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Gowtham Sabanayagam- Product Manager at JPMorganChase
As a software developer I often asked myself why we built a software product, for whom we built it for, and what value that product would deliver. Over time, my curiosity about the business part of technology grew and the connection solidified. After more than 13 years as a developer, I transitioned to Product Manager at JP Morgan Chase.
This case investigation outlines my evolution from developer to product strategy and the assorted learnings that helped me make that change .
I began my career as a developer, focused on building and implementing solutions. Despite my enjoyment of the role, I continued to focus on the wider picture. I wanted to define what should be built and why, rather than just how to build it.
This pull took me to product management. I wanted to follow a product through from an idea in someone’s head to the launch of that product and know that I had contributed to the journey. I wanted a structured learning environment to build that capability and so I joined the Institute of Product Leadership (IPL).
IPL’s curriculum stood out for its balance of business rigor and hands-on work. It didn’t just teach frameworks. It forced us to think like the entrepreneur who is identifying problems, examining markets, and describing user personas.
Assignments were practical. We had to speak to real users, validate assumptions, and gather feedback. This made the concepts stick.
The most impactful experience was the Product Lab. It felt like starting a company from scratch. We went through the whole process from ideation to validation to pitching. It gave me confidence and real-world practice.
One of the important lessons was navigating the pivot. My first idea didn’t survive validation. I had to let that go, and that experience was not easy. But it helped to clarify the importance of changing based on what the data was indicating at the time. I became more resilient as a result of that experience, and I learned how crucial feedback is to product development.
Now, I work as a Product Manager at JP Morgan Chase. I am doing the types of things we practiced all the time. The sheer curiosity I used as a developer has now turned into my desire to use my experience learning and building strategy for product and impact in the fintech space.
Looking back, four lessons stand out:
I offer the same advice to others changing careers: clarify your vision, take the time to invest in yourself, and get serious about developing the right skills. A mentor of mine once said, “There is always a way to do what you want to do.”
Making a career transition from developer to Product Manager has consisted of personal growth, perseverance, and interest in the product management career path. If you have a vision in the direction you want to go and you are willing to learn along the way, then the journey to product leadership is achievable.
Gowtham is a Product Manager at JP Morgan Chase with over 13 years of technology experience. He started as a software developer and eventually transitioned to product management through Executive MBA in Product Leadership, a structured approach to learning and learning by doing. His story is a reflection of interest, commitment to learning and personal growth.
