The Work Item - Real Talk on Tech's Toughest Career Choices #81 - Making A Career Out Of A Hobby - Kirupa Chinnathambi (Product Manager - Google)
Jul 2, 2024
Kirupa Chinnathambi, a Product Manager at Google and creator of kirupa.com, shares his journey from hobbyist to professional. He discusses the unexpected path that took him from web development inspired by a physics assignment to a successful career in product management. Kirupa highlights strategies for balancing work and life, the importance of supportive management, and how to turn interests into impactful careers. He also emphasizes building a community around personal passions and the role of luck in navigating career growth.
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Accidental Beginning
- Kirupa's interest in web development started accidentally with a physics assignment.
- He used Flash to create diagrams, which led him to explore combining illustrations and explanations.
Unexpected Path to PM
- Kirupa stumbled into product management after failing software engineering interviews.
- Microsoft saw potential in his side projects, leading to an internship and a career change.
Early Team Influence
- Kirupa's early team at Microsoft, comprised of ex-Macromedia/Adobe employees, influenced his view of product management.
- This insulated him from traditional Microsoft culture, allowing for faster-paced work.