Why I Chose an EMBA for My Next Career Step
- blogs, product management
- 4 min read
Authors: Aditya Nukala – Lead Product Manager at NIKE
I’m Aditya, and I have been working in the IT domain for the past 20 years. For the last four years, I have worked as a Product Manager at Nike, and I also gained considerable product management experience before taking on this role.
I currently work as a Lead Product Manager, handling and owning specific products within the organization. After spending several years in product management, I now want to take the next step in my career and move towards a larger leadership role.
Building on My Product Management Experience
My current role gives me responsibility for certain products within the organization. Product ownership and product management have been important parts of my professional journey, but I do not want my growth to stop at my present position.
Over the next year, I want to move further up the career ladder. My aspiration is to take on a leadership role that allows me to grow beyond my existing responsibilities.
This next step is also an opportunity to continue learning. Even after 20 years in the IT industry, I believe that moving into leadership will introduce a new set of experiences. That learning is one of the reasons I am looking forward to the transition.
Why an EMBA Is My Next Career Step
I chose an Executive MBA at the Institute of Product Leadership because it connects with where I am today and where I want to go next.
I already have significant experience in IT and product management. My reason for pursuing the program is not to begin my product journey from the start. It is to build on that experience as I prepare to move into leadership.
My immediate goal is clear: I want to grow from owning and managing specific products to taking the next step on the product leadership ladder.
The Value of Mentorship
Mentorship was one of the factors that attracted me to the program.
As I prepare for a leadership role, learning through the experiences of others is important to me. Mentorship adds a personal dimension to the program and complements the knowledge I have developed through my own career.
The opportunity to interact with mentors can support my learning as I consider what is required at the next level of my product management career.
Choosing an Industry Driven Program
The other major reason behind my decision was the industry-driven nature of the program.
In many courses, there can be a significant disconnect between what is included in the syllabus and what the industry actually requires. This gap can make it difficult to connect formal learning with the situations professionals encounter in their work.
The program brings in industry experts to share their experiences and speak about specific subject areas. This creates an opportunity to learn from people who understand current industry requirements through their professional work.
For me, bringing the curriculum and industry experience together is one of the program’s most important features. I wanted a learning experience that remained connected to the professional environment in which products are managed and leadership decisions are made.
Learning From Industry Experts
Industry experts contribute more than subject knowledge. They can share experiences from situations they have encountered during their careers.
This experience based learning is relevant to me because I am already a working product professional. I want to understand the subject matter while also hearing how experienced leaders view it in an industry context.
An industry-driven Executive MBA creates a link between structured learning and professional experience. That connection was a major consideration when I chose the program.
My Life Beyond Product Management
One lesser known fact about me is that I am a wildlife photographer.
Only my close circle of family and friends usually knows about this interest. I make it a point to visit a few national parks and spend time photographing nature, particularly birds and animals.
Wildlife and nature photography provide me with a break from my professional responsibilities. Visiting national parks is my preferred way to reduce stress and spend time away from work.
Preparing for Product Leadership
My career has already taken me through two decades in IT and several years in product management. I currently own and handle products as a lead product manager, but I am now ready to aim for the next level.
Over the coming year, I want to grow into a leadership role and continue learning as I take that step. Mentorship, industry expertise, and a program connected to real industry requirements were the factors that influenced my decision to pursue an EMBA.
For me, this is the next stage of a career built on product management experience and a clear aspiration to grow as a product leader.
