When Anishek Kamal moved from a small town in India to the United States, equipped with a computer science degree and a job offer in tech, he thought he was about to live the American dream, until reality set in. Without the kind of financial safety net that some immigrants from more privileged backgrounds have, he quickly found himself struggling to afford life in America. He still had to pay off his student loans, cover rent and bills, and manage a car loan, all while sending money home to support his family. Soon, he maxed out his credit cards, and by 2022, he had racked up over $100,000 in debt. 

Despite the shame that often comes with debt, and money being a taboo topic, Kamal is open about his past struggles. Through extensive research and data analysis, he found a way to become debt-free.

“Debt is not just a money problem—it’s also a behavioral problem,” Kamal says.

It’s his vulnerability in speaking from personal experience, combined with technical knowledge, that makes his story unique.

That technical knowledge came from years in the data and cloud space, where Kamal built his career at companies like Lululemon, Press Ganey, and Neal Analytics before eventually landing at Microsoft. There, he has led AI and big data initiatives, helping Fortune 500 clients optimize systems and migrate to the cloud. But behind the scenes, he was still grappling with personal debt and beginning to ask deeper questions about why smart, capable people like himself were falling through the cracks of traditional financial services.

He tried everything—Excel spreadsheets, financial advisors, loan and refinancing advice, and countless apps that offered generic tips. It was overwhelming, and he found no clear, data-driven way to understand his options and make better decisions.

That’s what led to DebtZero, the fintech platform Kamal founded to help people get out of debt faster and with less mental strain. By analyzing spending patterns, income fluctuations, and behavioral habits, the platform builds personalized repayment plans and allows users to automate payments in one place. No more juggling multiple apps, due dates, or interest calculations. Kamal interviewed over 350 people and found that 73 percent had experienced the same kind of cognitive overload he had. He recognized there was a clear need for what he was building. DebtZero promises not only to help users save money but also to offer the peace of mind that comes from finally feeling in control.

Outside of his full-time job at Microsoft and building his app, Kamal also makes it a priority to give back. He has mentored over 400 aspiring data and cloud professionals, taking countless calls for free to help people break into the field. Many of those he’s advised are now working at top-tier tech companies.

The Urban Watch sat down with Kamal for an exclusive interview about how his personal experience with debt led him to found DebtZero, how AI can be built with empathy, and what it takes to design a system that truly works for people, not against them. 

Tell me a little bit about your background and where you grew up. How has that shaped who you are today, personally and professionally?

I grew up in a small town, Darbhanga, in the state of Bihar, India, where resources were limited, but the people worked hard to create a better life. My father worked incredibly hard to provide for our family, and that work ethic definitely rubbed off on me. We didn’t have much exposure to technology growing up. I remember the first time I saw a computer; I was in elementary school, which was pretty late compared to kids in more developed areas. My uncle had a PC, and the entire family was using it. I was so fascinated by computers that by the time I was in ninth grade, I was assembling computers for friends or acquaintances for a couple of hundred Indian rupees each. 

This background shaped me in a few important ways. First, I developed a deep appreciation for education as a path to opportunity. Second, I learned to be resourceful and solve problems with whatever tools were available. And third, I gained this perspective that technology isn’t just cool – it’s transformative. When I finally got my hands on a computer and started coding, it felt like discovering a superpower.

Professionally, this journey has made me particularly drawn to projects that democratize access to resources and knowledge. I think that’s part of why I’m so passionate about fintech now – it’s about using technology to solve real problems and create more equitable access to financial tools that were previously available only to the privileged few.

How did you become interested in working in tech?

My journey into tech started with pure fascination. I remember writing my first lines of code and being amazed that I could create something functional from nothing but logical instructions. It felt like a perfect blend of creativity and problem-solving.

I started as a big data developer working with Hadoop, which exposed me to the power of handling massive datasets. What kept me in tech was seeing how these skills could be applied to solve increasingly complex problems. As I moved into cloud technologies and solution architecture, I loved the challenge of designing systems that could handle enormous scale while remaining resilient and efficient.

The evolution from writing code to architecting solutions for Fortune 500 companies was natural because I’m fundamentally driven by impact – how can we use these powerful tools to solve meaningful problems? That’s ultimately what drew me to AI as well. It’s not just about the technology itself, but about the problems we can solve with it that weren’t solvable before.

What has been the most significant personal challenge you’ve ever faced? 

