Institute of Product Leadership

Soaring High in Aviation Product Management

Juhi Sharma – Product Manager at Air India

Juhi Sharma realized early in her career that she was interested in both data and product. That moment of clarity shaped her professional path. She understood that moving from entry-level positions to a full Product Manager role required deliberate upskilling and structured learning.

With six and a half years spent entirely in product management, she built her career step by step. After working for two and a half years as an Associate Product Manager (APM), she started out as a Product Analyst.

Anyone hoping to advance in product management, particularly in specialist fields like aviation, can benefit from her story. It shows how structured education, practical application, and steady networking can speed up career growth.

In this article
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    Building the Base

    Juhi completed her bachelor’s degree in computer science and started as a Product Analyst at a Delhi startup. She worked closely with data-related problems and soon realized she was equally drawn to product work. This role sparked her interest in combining both areas.

    She later joined Phenom People as an APM, where she spent two and a half years strengthening her product skills. These years gave her a strong base, but she recognized that her career growth would require formal learning. To move into a full Product Manager role, she wanted a program that would connect her experience with the strategic side of product leadership.

    product management certification program

    Seeking Growth

    The turning point was her decision to pursue structured upskilling. She wanted to refine her skills, gain strategic knowledge, and position herself for more responsibility. After considering her options, she chose the Institute of Product Leadership (IPL).

    Her reasons were clear.

    1. Focused Learning Few programs focus only on product management. IPL was one of them.
    2. Ongoing Support The institution provided career support even after the course was completed.

    Industry Expertise Classes were taught by experienced professionals. As Juishi put it, “this is not like the traditional MBA.”

    The Transition Process

    Learning in Practice

    At IPL, learning was structured to fit real work contexts. Classes were scheduled in the evenings when industry professionals could join as faculty. Instead of traditional exams, students presented case studies and applied their learning directly.

    Gaining Experience

    Through the EMBA and certification programs, Juhi worked with experienced professionals on live startup ideas. Such experience with actual projects provided her with a practical experience and assisted her in gaining credibility at an early age.

    Career Support

    She was also enrolled in career-oriented activities which were offered together with the core courses. These sessions helped her understand what she should focus on in terms of roles, what she should position her experience, and how to put her next steps in line with the long-term objectives.

    Moving into Aviation

    By combining six and a half years of product management experience with specialized education, Juhi successfully moved into a Product Manager role in the aviation industry. Her foundation as a Product Analyst and her growth as an APM at Phenom People played an important role in reaching this position.

    This action positioned her on the leadership board in one of the most specialized and competitive sectors demonstrating that a combination of experience and a structured learning process can create new opportunities.

    Reflections and Advice

    Looking back, Juhi highlights three lessons for professionals aiming to step into product leadership.

    1. Keep Upskilling Market needs change quickly. “When I did my MBA, agentic AI was nowhere. Now it is everywhere,” she noted. Staying updated is critical.
    2. Study the Market Explore different product roles before choosing a path. Options include product marketing, product growth, and product data. Understanding the landscape helps in setting a clear direction.
    3. Network Actively “Do not just stick with the course. Go outside, meet people, network. It will really help when you are looking for a job.”

    The path that Juhi Sharma took to become a Product Manager in the aviation industry shows how organized learning, regular skill-building, and professional networks can help people grow faster. Her experience shows how important it is to combine practical training with specialized education in order to establish a long-term career in product leadership.

    Author Bio

    Juhi Sharma is a Product Manager in the aviation sector. She has six and a half years of experience in product management, beginning as a Product Analyst and later working as an Associate Product Manager.

    Institute of Product Leadership is Asia’s First Business School providing accredited degree programs and certification courses exclusively in Product Management, Strategy, and Leadership.
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