Silvia Román - Influence Without Authority

In this episode, I’m joined by Silvia Román, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Booking.com and leadership mentor, for a deep and practical conversation on product marketing, leadership, and influence without authority.

Silvia shares her journey from Latin America to Amsterdam, from marketing generalist to product marketing leader, and how working inside a global company shaped her approach to leadership, growth, and inclusion.

We explore what product marketing really looks like inside a large organization like Booking.com, especially on the B2B and B2B2B side, and why the true value of product marketing sits at the intersection of product, market, and commercial teams.

A big part of the conversation focuses on leadership. Silvia breaks down what it means to influence without authority, how trust and self-awareness outperform hierarchy, and why leadership is fundamentally about relationships, not titles.

This episode is packed with practical frameworks, real-world examples, and actionable advice on:

• Product marketing at scale in global organizations
• Influence without authority and stakeholder management
• Leading diverse and international teams
• Building a realistic personal development plan
• Managing underperformance with empathy and clarity
• The difference between leadership and mentorship

Silvia also shares insights from her leadership programs and mentoring work, designed to help new and aspiring managers build confidence and lead with intention.

This episode is for product marketers, leaders, and anyone navigating growth, leadership, and complexity inside modern organizations.