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Niyati M Bhatt –Senior Product Manager at Blenheim Chalcot India
When I first started my career, I never imagined I would end up in product management. Like many others, I began as an engineer and later moved into business analysis. But as I gained more experience, I realized that my passion lay in solving problems and creating impactful products. That’s when I knew I needed to make a change.
The transition to product management wasn’t straightforward. It took careful planning, learning, and a lot of determination. One of the key steps that made the switch possible for me was pursuing a product management certification. This gave me the skills and confidence to step into a new field that was both exciting and challenging.
For anyone considering this path, I highly recommend looking into a certification in product management. It provides the structure and practical experience that can help bridge the gap between roles, especially if you’re coming from a different background like I did. In this blog, I’ll share my personal journey—from business analyst to product manager—and how a product management certification played a pivotal role in helping me make this leap.
If you’re thinking about transitioning to product management, I hope my story offers some insights and guidance.
Before I could make the leap, I had to figure out why product management was the right move for me. The concept of Ikigai—finding what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs—helped me focus. It became clear that product management was where I could solve real problems while using my skills to make an impact.
I started out in IT as an engineer, a path that seemed natural at the time. But after two years, I realized that coding wasn’t for me. This led me to explore corporate social responsibility (CSR), where I hoped to tackle larger issues. However, CSR moved at a slower pace than I wanted. I needed to solve problems faster, and that’s what led me toward tech-enabled solutions and eventually starting my own social business.
This entrepreneurial experience was what guided me into a business analyst role, where I could blend my technical knowledge with my desire to solve real-world problems.
While working as a business analyst, I naturally began taking on tasks that were more related to product management—such as conducting research, analyzing competitors, and talking to customers. Without even realizing it, I was becoming a proxy product manager.
That’s when I knew: product management was what I wanted to do full-time. It combined everything I enjoyed—solving problems, managing the product lifecycle, and working with cross-functional teams. But simply knowing what I wanted was only the beginning. I needed to find a way to transition into this new role.
One of the biggest challenges in making this leap was that there wasn’t a clear path to becoming a product manager. That’s why I decided to pursue a product management certification at the Institute of Product Leadership (IPL). This program gave me the structure and hands-on experience I needed to feel confident in my new role.
Through the certification in product management, I learned everything from product design to marketing. But more importantly, I worked on real products, collaborated with others, and presented my work to industry experts. This practical experience was exactly what I needed to build my skills and feel prepared for the challenges of product management.
When managing a single product, my day usually starts early with a roadmap review and daily scrum meetings. I spend a good portion of my day on competitor analysis, refining the backlog, and planning for upcoming sprints.
Managing multiple products, however, requires a different approach. It involves switching between projects and teams while staying organized to keep everything on track. The key to success is strong time management and clear communication.
Product management requires both hard and soft skills. Critical thinking and problem-solving are essential, but so is understanding the technology behind your product. Even though I’m not a developer anymore, my technical background helps me communicate better with the engineering team.
If you have technical skills like SQL or PowerBI, they are valuable assets. These skills help you make data-driven decisions and prioritize features based on what will have the most impact.
The typical career path in product management starts with roles like Associate Product Manager or Product Owner. From there, you can move up to Product Manager, Senior Product Manager, and eventually into leadership roles like Head of Product or VP of Product.
As you move into more senior roles, the focus shifts from day-to-day execution to long-term strategy. You’ll be setting the product vision, aligning it with business goals, and driving growth over time.
Looking back, my journey from business analyst to product manager took time, effort, and the right support. One of the most valuable steps I took was pursuing a product management certification, which provided the foundation I needed to make the leap with confidence.
If you’re considering transitioning into product management, I encourage you to explore your options, seek out learning opportunities, and consider pursuing a certification in product management. It can be the bridge you need to move forward in your career.
Transitioning from a non-technical role to product management requires self-assessment, networking, and upskilling. Start by identifying transferable skills like leadership, communication, and strategic thinking. Enroll in a product management certification course to gain formal knowledge and work on pet projects to build practical experience. Networking with product managers and shadowing them in your organization can also help.
While not strictly necessary, a product management certification can provide valuable training, practical skills, and credibility when transitioning to product management. It can also give you a structured approach to learning the core elements of product management, which can help you stand out in the job market—especially when making the switch from business analyst to product manager.
To move from business analyst to product manager, you need a mix of soft and technical skills. Key skills include problem-solving, strategic thinking, leadership, stakeholder management, and familiarity with product development processes. A good grasp of data analytics, user research, and the ability to work with cross-functional teams is also essential.
The time it takes to transition can vary based on your experience and effort. On average, it can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. This depends on factors such as the availability of learning opportunities, gaining hands-on experience, and completing a product management course, which can accelerate your shift from business analyst to product manager..
Common challenges include building technical knowledge, gaining stakeholder trust, and adjusting to the leadership responsibilities that come with product management. Many business analysts also find it challenging to balance their current roles while learning new skills for product management. Overcoming these hurdles requires persistence, continuous learning, and practical experience to ensure a successful transition from business analyst to product manager.
Niyati M Bhatt –Senior Product Manager at Blenheim Chalcot India
