[Student Spotlight] Amandeep S. Sodhi’s Journey Through Circuit Stream’s Product Management Bootcamp

Meet Amandeep S. Sodhi

Amandeep is a recent graduate of University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies’s Product Management Bootcamp. With experience working with major banks across North America, Amandeep brings a rich background in business process improvement, analysis, and data analytics. He also holds a master’s degree in international business, earned in San Francisco, California. His journey into product management reflects a passion for learning and professional growth, with a focus on transitioning to a field he is truly excited about.

Pursuing a Passion in Product Management

Motivated by the comprehensive curriculum and industry network that comes with the course, Amandeep viewed the Product Management Bootcamp as the perfect chance to expand his expertise. He explained, "The primary motivating factor for me to take the course was the curriculum. I wanted to expand my knowledge on strategy, discovery, metrics etc and learn from someone who actually works in this domain.” he says. Additionally, the collaboration with the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies added to the program’s appeal.

“The live sessions with real world situational scenarios were key for me. That led me to think outside the box and forcefully brainstorm with myself within the lecture to find an answer that a PM would find on the job. It also gives a glimpse of a day in the life of a PM and what is expected from a PM.”

Midway through the course, Amandeep faced an unexpected challenge when he was laid off from his job. Rather than seeing this as a setback, he turned it into an opportunity to leverage the new skills he gained in the course. By leveraging the knowledge and skills gained, Amandeep successfully secured a new job before the bootcamp ended, transitioning into a Product Manager role in an industry where he had no prior experience.

“Even before the bootcamp ended, I found a job through a culmination of various factors, one of which was the learnings through the bootcamp. I was more confident in answering situational questions in interviews. All the business theories and concepts covered in the bootcamp helped me craft my answers during the interviews. I used the bootcamp as a platform to showcase that I am really interested in pursuing a career as a PM. It made me draft a compelling story.”

Achievements and Milestones

During his learning journey, Amandeep is particularly proud of how he approached his assignments. He put significant effort into completing assignments from the perspective of a Product Manager, narrating them as compelling stories. His dedication paid off when one of his assignments was showcased by the instructor during a lecture to benefit his peers.

Additionally, Amandeep found the skills he acquired to be highly valuable as a PM. In particular, the documentation of PRDs and one-pagers to communicate new ideas or features, developing key metrics to gauge performance and performing market research to understand competition, have all become crucial parts of his daily work, demonstrating the practical impact of the lessons learned during the bootcamp. "What’s benefiting me in my job right now is constantly thinking about how to make a product better than it was yesterday, and to ensure that the product meets customers’ expectations and delights them with its offerings. This is just one of the many things I learned."

Advice for Future Students

For those just starting their journey into product management, Amandeep offers invaluable advice:

"I'd advise new students to absorb everything they can that is covered in the lectures. I'd highly advise everyone to ask questions and always participate in the situational scenarios and present their answers/work in the lectures. Brainstorming and debating with others is an excellent way to learn."

His experience shows that being proactive in times of challenges and staying engaged in course materials can make a significant difference in preparing for a successful career as a product manager.

Learn more about our Product Management Bootcamp and connect with Amandeep on LinkedIn.