How I Transitioned to Product?
- blogs, product management
- 4 min read
Authors: Anjali Tiwari – Product Manager at Mastercard
I’m Anjali Tiwari, and I currently work as a product manager at Mastercard. My professional journey over the past 15 years has taken me through nutrition counselling, operations, fintech, and product management.
My transition into product was not a direct or conventional one. I began my career as a nutrition counselor before moving into operations. From operations, I entered the fintech industry and eventually became a product manager.
Today, I want to continue growing in product management and prepare myself for a higher leadership position.
Beginning My Career Outside Technology
My career started in nutrition counselling, which is very different from the field in which I work today.
After working as a nutrition counselor, I moved into operations. My next transition took me into fintech, and from there, I entered product management.
This journey across different functions and industries is one of the most interesting parts of my professional story. Over 15 years, I have moved from a nutrition background into a product role within financial technology.
Entering Product Management From a Nontechnical Background
One lesser-known fact about me is that I entered product management without a technical background.
I had often heard that product managers typically come from technical fields. My own journey has been different. I came from nutrition, moved through operations and fintech, and then became a product manager.
My background did not follow what might be considered a typical path into product management. However, it became part of my transition rather than preventing me from entering the field.
For me, this career journey represents the move from a nontechnical profession into product management through multiple professional stages.
Understanding What Product Management Really Means
Product management is not limited to building a product. It is also about solving consumer problems that exist in the market.
A product begins with a problem that consumers are facing. Product management involves understanding that problem and working towards a solution.
It also requires collaboration with multiple teams. A product is not developed through the work of one person or function alone. Product managers work with different teams while remaining focused on the consumer problem the product is intended to solve.
This broader understanding of product management is one of the reasons I want to continue developing within the field.
My Next Product Leadership Goal
One year from now, I want to see myself in a higher growth position within product management.
My aspiration is to move towards a leadership role such as Director or Vice President. I want to progress from my current position and take the next step in my product management career.
This goal is connected to the way I view the profession. Product management involves solving market problems, understanding consumers, and working across multiple teams. I want to continue learning about these responsibilities as I prepare for a larger role.
Why I Chose the Program
I chose the Executive MBA at the Institute of Product Leadership for two main reasons: in-depth product management knowledge and peer networking.
The first reason was my desire to understand what product management actually involves. Although I already work as a product manager, I want to explore the field in greater depth.
My career has taken me into product management through nutrition, operations, and fintech. The program gives me an opportunity to study product management with a dedicated focus while continuing to build on my professional experience.
Learning Through Peer Networking
Peer networking was the second important factor in my decision.
A professional learning environment is not limited to the formal curriculum. The people in the program also bring their own career journeys and experiences.
Networking with peers gives me an opportunity to connect with other professionals while developing my understanding of product management. It adds another form of learning alongside the in-depth product knowledge I am seeking.
For someone preparing to move towards a higher product leadership role, the combination of focused learning and peer interaction was important.
Continuing My Growth in Product
My journey into product management began far outside the technology field. I started as a nutrition counsellor, moved into operations, entered fintech, and eventually became a product manager.
That path has shaped where I am today, but I still see room to grow.
I want to deepen my understanding of product management and move towards a director or vice president position. My focus remains on what I believe product management is fundamentally about: identifying consumer problems, collaborating with multiple teams, and working towards products that solve genuine needs in the market.
My transition into product has already taken me across several professional fields. The next part of my journey is about growing within product management and preparing for product leadership.
