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Krishna Chaitanya- Product Lead
I’ve been working in product management for seven years. Becoming a Product Manager and later Product Lead at an AI software testing platform, wasn’t planned. I found myself doing the work before I even knew the job description. That “accidental” start set me on a path of learning, formal training, and growth that shaped my career.
Before 2018, I was working in a role that mixed business and product responsibilities. At Zolostays, my future manager spent two hours in an interview explaining how I could grow: “You’re a product manager. You can be a product guy with business acumen or a business guy with product acumen.” That conversation, followed by a quick Google search, made the path clear.
I had already taken a certification course in product management at ISB, but I still wanted something deeper and more structured.
Experience taught me a lot, but I needed a program that gave me formal grounding and a recognized degree. That search led me to the Executive MBA in Product Leadership at the Institute of Product Leadership (IPL). At the time, it was one of the only government-recognized MBAs focused on product leadership.
I joined because the curriculum matched what I was looking for and because the degree carried weight. I wanted to make sure the time and money I invested gave me measurable value in return.
The Institute of Product Leadership stood out for two reasons: the mentors and the cohort.
The mentors were senior industry leaders, many with over 20 years of experience. They gave us an hour of their time almost every week without extra cost. They guided me, pointed out where I could improve, and helped me see where my strengths fit best.
The industries and roles of my peers were diverse. That mix created a strong environment for learning theory and practice. We built genuine connections that went beyond the program. Later, when I was between jobs, many were the first to refer me or connect me to opportunities.
The program drilled in the importance of fundamentals and common sense. As a product manager, you deal with multiple stakeholders every day. Being street smart matters as much as being book smart.
I developed the ability to ask simple but powerful questions:
The biggest one: Is this a problem worth solving?
Today, I’m Product Lead at Tescrid. The IPL program validated my experience and provided me with frameworks for more strategic and structured thinking about product work. Each project is tackled with critical analysis, I concentrate on the real problems, and I can stop wasting my time and effort on things that don’t add value.
My network from the IPL program is still a big support amidst an ever changing market.
Here are the lessons I’d pass on:
My career wasn’t the result of a single decision. It was the result of momentary exposure, intentional learning, and incremental growth. And while I changed from an “accidental” product manager to Product Lead, I learned that it’s the fundamentals, trusted mentors and great community that matter more than shortcuts.
If you want to grow in product, stick to the fundamentals, ask important questions and surround yourself with people that help propel you forward.
Krishna is Product Lead, with seven years of experience in product management. He is an alumnus of the Executive MBA in Product Leadership at the Institute of Product Leadership. His main priorities are on solving real problems, delivering value, and building products with purpose.
