Pablo Maceiras is a Senior Technical Program Manager (TPM) at Audible. He describes his role as being similar to that of an orchestra conductor, coordinating across multiple teams to ensure the successful launch of customer-facing experiences, so that people can listen seamlessly to Audible in cars, via Amazon devices, watches and more.

What is life like at the hub you are you aligned to?

I’m at our Cambridge hub in Massachusetts. The city exudes a vibrant blend of innovation and academia, nature and urban life, which adds a unique twist to how we collaborate and build together. Through our high school internship program, I get to collaborate with students, and they blow my mind! I am always humbled by how much we Audible employees end up learning new perspectives from these interactions—the next generation is inspiring us!

How does your job contribute to Audible’s mission to surprise and delight listeners around the world? What is your biggest source of inspiration?

My main responsibility is to drive the launch of Audible experiences on new platforms and devices, meeting our listeners where they are. This includes Amazon devices (Fire Tablets, Fire TVs and Kindle eReader devices) as well as collaborations with external brands like Tesla, Google, Apple and Meta. Our challenge is to create an Audible experience that feels natural on each device while maintaining consistency across them all. This becomes even more interesting when we factor in different regions, languages and cultural preferences

The real magic happens when a customer is listening to an audiobook on a smartwatch while working out in the morning, then continuing it in the car during a commute, and wrapping up the same story reading on a Kindle at night—each time picking up exactly where they left off. That's the kind of seamless experience I'm passionate about creating. It's about making great stories accessible to people throughout their day, no matter what device they're using or where they are.

What was your first Audible listen? What inspired you to check it out?  

Star Wars Darth Plagueis, more than 10 years ago! As a huge Star Wars fan, I was drawn to how this story sheds light into the origin story of how Senator Palpatine became a Sith Lord. It was that story that drew me in, the craving to dig deeper into a universe I love, with the bonus of its great production value. The narration, distinct voices for each alien race, sound effects and background ambiance are all executed at a jaw-dropping level.

Can you share a bit about your career journey at Audible?

I started my career as a software engineer working for medium-sized multinational companies, primarily in the fintech industry. I made an exciting pivot to the startup world, focusing on what is usually referred to as “going from zero to one,” which means creating a product or service from the ground up, and doing everything in your power to launch and scale it successfully.

Then I got to bring that “zero-to-one” expertise to Audible. This role brought entirely new challenges, including scaling products that would reach millions of users. I'm incredibly grateful to my manager, who not only believed in my capabilities, but also mentored me through the unique challenges that come with operating at the scale of Audible and Amazon.

My journey at Audible has taken me through a wide range of exciting launches. Currently we are working on the recently announced Ray-Ban Meta glasses integration, evolving our on-the-go voice interaction experiences. No two launches are ever the same, which keeps engagement and excitement running high! I am very proud of the work we do, as we have grown from managing individual launches with well-known brands to developing streamlined, region-specific processes, and now implementing a global go-to-market strategy that can be executed in just months. We are even automating several aspects of the launch process, making us more efficient than ever.

Can you share about a time you had a leader at Audible empower you to take on a challenge or explore a new area?

Collaborations require complex interactions across multiple domains (from business and product to legal and tech). As Audible’s project management strategy evolved, I was entrusted by Audible leadership to serve as the central point of contact for these strategic relationships. While I didn't personally resolve every issue (I'm no legal expert, for instance), I either delegated or took ownership, maintaining a comprehensive view of all ongoing projects with each brand. This holistic perspective allowed us to identify opportunities for increased efficiency and reusability across different initiatives.

Our Tesla integration serves as a perfect example of this approach in action where many teams were involved to make an intuitive Audible experience that is fully integrated to their infotainment system. Thanks to our unified approach, we were able to “move fast to make it real” and delight our respective customers!

Can you share about a project in which you moved quickly to make something real?

One of my most memorable projects at Audible was launching our integration with Google's Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS, aka cars with Google built in). We worked hand in hand with our colleagues at Amazon Music and maintained close collaboration with Google, providing crucial feedback that I like to think helped shape the platform's evolution.

Driver safety was our top priority, which influenced every aspect of the app's development. We meticulously followed Amazon's driving and safety standards alongside global and local regulations. This meant coordinating with team members across each continent. I remember late-night calls with Japan and Australia, fine-tuning local experiences with legal and marketing teams!

I am incredibly proud that we built and launched this app in less than six months (an extraordinary achievement, especially considering I was still new to Audible and learning to navigate operations). The success of this project really highlighted the power of collaborative work and the dedication of everyone involved. As an unexpected bonus, I made some good friends during this project.

What are the employee benefits you find invaluable for your personal well-being, or that help make both your work life and personal life more fulfilling?

Manager support! Having a supportive manager who helps you navigate Audible’s employee perks and resources, and ensures smooth project continuity during any type of leave, is absolutely crucial. This is where Audible's culture and people truly shine. A great manager doesn't just approve time off, they actively encourage you to make the most of available benefits while helping coordinate coverage for your responsibilities. It's not just about having great policies on paper; it's about having leaders who genuinely champion their team's well-being and development.

What’s one quality people interested in working on the Technical Product Management team need to be successful here?

Influence without authority! TPMs are responsible for the delivery of results by working with teams, stakeholders and colleagues who often hold senior positions or are external to the company. Success in this role comes down to your ability to build compelling arguments, persuade effectively, negotiate solutions and navigate conflicts while keeping projects on track. The real art is in knowing how to disagree and commit when necessary, all while maintaining positive relationships. These soft skills form the essential framework for any TPM to succeed.

What advice would you have for a candidate considering Audible?

Audible is truly unique in how it lives and breathes its People Principles. My advice is: take a close look at our company values and ask yourself if they resonate with you. While technical skills and expertise can be developed over time, what's crucial is how your personal values align with ours. When we interview candidates for our high-performance teams, we are especially interested in understanding your approach to conflict resolution and relationship building.

Lightning round

Favorite genre? Fantasy and science fiction.

Listening from a speaker or headphones? Headphones while working out; speaker while listening with my wife.

Favorite activity while listening? Weekend family car rides.

Morning person or night owl? Night owl.

Favorite snack? Trader Joe’s mini ice-cream cones!

What is your favorite listen?

Project Hail Mary, a true masterpiece! I admire authors who are able to execute complex plot twists by applying science in an engaging way. I highly recommend it, and warn you that Rocky will become your favorite character ever.