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Kanika, Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co.: Advize Career Interview
A journey from electrical engineering in India to a Product Manager role at Levi Strauss & Co., this professional's career path is inspiring.
The interview reveals a dynamic role, described as "almost like a mini CEO," demanding cross-functional leadership, strong communication, and technical proficiency.
Daily activities include data analysis, collaboration with various teams, and juggling multiple projects. Success in this field requires a detail-oriented approach, proactive questioning, and a deep understanding of the customer journey.
The interviewee emphasizes the importance of passion for the product, seeking opportunities to launch innovative features and working closely with engineers.
Challenges include navigating resource constraints, but the rewards of seeing users interact with the products created are significant.
Aspiring professionals should consider associate product manager roles or software engineering as entry points, focusing on building strong business and technical skills.
This professional's advice to undergraduates includes proactive initiative, effective time management, and developing public speaking skills, offering a roadmap to success beyond academic achievements.
A compelling narrative of overcoming stereotypes and actively pursuing career goals completes this engaging professional profile.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kanika Kapoor
Product Manager
Levi Strauss & Co.
Punjab Technical University
UCLA Anderson school of management- MBA
Engineering - Electrical
Apparel
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Took Out Loans, Immigrant
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Career Path of a Product Manager at Levi's
Kanika's career path began with electrical engineering in India, followed by a self-taught transition into software engineering in the US, where they worked as a "full stack engineer". A shift towards client interaction and business management led to roles at GE Healthcare and PayPal, culminating in their current position as a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co., driven by a desire to work for companies "most of my friends or my mom or my dad were using on their mobile phones".
Main Responsibilities of a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co.
Kanika describes the product manager role at Levi Strauss & Co. as "almost like a mini CEO," bridging the gap between business, engineering, and the end customer; responsibilities include gathering requirements, translating them for engineers, measuring post-launch success via analytics, and collaborating with various stakeholders, including legal and design teams, to optimize product performance and user experience.
A Day in the Life of a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co.
A product manager's day at Levi Strauss & Co. involves many meetings, including daily "stand-ups" with engineers to discuss project status and "meetings where they're doing conceptual ideation of something that is going to come in the future." Data analysis is key, as product managers use dashboards to identify and solve problems, juggling two to three projects simultaneously—those "live soon," already live, and future releases.
Most Important Skills For A Product Manager At Levi Strauss And Co.
Kanika, a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co., emphasizes the importance of both soft skills, such as "cross-functional leadership" and "over communication," and hard skills for success. A background in coding or software architecture is particularly valuable, as Kanika notes that at a previous role, "70% of [their] day was spent with engineers," highlighting the need for technical understanding to effectively collaborate and build respect within a software development team.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Product Manager At Levi Strauss & Co.
Kanika, a product manager at Levi Strauss & Co., most enjoys "working very closely with engineers," a passion stemming from her software engineering background and close friendships with engineers at PayPal. This deep technical understanding, combined with the satisfaction of "launching things" and seeing users engage with the products Kanika helps build, are key sources of professional fulfillment.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Product Manager at Levi Strauss and Company
Kanika's biggest challenge as a product manager at Levi Strauss & Co., compared to her experience at larger tech companies, was "lack of resources and lack of budget," specifically citing a small engineering team resulting in project timelines extending and features being descoped. This limited their ability to deliver on ambitious product roadmaps, highlighting the crucial role of adequate resources in successful product management.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Retail Industry As A Product Manager At Levi's
Kanika's favorite aspect of the retail industry is collaborating with the merchandising team and developing Levi's mobile app, finding it "really cool" to provide friends access to products. The work also presents a significant learning opportunity, as Kanika highlights the complexity behind seemingly simple features, including "banking algorithms" and personalized product recommendations based on customer profiles and even regional variations in terminology, making the app truly consumer-friendly.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Retail Industry, According To A Product Manager At Levi Strauss & Co.
Kanika, a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co., emphasizes the importance of being "detail-oriented," a "good communicator," and possessing a "gut feeling" for problem-solving in retail product management. Success also hinges on proactive questioning, a deep understanding of the entire customer journey—from order placement to delivery—and a broad curiosity about all aspects of the retail ecosystem, including supply chain and logistics, as evidenced by the long and successful careers of those who have moved between retail giants like Walmart and Nordstrom.
What A Product Manager At Levi Strauss Wishes They Had Known Before Entering Product Management
Kanika, a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co., wishes someone had emphasized the importance of proactively asking questions and seeking help early in their career, stating "ask as many questions [and] read as much as possible." Negative performance reviews served as crucial learning experiences, highlighting the value of seeking guidance before challenges become overwhelming.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Product Managers
For undergraduate students seeking entry-level product management roles, Kanika, a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co., recommends exploring "associate product manager roles and rotation programs," such as "RPM and APM programs," which offer a structured path into the field; alternatively, a software engineering role can provide a strong foundation, allowing a transition to product management after gaining product knowledge and demonstrating both "business skills and Engineering skills."
Significant Career Lesson From a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co.
Kanika, a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co., emphasizes the significance of "feeling passionately about the product," noting that this passion leads to longer-term career satisfaction and success, even influencing promotion opportunities. While early career flexibility is acceptable, Kanika advises prioritizing products that resonate personally after gaining experience, having left previous roles due to lack of passion and repetitive tasks.
College Experiences That Helped a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co. Succeed
Kanika, a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co., advises undergraduates aspiring to similar roles to proactively take initiative, improve time management ("starting things early, not waiting until the last minute"), and overcome shyness by practicing public speaking and presentation skills in low-stakes environments—all to prepare for higher-pressure workplace scenarios. This active approach, Kanika suggests, fosters success far beyond academic grades.
How Identity Has Influenced a Product Manager's Career at Levi Strauss And Co.
Kanika, an Indian immigrant, consciously challenged the stereotype of South Asians excelling only in technology by pursuing product management, stating "I wanted to do something slightly different... utilize the skills that I am good at". This deliberate career choice, motivated by a desire to "break that barrier," has driven their ambition to reach senior leadership positions within the technology industry.
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