Career Path of a Senior Product Manager at Amazon
Hema's career journey began with a chemical engineering degree from IIT Madras, followed by internships that revealed a dislike for the chemical industry. This led to a pivot into consulting at PwC, where exploration of "technology consulting and digital transformation" ultimately fueled a pursuit of an MBA from Anderson, targeting a move into product management at a "big tech" company like Amazon, before eventually starting their own company.
Career Exploration, Product Management, Big Tech, MBA, Career Pivoting
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Hema Chalamalasetty
Senior Product Manager
Amazon
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
UCLA Anderson, MBA
Engineering - Chemical
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
International Student, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Hema's career path demonstrates the value of exploring different fields. Starting with chemical engineering, she transitioned through consulting (PwC), leveraging it to discover her passion for product management.
2. Her experience highlights the benefit of internships in helping define career interests. Early internships in the chemical industry helped her realize that consulting would be a better fit for her skill set and interests.
3. Hema's strategic pursuit of an MBA from Anderson School of Management and subsequent move to Amazon showcase a proactive approach to career development, targeting specific skills and experience to achieve long-term goals (e.g., starting her own company).
Transcript
Walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college and any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I did my undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from IIT Madras in India. While studying, I completed internships in the chemical industry, including at a public sector company called Tripura Refinery.
I realized that I didn't particularly enjoy that line of work. So, I chose to pursue consulting immediately after undergrad and joined PwC. I felt that this would allow me to explore different areas.
PwC gave me the opportunity to work across technology consulting and digital transformation. This involved many initiatives, provided autonomy and visibility, and offered access to leaders and wonderful opportunities. I tried multiple things, learned from my experiences, and understood where my interests truly lay.
I realized I needed an MBA. Anderson was one of my target schools. I then wanted to move into product management in big tech, as I recognized that product management is where I wanted to be.
Big tech is also where I could nurture my network and develop my skills before eventually starting my own company in the long term. So, I joined Anderson, and I've done an internship with Amazon. I'm graduating in June and will be joining Amazon full-time.