Moving to the United States was probably my biggest personal challenge. I came here with essentially maxed-out credit cards, student debt from my bachelor’s degree, tremendous uncertainty, and the feeling of having to start completely from scratch. There’s something humbling about leaving behind your support network and familiar surroundings.

The financial pressure was intense – I remember calculating exactly how many months of my new salary would go toward paying off those cards. That experience of carrying debt while trying to build a new life taught me a great deal about financial stress and how it affects every aspect of life and decision-making.

Looking back, this challenge provided the perspective that eventually led to DebtZero. I experienced firsthand how even someone with a good education and technical skills can struggle with debt and financial navigation. It made me realize that financial systems aren’t designed with accessibility or empathy in mind, and that’s something technology could help address.

What do you consider your biggest professional accomplishment so far?

While there are several technical achievements I’m proud of, I believe my most significant professional accomplishment has been successfully transitioning from a solutions architect at a major tech company to a founder building something from scratch.

The shift required completely different skills–moving from implementing technical solutions within established frameworks to identifying market opportunities, validating ideas, building from zero, and creating something that genuinely helps people.

What makes this particularly meaningful is that I’m not just applying technical skills, but actually addressing a problem I experienced personally. Creating a product that can help millions of people achieve financial freedom is infinitely more satisfying than any technical problem I’ve solved previously.

How does DebtZero compare to other debt management companies? What makes it stand out? 

Unlike traditional debt management companies that focus primarily on debt settlement or consolidation, Debtzero takes a more holistic, technology-first approach to debt freedom. Other companies typically negotiate with creditors after accounts have gone delinquent; we’re focused on optimization strategies that work with current, good-standing accounts.

There are three key differentiators that make us stand out:

First, our approach is personalized based on behavioral patterns, not just numbers. Traditional services apply the same mathematical strategies to everyone, but financial success is behavioral. We analyze spending patterns, income volatility, and psychological factors to create strategies that users will actually stick with.

Second, we’re focused on education and empowerment rather than dependency. Many debt management companies create ongoing reliance on their services, while we’re building tools that increase financial literacy and independence over time.

Third, we use technology to optimize the entire financial picture, not just debt. Our system analyzes cash flow patterns, payment timing effects, and opportunities across all financial accounts to identify savings that traditional approaches may overlook.

 What inspired you to launch DebtZero? 

Launching DebtZero came from a deeply personal place. When I moved to the U.S., I was carrying student loans and quickly found myself in credit card debt. The financial system here was completely different from India’s more cash-based approach—everything revolved around credit. Despite having a tech background and a decent job, I struggled to make sense of it all. I was making minimum payments, juggling multiple loans, even sending money back home to support my family. By 2022, I was over $100,000 in debt.

I tried everything—Excel spreadsheets, financial advisors who weren’t interested unless you had assets, random advice on 401(k) loans and refinancing—it was overwhelming. What I really needed was a clear, data-driven way to understand my options and make better decisions. There was an app in India that helped track and pay credit card balances in one place, and I couldn’t find anything like that here. That’s when I got the idea for DebtZero. 

The final catalyst came during my time working on a credit union project, where I analyzed millions of financial transactions. I observed patterns of people making costly mistakes not because they lacked discipline, but because they lacked visibility and optimization tools.

I recognized an opportunity to apply my technical expertise in data and AI to help people overcome the same challenges I had faced. The more research I did, the more I realized there wasn’t a solution that truly leveraged technology to optimize debt management in a personalized way. That gap in the market, combined with the potential for meaningful impact, made launching DebtZero feel like the most important work I could be doing.

What role does AI play in Debt Zero’s platform?

AI is core to Debt Zero’s platform, but in ways that might be different from what people typically think. We’re not using AI to make decisions for users–we’re using it to uncover insights and opportunities that would be impossible to find manually.

First, our AI analyzes transaction data to understand unique spending patterns and financial behaviors. It identifies patterns invisible to the human eye, like how spending in certain categories triggers cascading effects across someone’s finances.

Second, we use machine learning models to predict cash flow volatility and potential financial stress points before they happen. This allows us to proactively recommend adjustments rather than reacting to problems after they occur.

Third, we apply optimization algorithms that consider hundreds of variables simultaneously–payment dates, interest calculation methodologies, cash flow patterns, and psychological factors–to create debt payoff strategies that are both mathematically optimal and behaviorally sustainable.

Fourth, we use natural language processing to translate complex financial concepts into accessible guidance tailored to each user’s financial literacy level.

The AI doesn’t replace human judgment–it enhances it by revealing options and insights that wouldn’t be apparent otherwise, then empowers users to make better-informed decisions about their financial future.

