UW PM Podcast

UW PM
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UW PM Podcast

Learning about product management here at the University of Waterloo.

  1. From Intern to Impact: Navigating PM Growth at Microsoft

    JUL 3

    From Intern to Impact: Navigating PM Growth at Microsoft

    What does it take to grow from an intern still figuring it all out to leading high-visibility products at one of the world’s most iconic tech companies? In this episode of the UWaterloo Product Management Podcast, August sits down with Swarathmika Kakivaya, a Product Manager II at Microsoft, to unpack her 6+ year journey — starting from her Explorer Internship to becoming a full-time PM owning strategic product decisions. Together, they explore how to stand out early, thrive in ambiguous roles, earn influence without authority, and build habits that scale. Swarathmika also opens up about how her definition of a “great PM” has evolved, the signals that someone’s cut out for product, and what keeps her curious and motivated. Whether you’re a student just breaking in or a PM looking to level up, this episode is packed with grounded advice and reflections you won’t want to miss.

    37 min
  2. Getting Into PM Internships: Advice I Wish I'd Had Earlier

    APR 1

    Getting Into PM Internships: Advice I Wish I'd Had Earlier

    This episode flips the usual format. Instead of chatting with someone who’s already graduated, we sat down with Palak Agarwal, a 4A Computational Math student who's navigated multiple PM internships - from early-stage startups to companies like Scotiabank, Arteria AI, and Gamma - and is heading to Microsoft next. Join us for refreshingly honest conversation about navigating PM internships, building skills, and what it really means to grow in product. If you’re a student curious about product management but unsure how to actually get started, this episode’s for you. We cover: How the PM role evolves across different companies Actionable ways to grow PM skills when you don’t have the title yet Tips on intentional networking that actually work (even when it’s awkward) How to prep for your first product interviews - "without shortcuts"! Real talk about U.S. co-ops Key takeaway? Be curious. Don't take shortcuts. Start before you’re ready.

    34 min
  3. Skills, Mindset, & Leadership: The PM Journey from Intern to Senior

    JAN 30

    Skills, Mindset, & Leadership: The PM Journey from Intern to Senior

    From starting as a software development intern to becoming a Senior Product Manager, this episode dives into the ups and downs of navigating a career in product management. We talk about the challenges of making the leap from intern to PM, the importance of self-advocacy, and how treating your career like an MVP can help you grow and adapt. There are stories about overcoming setbacks, finding confidence, and the unique perspective of being a woman in tech. It’s an honest and relatable look at what it takes to build a career in product management while staying true to yourself!

    45 min
  4. Innovating from Within: How to Drive Product Impact in Corporate Spaces

    12/06/2024

    Innovating from Within: How to Drive Product Impact in Corporate Spaces

    This episode features a recording of our fireside chat at ProdCon with Jeffrey Chan, Senior Manager at TD Invent. The conversation dives into Jeff’s strategies for driving industry-first innovations, balancing vision with execution, and cultivating an intrapreneurial mindset. From launching Canada’s first mobile commerce store at Dell to pioneering groundbreaking customer service advancements at TD, Jeff shares actionable insights for aspiring PMs and innovators looking to make a lasting impact in corporate environments.

    36 min
  5. Contradictions in PM: Building Key Skills Now to Lead in Grey Areas Later

    11/28/2024

    Contradictions in PM: Building Key Skills Now to Lead in Grey Areas Later

    In this episode, we dive into the contradictions of product management with Prashanth Rajendran, Senior Manager of Product Management at Samsung Research. From balancing technical expertise with business knowledge to navigating data-driven decisions and intuition, we discuss what it takes to succeed in this challenging and ambiguous role. Drawing from his 14+ years of experience, Prashanth shares practical insights for aspiring product managers on how to build the skills needed to lead with confidence in these 'grey areas' in the future.

    37 min
  6. Curtis Lingard: Executive Director of Product at Cineplex Digital Media

    03/26/2024

    Curtis Lingard: Executive Director of Product at Cineplex Digital Media

    We dive deep into Product with Curtis from how he got his break into Product to advice to his younger self.

    50 min
  7. Iris Guo: PM at Arteria AI & Founder at Neutrify

    03/01/2024

    Iris Guo: PM at Arteria AI & Founder at Neutrify

    Today we’re here with a very special guest, Iris, who is a Waterloo alumni and has previously worked in product management roles across both Canadian and American landscapes at companies like Google X, Microsoft, Neo, and Scale AI. Currently she is working with Arteria AI. On the side, she is also completing a Masters degree in Analytics and AI. Iris formerly founded an impact-driven non-profit called OpenMeal and led a team of 50 at her own startup, Neutrify.

    34 min
  8. Justin Ford: Co-Founder at Javelin

    10/31/2023

    Justin Ford: Co-Founder at Javelin

    In this podcast episode, we meet Justin Ford, the co-founder of Javelin Sports, a company on a mission to combat social isolation through sports. They initially set out to create a platform for adults to connect through sports but had to pivot when the pandemic hit. [00:00:02]: Introduction and Welcome [00:00:33]: Introducing Justin Ford, co-founder of Jafflin Sports [00:00:44]: Javlin Sports' mission to tackle social isolation crisis [00:02:05]: Choosing volleyball as the focus for Javlin Sports [00:02:40]: Initial challenges and the pivot during the pandemic [00:05:32]: Success with COVID screening app and relaunch into sports [00:06:57]: Importance of timing and execution for startups [00:08:08]: Identifying timing trends and executing on them [00:08:57]: The importance of having one great idea in a startup [00:09:10]: The opportunity for improvement in skill level at games

    33 min
See All (26)

About

Learning about product management here at the University of Waterloo.

Information

  • Creator
    UW PM
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © UW PM
  • Show Website
    UW PM Podcast

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