What accomplishment in your product management career has brought you the highest level of satisfaction and joy? Can you narrate why?

The mission to insure India at Policybazaar is extremely close to my heart. The millions of lives that benefitted from our work at policy bazaar, especially the impact we were able to create during Covid is both humbling and something I am extremely proud of. It also feels pretty cool that Policybazaar got featured at Google I/O '18 for the work I spearheaded and I played a part in our journey to IPO.

What aspect of  product management did you struggle the most with? How did you overcome  it?

One aspect of product management that I struggled with early on in my career was balancing the needs of different stakeholders. As a product leader, it's important to ensure that the product meets the needs of the customers, the business, and the team. However, these needs can sometimes conflict with each other, and finding a balance can be a challenge. Ruthless prioritisation and asking critical questions to put the needs of the customer above all else helped overcome it.

What's one common  myth about product management that you find common among aspiring PMs.

One myth that I find common among aspiring PMs is that the success of the product depends solely on the product itself. In reality, there are a lot of factors and it is a fine act of understanding and improvising on the network effect of these factors like pricing strategy, consumer mindset, macroeconomics, launch timing, readiness to pay and customer need vs wants etc. that lead to a positive change.

What are some common  pitfalls that product managers must be aware of?

1. Failing to define clear goals and objectives, not measuring well

2. Not listening to the customer and stakeholder feedback

3. Focussing too much on building features instead of creating value

4. Overestimating market size, opportunity 5. Failure to iterate and adapt

If not product  management, what career would you have picked? Are there any complimentary skillsets that you see between being a PM and your alternate choice?

If not a product manager I would have been either a Mixologist or a Musician. Empathy and understanding customer's needs while being aware and mindful of my own bias is a complementary skill set that I feel helps between being an entertainer and a PM.

What is something  about product management that you wish you knew when you started out?

Product is not a skill but a mindset. Being a polymath is key to navigating and solving problems.