What kinds of data are you analyzing to offer clients the most effective repayment strategies?

We analyze multiple categories of data to create truly effective repayment strategies, all while adhering to strict privacy protections and obtaining user consent.

Transaction data is our foundation—we look at spending patterns, income timing, volatility, and cash flow dynamics. This helps us understand not just how much money someone has, but when it’s available and how predictable their financial situation is.

We also assess debt-specific details, such as interest rates, payment due dates, minimum payment requirements, and how interest is calculated (e.g., daily average balance vs. previous statement balance). These overlooked nuances are critical for optimization.

Behavioral data plays a key role as well—how consistently users stick to plans, where they’ve struggled or succeeded, and the kinds of financial decisions that tend to trip them up.

What makes our approach unique is that we don’t just look at each of these data types in isolation. We examine the relationships between them. For example, how income timing interacts with payment due dates, or how certain spending patterns affect debt payoff consistency.

Importantly, we maintain bank-level security and transparency. Users always know what data we use and why, ensuring trust is built into every step.

Who is your ideal user, and what does a typical customer journey look like on the platform?

You don’t have to be in debt to use DebtZero; it can help you optimize your payments and stay debt-free. However, our current target user is someone who has more than $10,000 in debt and is actively seeking to eliminate it, but feels overwhelmed by the complexity of the process. They usually have a mixture of credit cards, student loans, car loans, and possibly a mortgage. They’re making payments but not seeing the progress they want, and they’re seeking a more effective approach rather than simply budgeting harder.

That said, debt is not just a money problem; it’s also a behavioral problem. That’s why we provide users with educational content specifically tailored to their situation, helping them build financial skills and confidence alongside their progress toward debt freedom.

The typical customer journey begins with what we call a ‘Financial X-Ray’–connecting their financial accounts to provide us with a comprehensive view of their financial picture. This is a low-friction process that takes about 5 minutes but provides immediate value.

Next, we generate their personalized Debt Freedom Plan, showing them exactly how much faster they could be debt-free using our optimization strategies. This is a key moment because most users discover they can cut years off their debt payoff timeline without increasing their monthly payments.

Once they have their plan, we help implement it through a combination of guided actions and automation. This includes optimizing payment dates, restructuring how payments are applied to different debts, and setting up the right automatic transfers.

As they progress, we provide ongoing monitoring and adjustments. If we detect changes in their financial situation, the system recommends modifications to keep them on the fastest path to debt freedom.

Debt is deeply personal and often stigmatized. How do you design AI systems that are both effective and empathetic?

I’m passionate about designing AI systems that balance effectiveness with empathy. In the debt management space, shame and vulnerability are common experiences.

We start by acknowledging that debt isn’t just a financial issue–it’s an emotional one. Our design philosophy centers on judgment-free interaction. The system never uses language that implies moral failing or personal shortcoming when discussing financial situations.

We’ve also built what we call ‘context awareness‘ into our AI. It recognizes emotional cues in how users interact with the platform and adjusts its tone and recommendations accordingly. For example, if someone is showing signs of financial anxiety, the system focuses more on small, achievable wins rather than long-term projections.

Another key aspect is appropriate personalization. The system remembers individual circumstances and preferences, avoiding the need for users to repeatedly explain their situation, which can reinforce feelings of shame.

We’re careful about timing and delivery of information. Financial insights are delivered when users are most receptive, not as interruptions or judgments. And we frame everything in terms of opportunities rather than mistakes.

Perhaps most importantly, we maintain a clear line between what AI should handle and what requires human connection. For particularly sensitive situations, we make it easy to connect with a human financial coach who has the context from the AI system but brings the empathy and nuance that technology alone can’t provide.

The goal isn’t to make our AI seem human, but rather to ensure it respects and accommodates human emotions while providing effective financial guidance.

What steps are you taking to ensure transparency and fairness in automated decision-making, especially for users from financially vulnerable backgrounds?

Transparency and fairness are foundational to DebtZero’s approach, particularly because we work with many financially vulnerable users.

First, we practice radical transparency in how our system works. Users can see exactly what factors influence their debt freedom plan, what data points we’re using, and the reasoning behind recommendations. We avoid black-box solutions where users have to simply trust the AI without understanding it.

We’ve implemented fairness audits throughout our development process. This means regularly testing our recommendations across different demographic groups to ensure our system doesn’t perpetuate biases or deliver better results to certain populations. If we detect disparities, we address them at the algorithm level.

