product roadmaps for global industry leaders, I’m usually building something physical or exploring the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

• Behind The Product Consulting | Enough Thinking: My specialized consulting practice where I help companies move past the conceptual phase and into execution. I focus on architecting and deploying custom AI voice agents that transform how brands interact with their customers, leveraging my deep background in human-machine interaction to create more natural, effective digital experiences.

• The Trail Never Ends (YouTube): A visual chronicle of my passion for overlanding and off-grid exploration. From multi-week expeditions through the Yucatan Peninsula to the remote backcountry of the Pacific Northwest, this channel documents the gear, the vehicles, and the stories that define life on the trail. Watch on YouTube

• Almost Overlanders (Podcast): Producer and co-host of a podcast that experiments with the edges of storytelling. We leverage AI agents and voice technologies to document the comedic and technical sides of off-roading, using the medium as a sandbox for testing new AI workflows.

• Suteki Vida Properties: Owner and manager of luxury short-term rental properties. I apply human-centered design principles to the hospitality space, focusing on creating high-end, seamless guest experiences that feel intuitive from check-in to check-out.

• Education & Mentorship: Former instructor at Product School, dedicated to helping the next generation of product leaders navigate the complexities of both hardware and software lifecycles.