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.
Product Management, Leadership, Immigrant Experience, Breaking Barriers, Career Advancement
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, Beauty, Retail & Fashion
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Took Out Loans, Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Kanika's journey as an Indian immigrant pushed her to pursue a non-traditional career path, defying expectations often associated with her background.
2. She actively sought to excel in business leadership and product management, breaking stereotypes about Indian immigrants' career choices.
3. Her ambition drives her to continually seek advancement, aiming for director or manager of product management roles and not settling for less.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as an immigrant, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
Thanks for asking. As an immigrant, I think you come with a certain expectation of having skills that come naturally to you. Being an Indian or South Asian immigrant, you're almost expected to excel in technology and software.
As an immigrant who identified as one, I wanted to do something slightly different with my life. I wanted to do something that not every Indian does, while still utilizing the skills I'm good at. This sparked my interest in the business aspect of technology.
I wanted to excel in that and make people think that Indians are good not just at software engineering, but also in other aspects of business and leadership. This pushed me to get better with each job in roles that native-born Americans often easily get, like C-suite executive or leadership positions within technology companies.
I wanted to break that barrier and do more than what just any Indian or immigrant does. I didn't want to settle for something I could easily do, breaking the mold of being expected to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer just because I'm Indian. While those are lucrative careers, I wanted to break the mold of being just a good engineer and show I could do other things.
This helped me navigate my career. I still dream of being a director or manager of product management, not just a senior product manager, and I want to get that next promotion.