A Look Behind the Data: What Makes a Successful Product Manager with Ajay Chhabria

By Daniel Finch

In recent years a number of jobs have taken off. With an influx of talent combined with the post COVID world where we are turning more towards technological interactions, product manager is one job that has seen a steady growth. However, quantity does not, as we know, always equal quality and despite the high level of competition not all product managers can provide the correct leadership and direction.

It takes an all around skilled individual who is able to step back and assess problems at hand from multiple sides. As the job becomes more technology based the need for highly educated individuals grows. Enter University of Mumbai graduate, Ajay Chhabria, an individual who has worn many hats during his career. His technical ability is derived from his time as a software engineer, and he combines that with an innate understanding of people, both customers and those that work for him.

His career trajectory has an air of eventuality about it. Having begun his career as a network engineer at Huawei in Pune, India, Chhabria’s role changed to that of software engineer upon moving to Massachusetts to work at Cisco. During his time at Spirent in the role of Technical Marketing Manager he worked closely with a product manager and began to formulate an understanding of the role. Now employed by Oracle, Chhabria is a product manager, one whose success has helped Oracle make a name for themselves in the field of cloud services.

The most important aspect of a successful product manager is a well thought out approach. This applies to encountering a new problem or when dealing with other team members. Chhabria himself has multi step processes that allow him to take in new information while simultaneously staying the course of what is necessary.

“It all starts with understanding the problem at hand,” he says. Upon encountering a new project the Indian born product manager researches all relevant information in order to gain a fuller picture. Once he grasps the scope of the project, he sets about creating a plan, one that is done through close collaboration with an emphasis on clear communication.

“It is important that everyone feels heard,” believes Chhabria, whose approach to problem solving is highly democratic. “I try to foster an environment of respect, collaboration and open communication.” Actively listening to; his colleagues allows him to see problems from different angles and possibly find solutions he hadn’t thought of

Chhabria believes that planning is essential to being a successful product manager. “By taking a structured approach to problem solving I am effectively able to handle new jobs and projects.” In a field that has seen a massive influx post COVID it is important to be flexible and stay ahead of the game.

This flexibility has begun to extend into the all encompassing field of AI. While product management still needs the discerning human eye, AI has helped to automate tasks and serves to augment as opposed to replacing the role. “The job is only going to become more important, as we become integral in driving innovation and strategic direction within organizations.”

Though the aid of AI can see the role of product manager expand, the most important factor remains human interaction. This is key in understanding the needs of the customers but also in the daily office life. While he is knowledgeable in a multitude of areas, it is Chhabria’s leadership qualities that set him apart.

Having worked his way through the system the University of Mumbai graduate understands and respects hard working individuals. “I welcome new ideas, and encourage coworkers to speak up,” he says before adding, “people are happy when they are heard.” Creating an uplifting open environment helps him drive innovation and inspire his colleagues.

As the world becomes more attached to technology, strong leaders have become more scarce. In the burgeoning field of product management it has become imperative to foster an environment of open communication. “The transfer of ideas is how we create and drive innovation.”

Ajay Chhabria sets the standard for others in the role of product manager. Through his process driven approach he is able to navigate any problem that faces him. But far beyond the black and white of problem solving, Chhabria opens his door to new ideas. This collaborative approach has been the cornerstone of his continued success which will continue on well past the product manager boom currently happening.