Varun Kulkarni’s career transition from consulting to Big Tech illustrates the growing demand for AI-focused product managers in 2022. After five years at Deloitte, Kulkarni recognized an opportunity to leverage his expertise in artificial intelligence products, stating that “AI really started coming into play and I started seeing how AI products really made a bigger impact in the market.”
The eight-month transition journey required strategic preparation and networking. Kulkarni dedicated three months to preparing for tech interviews, learning to account for higher product usage and unlearning consulting habits like moving too quickly. He then spent two months cold-emailing and networking with professionals who had made similar consulting-to-tech transitions. Throughout this process, he allocated 15-16 hours weekly to interview preparation before even submitting applications.
His successful résumé strategy focused on three key elements. First, he tailored content specifically for product management roles by removing achievements related to corporate strategy or marketing that were only relevant to management consulting. Second, he demonstrated career growth by highlighting his two promotions at Deloitte through progressive responsibilities rather than listing multiple titles. Third, he customized smaller sections like “tools” to emphasize skills overlapping with product management, including defining strategy, working across stakeholders, and building relationships.
The final result: a senior product manager position at Cisco with a $180,000 starting salary, secured within two months of active job searching.
Reflecting on improvements, Kulkarni identified two areas he would enhance today. First, he would adopt a more data-focused approach, noting his résumé lacked mentions of AI or data-oriented techniques like running AB experiments—critical skills for modern product managers. Second, he would highlight external projects, including his advisory board membership, participation in AI societies, and scholarly articles about project management. These activities have become “a very key aspect” of his career growth, allowing him to learn about emerging technologies and bring fresh insights to his team at Cisco’s Seattle office.
Key Quotes
AI really started coming into play and I started seeing how AI products really made a bigger impact in the market
Varun Kulkarni explained his motivation for transitioning from Deloitte consulting to Big Tech, recognizing the transformative potential of AI products and wanting to work on solutions with broader market impact.
If you look at this, there’s no mention of AI or anything in here. It doesn’t talk about more data-oriented techniques like running AB experiments
Kulkarni reflected on what he would change about his 2022 résumé, acknowledging that explicitly highlighting AI skills and data analysis capabilities has become increasingly important for product management roles.
It’s a very key aspect of how I’ve grown in my career
Kulkarni emphasized the importance of external activities like participating in AI societies and writing scholarly articles, noting that learning about new technologies outside work enables him to bring valuable insights to his team at Cisco.
Our Take
Kulkarni’s transition exemplifies a critical shift in product management: AI expertise is no longer optional but essential. His eight-month preparation period and 15-16 weekly hours of study demonstrate the investment required to compete in AI-focused roles. Most telling is his retrospective critique—that his successful résumé lacked explicit AI and data science mentions. This suggests the bar has risen even higher since 2022. The $180,000 compensation reflects market recognition of AI product management as a specialized, high-value skill set. His emphasis on external AI community engagement points to a future where product managers must be active participants in the AI ecosystem, not just passive implementers. For aspiring AI product managers, this story provides a roadmap: combine domain expertise with demonstrable AI skills, data analysis capabilities, and continuous learning through community involvement.
Why This Matters
This career transition story highlights the explosive growth of AI product management roles and the evolving skill requirements in Big Tech. As artificial intelligence becomes central to product development across industries, professionals with combined consulting experience and AI expertise are increasingly valuable. Kulkarni’s journey demonstrates that traditional consulting skills alone are insufficient—today’s AI product managers must showcase data analysis capabilities, experience with AB testing, and active engagement with AI communities.
The emphasis on external AI learning and participation in AI societies reflects a broader trend: continuous learning is essential in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. For businesses, this signals the need to hire product managers who not only understand AI technology but actively engage with emerging developments. For workers, it underscores the importance of demonstrating hands-on AI experience and data-driven decision-making skills. The $180,000 starting salary also reflects the premium compensation companies are willing to pay for AI-focused product management talent, indicating sustained demand in this sector.
Recommended Reading
For those interested in learning more about artificial intelligence, machine learning, and effective AI communication, here are some excellent resources: