What Does It Take to Transition Into Product Management?
- blogs, product management
- 4 min read
Authors: Aditi Khare – Delivery Manager at Carelon Global Services
I’m Aditi Khare, a program management professional with more than 19 years of experience in the IT industry. After building my career in program management, I am now preparing to transition into product management.
My goal is not simply to change my job title. I want to develop the mindset and capabilities required to become a complete product management professional. One year from now, I see myself working at a senior level within a product organization.
Moving From Program Management to Product Management
My professional experience has largely been in program management. I now want to take that experience forward in a new direction by moving into a product management role.
For me, this transition requires a complete mindset change. Becoming a successful product manager involves understanding what the role demands and preparing myself for those responsibilities.
I want to develop beyond my current professional identity and become someone who can confidently work in product management. My aspiration is to make this transition at a senior level rather than begin the journey without building on my existing experience.
Searching for the Right Product Management Program
I had been researching product management programs for a couple of years.
There were many good options available, but I noticed a common pattern. Several programs offered only a few hours of engagement, limited interventions, and an online learning platform.
I was looking for something more intensive.
As a learner, I wanted dedicated time with instructors. I also wanted opportunities to interact directly with industry experts and learn from real-life examples.
For me, a few hours of online classes would not provide the complete learning experience I was seeking. I needed a program that offered deeper engagement and matched the seriousness of the career transition I wanted to make.
Why Direct Interaction Matters
One of my priorities was having enough time to speak with instructors and industry experts.
When I am learning something new, direct interaction helps me explore the subject in greater depth. I wanted the ability to engage with instructors rather than depend only on short online sessions.
Industry experts were equally important because I wanted to hear real-life examples. These examples can add context to product management topics and connect the learning experience with situations from professional environments.
This combination of instructor access and industry interaction became an important part of my search.
Combining Product Leadership With AI
During my research, I found the Product Leadership with AI program at the Institute of Product Leadership.
The combination immediately stood out to me because I wanted to develop my product leadership capabilities while also upskilling myself in artificial intelligence.
I was not looking for product management learning in isolation. I wanted a program that brought product leadership and AI together.
This combination closely matched what I had been searching for. It connected my goal of transitioning into product management with my interest in understanding AI.
Once I found a program that covered both areas, I did not need much additional time to make my decision.
Learning From Previous Cohorts
Before finalizing the program, I also had the opportunity to speak with participants from previous batches and gather feedback.
These conversations became another part of my decision-making process. After researching the available options and speaking with previous learners, I felt that I had found the program I was looking for.
Although I had explored product management programs over a longer period, my final decision happened quickly once I found an option that matched my requirements.
I believe I made the right decision at the right time.
Staying Active Beyond Work
One lesser-known fact about me is that I am a fitness enthusiast.
I enjoy yoga, dancing, strength training, cycling, and running. I am interested in almost any physical activity that keeps me engaged.
Fitness gives me different ways to remain active, and I enjoy exploring a variety of activities rather than limiting myself to one form of exercise.
Preparing for a Senior Product Role
My transition into product management is a deliberate career step built on more than 19 years of IT experience.
I want to make the mindset shift from program management to product management and develop what is required to become a successful product manager. My goal is to work at a senior level in a product organization within the next year.
The right program, for me, needed to offer more than limited online engagement. I was looking for dedicated interaction with instructors, access to industry experts, real-life examples, and a combination of product leadership and AI.
Finding those elements in one learning experience gave me the confidence to move forward. I now look forward to becoming a complete product management professional and beginning the next stage of my career.