We’re also careful about assumption-free design. Traditional financial systems often make assumptions about income stability or access to banking services that don’t hold for many vulnerable populations.

Our systems are designed to work effectively for gig workers with irregular income, users with thin credit files, or those who’ve had negative banking experiences in the past.

We provide options, not mandates. Our AI presents multiple paths forward with clear explanations of the tradeoffs, empowering users to make informed choices rather than forcing them into a particular approach.

And finally, we maintain human oversight of our systems, particularly for edge cases. When our AI encounters situations outside its confident decision-making parameters, especially for vulnerable users, those cases are reviewed by humans to ensure appropriate recommendations.

The ultimate measure is outcomes–we track whether our recommendations are actually helping users across all demographic groups achieve financial progress, and continuously refine our approach based on those results.

Can people use both a traditional debt settlement company and your app?

Yes, they can. In our first version, users will be able to see all their debts in one place and make payments directly through the app. The focus is on visibility and control.

In future versions, we plan to partner with credit unions to help users access lower-interest loans, compare rates, and understand where they qualify. The goal is to offer smarter refinancing options that work in the user’s favor.

Traditional debt settlement companies focus heavily on negotiation, and while that can be helpful, it can also be inefficient and confusing. We aim to bring that same value, but in a more transparent, automated, and user-friendly way.

Ultimately, our app is designed to help people, not institutions. But to offer the best tools and rates, strategic partnerships will be necessary.

To end on a broader note, as someone who works with AI every day, what do you see as the most pressing challenge or ethical dilemma facing the field today—technically, socially, or economically?

I think the most pressing challenge facing AI today is the growing disconnect between who builds these systems, who benefits from them, and who bears the risks.

Technically, we’re creating increasingly powerful tools without sufficient guardrails or oversight. Many AI systems are deployed with inadequate testing for biases, edge cases, or potential harms. The pace of development has far outstripped our governance mechanisms.

Socially, we’re facing a potential deepening of existing inequalities. AI could either bridge or widen gaps in access to healthcare, education, financial services, and job opportunities. Without deliberate attention to inclusion and equity, these systems will naturally tend to benefit those who already have advantages.

Economically, the concentration of AI capabilities in a small number of large companies raises serious questions about power distribution.

When a handful of organizations control the most powerful AI models, they effectively become gatekeepers for innovation across many sectors.

The ethical dilemma that keeps me up at night is the risk of ‘automation bias’–our tendency to defer to algorithmic recommendations even when we should be skeptical. As AI becomes more embedded in consequential decisions, from medical diagnoses to lending approvals, this bias could lead to a progressive abdication of human judgment and responsibility.

Addressing these challenges requires technical solutions, like better testing methodologies and more transparent systems. But equally important are social and governance innovations–developing new frameworks for accountability, ensuring diverse perspectives in AI development, and creating mechanisms that distribute the benefits of AI more equitably.

Learn more:

Check out DebtZero

Connect with Anishek Kamal on LinkedIn Book a call with Anishek

Book a call with Anishek

The post This Immigrant Founder Is Changing How We Talk About Debt appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

In today’s bustling tech landscape, Aveneel Waadhwa, a Product Manager at Microsoft on the Azure Optimization team, stands out with his future-forward, innovative, entrepreneurial spirit and global perspective.

Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Waadhwa embarked on a journey that spanned continents and diverse educational and professional terrains. His path, shaped by a deep-rooted passion for technology and a commitment to fostering community, epitomizes the modern product manager: adaptive, forward-thinking, and driven by a vision to impact the world through innovation.

Waadhwa earned his bachelor’s in Data Science & Economics from UC Berkeley and gained experience at multiple startups before joining Microsoft. At Microsoft, his impact has been significant, helping the company save millions of dollars to accelerate innovation and launching a custom GPT and plugin for Microsoft Copilot from the ground up.

Beyond his corporate role, Waadhwa is deeply committed to making a difference. He won the “Hack for Good” category at the 2021 Microsoft Hackathon, benefiting Amrita-Seattle, a charity supporting at-risk children worldwide. His team built a robust website that expanded the charity’s reach and positively impacted children’s lives. Additionally, he co-founded Aspiring Product Manager, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping aspiring product managers break into the tech industry through mentorship, guidance, and job application feedback.

In an exclusive interview, The Urban Watch sat down with Aveneel Waadhwa to delve into his career journey, the transformative impact of AI in product management, and his vision for the future of tech entrepreneurship.

