How I Moved from Engineering to Product (And What Actually Worked)

1. Why are you making this switch?

Before diving into the “how,” ask yourself why you want to transition into product management. Is it a long-standing interest? Have you always wanted to build and strategise but lacked the time, motivation, or courage? If so… you're on the right track.

But if you’re making the switch solely for a bigger pay check, let me burst your bubble—yes, PMs can earn well, but in the beginning, you’ll be making about the same as an engineer. More importantly, product management is not a straightforward, structured role. It’s ambiguous, chaotic, and constantly shifting.?

You have to be comfortable navigating that uncertainty.

1. Figuring it out (when you have no idea where to start)

For me, the transition wasn’t driven by an immediate passion—it was more about what I didn’t want to do. After engineering, I found myself searching for something beyond writing code—something more strategic, abstract, and business-driven.

I went down the usual rabbit hole: endless YouTube videos, career guidance tests, articles, and Reddit deep dives. (Spoiler: most of them were useless.)?

At some point, I realised: How could I decide on a career without actually exploring it?

That’s when I turned my focus to product management—to learn what it takes, what the job actually looks like, and whether I had what it takes to succeed.

1. The overwhelming start & the reality

I won’t lie—I was scared. From the outside, product management looks polished, structured, and full of people who seem to have everything figured out. It’s intimidating.

I wanted guidance, but let’s be real—cold DMing 100 people a day wasn’t going to cut it. Even if someone responded, no one could “teach” me product management in a single conversation.

I had the passion and the ambition, but what I lacked was structure and guidance.

That’s when I started looking for courses, events, and communities that could help. I came across Airtribe through a YouTube recommendation and saw that they were hosting multiple PM-related events. After researching my options, I took a leap of faith and joined their Product Management Cohort 12.

1. What I actually needed (and what I found)

At its core, I was looking for two things: ? Structure – The roadmap to learn and practice product skills ? Guidance – A strong network of mentors, instructors, and peers who could help me navigate the transition

Like any course, Airtribe provided the structured learning I needed. But what really set them apart was their guidance—the mentorship, the community, and the sheer effort they put into making sure learners succeed.

1. The absolute game-changer

When I enrolled, the admissions team mentioned something called "Offline Orientation." Honestly, it sounded like something straight out of a college program. Who does that after graduation?

I debated whether it was worth flying from Delhi for a 2-day event. I had doubts, but I went—and that decision changed everything.

From the moment I arrived, I realised this wasn’t just another online course. The Airtribe team had thought of everything—challenges, workshops, actual product tear downs, and hands-on activities that made us think like product managers from day one.

And the people? I met some of the most incredible, driven, and diverse individuals—some older, some younger, but all working towards the same goal. To this day, the friendships I made during that orientation remain some of the best connections I’ve built post-college.

1. The reality of the PM Journey

The orientation ended, and the real work began. The next four months were tough.

Yes, the course was valuable, but Airtribe made one thing very clear: They could guide me, but the effort had to come from me. My success would be my own doing. That level of transparency is very very rare.

What truly set them apart was the mentorship and support system—and I’m not just talking about instructors showing up to teach. The mentors at Airtribe were genuinely invested in our success.

? Instructors who didn’t just teach but actually cared about whether we were improving ? 1:1 mentorship anytime we needed it—not just a few token sessions ? Founders who were hands-on and present—I’ve never seen founders this involved in their learners' journeys ? A community that encouraged, pushed, and held you accountable

I can’t overstate this enough: when you have mentors who actually want you to succeed, it makes all the difference. They weren’t just checking in—they were actively guiding, supporting, and pushing us to do better. And the fact that both Navneet and Dhaval (Airtribe’s founders) were personally involved throughout? That level of commitment spoke volumes.?

Plus, the learning experience team was incredibly supportive with everything—whether it was scheduling mentorship sessions, organizing mock interviews, or guiding us through assignments. The thought they put into community efforts like Product Mixers and meetups really stood out to me. They weren’t just focused on the course material; they were invested in my overall growth.?

1. The truth about breaking into Product Management

I’m not saying that taking an Airtribe course will automatically make you a PM—because it won’t.

What matters is:

• What do you want?
• How badly do you want it?
• Why do you want it?
• How are you going to get there?

Courses can teach you frameworks, but they can’t teach you grit. They can provide a path, but you have to walk it.

1. Final thoughts: Who should make this jump?

If you’re someone who thrives in ambiguity, loves problem-solving, and is ready to bet on yourself—product management is an incredible career path. But if you need a fixed structure, clear-cut tasks, and linear career progression, this field will frustrate you.

For me, it took a lot of trial and error, but finding the right learning environment and community made all the difference.

So if you’re in the same boat as I was—searching for structure, guidance, and a network that truly supports your growth—take that leap.

Because at the end of the day, gold rings are made out of gold—not copper.

Special Mention to Airtribe 's founders Dhaval Trivedi Navneet Sharma for creating this incredible Product Management Launchpad. This initiative is empowering professionals from diverse backgrounds to seamlessly transition into product management. With the right tools, insights, and community support, it's shaping the future of aspiring product leaders!

I also want to thank Harsh Agarwal my mentor in the entire journey of this launchpad.

A big shoutout to the Airtribe team for seamlessly conducting the offline orientation , online sessions and all the product driven activities. Dhriti Singla Vidhi Verma Shubham Chanchawat