Aabhas Sharma’s profession started on the earth of superior AI analysis at IBM. On this function at IBM, he helped remodel cutting-edge AI concepts into actual prototypes, engaged on various functions from AI-powered academic instruments to classy machine studying safety methods, improvements to IBM’s prospects. Initially, his skilled drive centered on increasing his portfolio with patents, analysis publications, and delivering groundbreaking AI improvements.
However as Aabhas sought to create higher consumer affect along with his AI improvements, he discovered himself tackling a special query: not simply how to construct, however why. By this level, he had grown right into a Technical Lead, accountable not just for designing and implementing methods but in addition for contemplating consumer wants. Why do customers want this? What characteristic will assist them probably the most? Aabhas found that he loved bringing the consumer’s perspective into his group’s innovation technique. That realization sparked Aabhas’ choice to formally transition into Product Administration.
“As an engineer, I used to joke that Product and Technique had been ‘the darkish facet.’ I used to be spending lots of time designing and implementing AI methods, however I noticed the actual affect got here from understanding customers and delivering for them. That a part of my function excited me most — and it’s what led me to formally pivot into Product Administration.”
To change into a greater product thinker, Aabhas determined to enrich his technical basis with graduate-level levels. This led him to finish an MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg Faculty of Administration. On the identical time, he additionally earned a Grasp’s in Design Innovation — a uncommon mixture that allowed him to pair deep technical experience with enterprise technique and human-centered design.
With these experiences, he had one huge query left: How might he cement his transition to Product Administration?
Enter Futureforce
The reply got here by Salesforce’s Futureforce MBA Internship Program.
“At Salesforce, I used to be by no means seen as a newbie at Product Administration. My mentors and teammates acknowledged my background and trusted me as a product chief within the making. Two years on, that very same tradition of belief continues to push me to develop sooner than I ever anticipated.“
Matched with the Monitoring Cloud group, Aabhas was rapidly trusted with obligations that mirrored these of skilled Product Managers. In simply ten weeks, he wasn’t simply drafting proposals or testing prototypes — he was confirming that he might deliver affect as a Product chief at Salesforce. The internship served as Aabhas’ remaining step, cementing his transition from AI Analysis Engineer to Product Management. Shortly after, he accepted a full-time supply at Salesforce.
Driving Influence at Salesforce
“I had been working towards a proper pivot into Product, however my Futureforce internship is when all the pieces lastly got here collectively. With their MBA internship, Salesforce gave me the possibility to show that I might translate my AI background into AI product management. In the present day, I’m guiding groups to ship AI-powered merchandise that 1000’s depend on day-after-day.”
For 2 years at Salesforce, Aabhas has been main product technique as a Senior Supervisor of Product Administration. All through this time, right here’s how Salesforce supplied Aabhas with the proper platform to drive product outcomes:
- Mentorship and Steering: Aabhas bought entry to seasoned PMs. Underneath their mentorship, he drove the onboarding of a number of enterprise verticals to his product, saving Salesforce thousands and thousands in prices.
- World Class, Cross-Practical Groups: At Salesforce, with entry to international groups of full-stack builders, AI engineers, and UX designers, Aabhas has launched a number of new product capabilities that made inner platforms extra priceless to groups throughout the corporate.
- Staying on the Forefront: Salesforce has been on the frontier of AI with Agentforce. With each group within the firm seeking to change into an Agentforce group, Aabhas bought the final word alternative to information Monitoring Cloud’s AI/ML product technique. Collectively, his groups have launched varied AI-powered capabilities and are actually engaged on their first Agentic AI Observability Platform.
Aabhas’ journey exhibits the facility of Futureforce as the proper platform to pivot your skilled profession. Via this internship, he was in a position to deliver his previous expertise to Salesforce, however in his new capability as a Product Supervisor. In the present day, Aabhas will not be solely constructing AI merchandise, he’s additionally serving to use AI to affect how our prospects belief the Salesforce platform.
Impressed by Aabhas’ profession path?
Study extra about how one can launch your individual journey at Salesforce by our Futureforce packages.