Tell me a little bit about your background and where you grew up.

I grew up in New Delhi, India, and moved to the US at 18 to attend the University of California, Berkeley. I double majored in Data Science and Economics, graduating in 2021. I’ve worked at Microsoft for three years and interned as a product manager at three different startups during college. 

Were you always drawn to numbers and interested in working in this field?

My interest in numbers and data science developed over time. Initially, my interests were all over the place—I enjoyed art and history, studied Spanish for a year in college, and even took some film classes. However, my data science class became my favorite, and I also enjoyed the psychology aspect of economics—understanding how people think and make decisions.

Tell me about your life in New Delhi. Were your parents entrepreneurs?

Growing up in New Delhi was a unique experience. I was diagnosed with leukemia at age 2 and battled it until I was 7. Fortunately, my parents and grandparents, who are all doctors, identified it early. My older brother also pursued an engineering degree, which had a significant influence on me. While my parents weren’t entrepreneurs, their dedication and work ethic inspired me to start something of my own one day.

What has been the most significant personal challenge you’ve ever faced? 

Navigating the United States with uncertainty and anxiety as an immigrant has been my biggest personal challenge. Moving to a new country as a teenager and being an international student meant starting my network from scratch. Entering the job market for the first time as an immigrant was also a significant hurdle.

You’ve lived in the U.S., UK, India, Portugal. How has this multicultural experience influenced who you are today and how you approach professionalism?

Living in diverse cultures has made me open-minded, inclusive, and understanding of different work styles. It has helped me embrace various professional approaches and ways of thinking from people around the world. Empathy and good communication are essential skills for product managers, and my multicultural experiences have enabled me to develop these skills.

I interned in the UK one summer, where I reconnected with family and worked for a startup. I also completed a rigorous startup training program at the European Innovation Academy in Lisbon, Portugal, where I met professionals from various fields, including marketing and design. In this program, we formed teams of five and started a company in three weeks. It was an exciting experience as I had always wanted to create my own company and build something from the ground up.

At the Academy, we worked from 8 a.m. until late at night, culminating in pitching our projects to investors. My team created a travel app that generates real-time itineraries based on user preferences, such as soccer, jazz, or Spanish food. The app optimizes these preferences to provide sample itineraries.

This experience improved my communication skills and made me a better product manager by combining people skills with technical expertise. It also sparked my love for travel; I’ve now visited 43 countries.

Based on this experience, I was hired while still in college to work on another travel app called Welcome, which was acquired last year.

How did your career path lead you to become a product manager at Microsoft?

I have always been passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship. I asked my professors how I could become an entrepreneur and founder. I learned that being a product manager was the perfect role for this. As a product manager, you create a roadmap, work with engineers, design products, and oversee their launch. You also collaborate with marketing and advertising teams. The opportunity to wear many hats excited me, and I knew it would prepare me for success as a founder.

During my senior year of college in 2020, I applied to and interviewed with many big tech companies. The job market was very challenging due to COVID-19, but I networked extensively to get referrals, participated in mock interviews, and prepared thoroughly for my applications. In Fall 2020, one semester before graduation, I was able to land a job offer from Microsoft.

Could you elaborate on the importance of launching a custom GPT and plugin for Microsoft Copilot?

I’m most proud of developing the custom GPT and FinOps (financial operations) plugin that I launched for Copilot, Microsoft’s AI companion. I led this product from ideation to execution, guiding it from concept to launch. Integrating with Azure enabled users to efficiently access and edit financial data directly within Microsoft Teams, eliminating the learning curve associated with navigating new financial portals and saving considerable time for internal users.

What are the advantages of Copilot? How does it differ from ChatGPT?

Copilot serves as an AI assistant embedded in various Microsoft products such as Windows, Office 365, Teams, and Excel. Unlike ChatGPT, which primarily responds to queries, Copilot acts as a proactive assistant. It can analyze documents, draft emails, and even create PowerPoint presentations. This integration into daily workflow tools enhances productivity by automating routine tasks and providing contextual assistance beyond simple question-answer interactions.

What was the process like for launching a custom plugin?

The project began during the hackathon week in September 2023 and took approximately eight months to complete from ideation to general availability launch. Microsoft’s annual hackathon provides employees with the opportunity to work on innovative projects of their choice for a week. Inspired by the success of large language models like ChatGPT, I proposed the idea during the hackathon, received approval, and successfully implemented it by the end of the semester.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a product manager?

