My Journey — From Software Engineer to Product Manager

Originally written 3 years ago — revisiting this post reminds me how far the journey has come and how every small step shaped my path.

Yes, you read it right — a Software Engineer turned Product Manager. And guess what? You can do it too. Let me share how I made this transition from writing code to managing products that impact users and businesses alike.

The Beginning

I’m a Computer Engineering graduate, and during the final year of my degree, I realized that I was deeply in love with the web.

I started learning web technologies on Codecademy with a dream to build a website for my startup idea. Like most engineers, I had no shortage of ideas — and wanted to turn one of them into reality.

While learning, I thought, why not earn a few bucks too?
So I started spreading the word in my network — yes, I had a small one even back in college — and told everyone that I could build websites at affordable prices.

I reached out to small businesses, convincing them to go online by helping them create their first digital presence. That initiative worked — I landed 3 paying clients!

What I Learned Along the Way

Those early freelance projects taught me skills I still use today:

• Web Development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, and PHP

• Marketing: Cold calling, offline + online marketing

• Public Speaking: Pitching ideas and convincing clients

• Time Management: Juggling studies, work, and deadlines

• Money Management: Budgeting for hosting, domains, and expenses

Breaking Into the Industry

In 2016, I graduated. My grades weren’t top-notch, so campus placement didn’t work out. But the skills I had built were my biggest assets.

I began my journey as a Web Developer intern — understanding how things worked in a corporate setup. After 5 months, I cracked my first full-time job interview.

Believe me, it wasn’t easy. I faced hundreds of rejections. But I learned something from every interview, improved, and kept pushing. Persistence eventually paid off.

Discovering Product Thinking

After working for about 2 years as a Frontend Developer, I found myself increasingly drawn toward the why behind the what.

My manager supported my curiosity and exposed me to how technology drives business outcomes — how user experience, data, and design influence success.

Alongside coding, I began analyzing user data using tools like:
Google Analytics, SimilarWeb, Lucky Orange, Google Tag Manager, Google Sheets, and Excel.

That curiosity led to my next role as a Product Analyst.
I started assisting my manager with data needs, performing analysis, and sharing insights — this was my first real step toward Product Management.

Understanding the User

As a Product Analyst, I learned to identify user pain points and propose solutions.

Tools can give you metrics, but to truly understand users, you need to go beyond dashboards — speak to customers, run surveys, and perform A/B testing.

That’s how you develop empathy and make meaningful decisions.

Becoming a Product Manager

In April 2020, I got my first role as a Product Manager, focusing primarily on growth.

My prior experiences in development, marketing, analytics, and team collaboration became invaluable. I learned to manage multiple projects, coordinate across design, development, and QA teams, and think critically about every feature.

Some of the practices I encountered were old-school, but even that taught me what not to do — and that’s equally important in product management.

Becoming Agile

In May 2022, I completed my Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certification from SCRUM Alliance, under Amit Kulkarni.

That experience helped me deeply understand what it means to be a Product Owner — how to be Agile, plan sprints, prioritize, iterate, and continuously gather feedback.

Since then, I’ve realized that Product Management isn’t just a job — it’s a mindset. You keep learning, evolving, and solving problems every single day.

Final Thoughts

Looking back now, this journey wasn’t linear — it was full of experiments, mistakes, rejections, and growth. But each step added something valuable.

If you’re planning to transition into Product Management from a technical background, remember this:

Your coding, analytical, and problem-solving skills are your foundation — build on them with curiosity and empathy.

If you’d like to talk about your transition or need some guidance, feel free to drop me an email at kunalchavda99@gmail.com —
I’d be more than happy to help.

Keep learning, keep building, and keep solving problems with technology.