My Success Story with UpGrad

In 2010, I got an admit from IIIT-Allahabad to be one of the B.Tech graduate. But what they say is correct, “first you become an engineer and than you figure out what you want to be”. I did the same thing and choose not to be an out and out software developer.

After completing my degree, I worked with multiple startups for ~3.5 yrs but was indirectly doing what product managers do. Requirement gathering, stakeholder management and interacting with users was a daily routine for me. Over time I started liking it and now have a passion for it.

There was a time in July 2017 when I was facing a dilemma of doing an MBA or not when I came across an ad from UpGrad on the same topic and I enrolled for a webinar. The session was an eye opener for me as the course structure and objectives were very relevant to what I was looking for and I enrolled for the program soon.

I had a wonderful experience with the course and as we always say about startups, it’s not about the company, it’s more about people. I had a great time interacting with

· Kriti (Program head)

· Mishtha (Student mentor): Was always there even for the last minute help, as most of my queries landed at the 11th hour 😊

· Mukul and Imran (UpGrad Xchange): Helped me a lot in term of shaping my Resume

This course touches every aspect of product management required to know and becomes important especially when it comes from industry leaders like Anshumani Ruddra, Panan Soni, etc.The course has also incorporated real-life examples and assignments to make sure you get a hands-on experience on each and every aspect of it.

People talk about being empathetic toward users and have good sense of business. But what I feel is, as a product manager you need to have a good sense and pulse of people and

be aware of what is happening across the world in terms of technology, politics, sports, etc. I know it may sound very obvious, but again we usually miss out on the most obvious thing.

My transition story as Product Manager:

“The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.”

- Jordan Belfort

I knew from the very beginning that the course is more of an enabler than a complete solution to get a product management job. Hence it was very important for me to learn as much as possible within a very short duration of time. I wasn’t doing the course by the deadline but was defining my own deadlines. I was reading as many blogs, books, etc., on my own to understand what is required to be market-ready as a product manager.

I got an opportunity to interview with Zeta, Culture Machine, Rubique, Loan Singh and Grofers, to name a few within very early stage of my course. But then the magic happened and what I wished for was granted by my current company and I was promoted to an Associate Product Manager role at Neogrowth Credit Private Limited.

USP of UpGrad especially if you are in Bengaluru, is of peer-to-peer learning opportunity that you get even though it’s an online course. With UpGrad Xchange in place we get to interact with peer group, industry leaders and front-seat access to lot of interesting workshops as well