Can I transition into product management from a different field or industry?

Yes, it is possible to transition into product management from various different field or industry by leveraging different skill sets and continuous learning.

What are the benefits of a career in product management?

Product management offers intellectually stimulating work, excellent salary prospects, and significant career growth opportunities. It allows individuals to work on innovative projects, collaborate with diverse teams, and make a meaningful impact on a company’s success.

What are the career growth prospects for product managers?

Product management provides ample opportunities for career growth. As you gain experience and develop your skills, you can progress from entry-level roles to senior or executive positions.

Subodh Kar's Unleashed Potential:
A Journey of Career Growth and Transformation in Product Management

July 18, 2023
4 min read

By Subodh Kar: Sr Product Manager – Schneider Electric

Embark on a transformative journey of career growth and transformation with Subodh Kar, Sr. Product Manager at Schneider Electric as he shares his transition from a software engineering role, working on various technologies including Microsoft, java, data warehousing, etc to project management and program management roles at Honeywell. He felt a glass ceiling hindering his progress after 15 years of working at Honeywell and finally decided to explore a new path which was sales. Venturing into sales, he discovered a whole new perspective on customer needs and realized the missing link in his knowledge base. This revelation led him to embrace product management with this additional skill, and he finally moved to Schneider Electric his current company. It was then he realized a gap in his knowledge that prompted him to pursue an MBA in product management. Subodh’s shift in mindset not only propelled his own career but also ignited his passion for coaching, advising, and mentoring others in product management. Let’s explore the true potential of product leadership and how the Institute of Product Leadership helped Subodh in his journey.

Key Takeaways:

Subodh Kar shares his transformative journey from software engineering to project management and program management roles.
A glass ceiling in his progress led Subodh to explore a new path, eventually discovering product management through a chance encounter.
Pursuing an MBA in product management from IPL filled his knowledge gap and equipped him with the necessary skills for success.
Subodh’s shift in mindset as a specialist generalist allowed him to ask the right questions and guide his team effectively in product development.
Subodh’s journey inspired him to give back as a career coach, interview advisor, and skill mentor in product management.
IPL’s vision of creating 10,000 product managers in India aligns with Subodh’s mission to make a positive difference in society.
Join the Institute of Product Leadership to unleash the power of product management and embark on a transformative journey of career growth and impact.

In this article

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"I am now able to ask the right kind of questions, which basically gets my team thinking about two things: Are we building the right product? Second, are we building the product right?"

The Discovery of Product Management

Subodh delves into his early career as a versatile software engineer and the certain hindrances in his progress that he faced when transitioned into managerial roles. Further, he recounts how a chance encounter with Mr. Pinkesh, a catalyst for change, introduced him to the world of product management. The topics shared by Mr. Pinkesh resonated deeply with him, highlighting the missing piece in his professional puzzle. Intrigued by the potential of product management to elevate his career.

This encounter sparked within him a desire for a deeper knowledge base, an understanding of customer needs, and a hunger for growth and he finally decided to embark on a journey of learning and self-improvement. His journey highlights how IPL’s Product management courses program helped him gain exposure to a comprehensive curriculum that fills the knowledge gap and equipped him with the necessary skills to excel in product management. IPL understood his diverse background and perspectives and further taught him how to leverage his prior experiences to become an effective product leader in today’s dynamic market.

The Power of Specializing as a Generalist

Through his pursuit of an E MBA in product management from the Institute of Product Leadership, Subodh experienced a paradigm shift in his approach to work. He realized that being a specialist generalist, possessing a broad range of skills and a deep understanding of product management, was his unique strength. Armed with this newfound perspective, Subodh was able to ask the right questions and guide his team and leadership in building the right product while ensuring it was developed correctly.

Giving Back and Expanding Horizons

Subodh’s transformative journey didn’t end with personal growth. Recognizing the impact of his experiences, he embarked on a new path as a career coach, interview advisor, and skill mentor for product lifecycle management. Subodh’s expanded horizons and mastery of product management allowed him to excel in any domain, applying his knowledge and skills to make a positive difference in society.

Unleash the power of product management and embark on a transformative journey of career growth and impact with the Institute of Product Leadership.

About the Authors:

Subodh Kar: Sr Product Manager – Schneider Electric

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