As a product manager, one of the biggest challenges I face is navigating ambiguity and uncertainty while planning for the future and developing products. Often, there’s a significant information gap when entering new markets or exploring unfamiliar territories. Effectively estimating impact and resource allocation is crucial in this role, alongside the need to quickly adapt to shifting priorities and market dynamics.

Tell me about some of your most significant accomplishments.

Besides launching the Copilot plugin, my most significant accomplishment is helping my organization at Microsoft save millions of dollars. My focus has been on optimizing Azure resources through app development and product launches that facilitate cost savings for our customers. Identifying and implementing these cost-saving initiatives across various areas within a large company can have a profound impact. It not only justifies our efforts but also frees up resources that can fund innovative projects, particularly in AI, which may need more initial funding at the start of the fiscal year. This funding accelerates innovation and product development.

Another accomplishment I’m really proud of is winning the Microsoft Global Hackathon in the “Hack for Good” category back in 2021. Our project supported Amrita-Seattle, a charity that serves at-risk children and youth globally, providing nutrition, education, healthcare, and clean water solutions in the U.S., India, and Nepal. Within a week, we developed a comprehensive website for the charity to facilitate donations. I maintained ongoing communication with the charity and later presented our work to Microsoft’s leadership team, showcasing the impact of our efforts.

You’re also a co-founder of Aspiring Product Manager, helping aspiring product managers break into tech. Tell me more about the organization, your role there, and some key advice for aspiring product managers.

I co-founded Aspiring Product Manager with two friends who are PMs at Coinbase, aiming to support aspiring product managers, especially college students, in breaking into the tech industry. Securing a product management role straight out of college can be challenging, mainly since, historically, many startups only hired PMs once they reached a team size of 35 or 40 employees. However, smaller companies are now beginning to hire PMs earlier in their growth stages as well.

Our organization serves as a valuable resource, focusing on helping aspiring PMs understand the product management interview process. The most common question we receive is what students should study in college to become a product manager. We recommend focusing on computer science and data science, with additional coursework in entrepreneurship and psychology to understand user behavior and enhance technical skills.

As a non-profit volunteer initiative, we started on LinkedIn and have since expanded to include a newsletter. We primarily cater to college students, offering resources and community support. While we have previously held in-person meetings, our resources are now primarily accessible online. Our initiative welcomes anyone interested in product management, and membership is free of charge as we focus on giving back to the community and supporting aspiring product managers in their career journeys.

What trends do you think will most impact the technology industry in the next five years?

For any new tech company, investing in technologies such as AI is essential. Most companies want to work on anything new as fast as possible. It’s a race for innovation. Soon, we will see AI everywhere in our daily lives. For the next few years, it will only help innovation. The government is also investing in AI, underscoring its growing importance. For product managers and young ambitious people in tech, we always want to be working with cutting-edge tech. The goal is to make our lives better and more efficient. Every product manager wants to make their products better. AI tools are making our lives easier, helping us focus on big decision-making rather than menial tasks. 

How is AI changing the field for product managers?

As outlined in my op-ed, AI is revolutionizing the day-to-day tasks of product managers, making their jobs easier and allowing them to focus on critical priorities. This new wave of AI will make product managers more crucial than ever. PMs are accountable for making responsible decisions regardless of the product they own, but they also hold the power to shape the future of AI products and, in turn, the future of our world. With great power comes great responsibility, which should make Product Managers feel critical, influential, and responsible for the ethical use of AI in their work. As PMs don’t spend hours writing product requirement documents (PRDs) and can automatically generate analytics dashboards with suggested metrics, they can devote more time to understanding customer needs, developing product vision and strategy, building customer empathy, and leading cross-functional teams.

What’s your ultimate career goal? 

My ultimate career goal is to start my own company and lead a team, drawing from my experiences at Microsoft and startups. I aim to continue working in AI, focusing on cutting-edge technologies. I have a strong interest in the travel space and the coffee industry and a passion for healthcare. These areas align with my ambitions to innovate and make a meaningful impact in diverse sectors.

What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?

I enjoy traveling whenever possible, trekking, and playing and watching soccer. I’m also a massive cinema buff. On Saturdays, I frequently host coffee events in New York City called “Customs,” where I bring friends and network with others to build community. I hope to expand these events into public gatherings in the future.

You can follow Aveneel Waadhwa on LinkedIn. 

Sign up for his Aspiring PM Newsletter. 

Read his op-ed on how AI will reshape product management. 

The post Meet the Product Management Rock Star: Aveneel Waadhwa appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.