From Intern to Impact: Navigating PM Growth at Microsoft

from UW PM Podcast Hosted by UW PM

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.

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From Intern to Impact: Navigating PM Growth at Microsoft

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This episode is 36 minutes long.

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This episode was published on July 3, 2025.

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