Debugged S4 E2: Innovating Products at Adobe with Shalini Ahuja

Hello! Welcome back to Debugged, the Congressional App Challenge’s alumni-led podcast that connects the country’s youth with technology by debugging the intricate world of computer science.

In this episode, host Medha Gupta has the pleasure of chatting with Shalini Ahuja, a seasoned leader in product management with an engineering background. Spanning 16 years, her journey at Adobe began as a software engineer working on the Creative Suite. However, after pursuing her MBA part-time at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, she discovered her true passion was in business strategy. Today, this passion has become a key part of her everyday work at Adobe, as she focuses on product management for their AI-based innovation in flagship products!

Beginning the interview, Salini explains what exactly it means to be a product manager with a focus in innovation. In doing so, she shows appreciation towards the freedom that her role provides her to explore different possibilities, as well outlining her key responsibilities. She also talks about the ways her role promotes thinking big and outside of the box, as she considers how to maintain longevity of software that is as widely adopted as Photoshop and Lightroom.

Furthermore, she discusses the various turning points in her career, like when she decided to switch from independently writing code, to leading teams of others in doing so effectively. These turning points all boil down to various experiences that revealed to her a clearer picture of what her true passion in life was. For example, while pursuing her MBA, she tells the story of how she found herself enthralled by business strategy, and how that influenced some of her most important later decisions.

Finally, to the many Debugged listeners thinking about college and beyond, Shalini reflects on the strategies she used to decide which classes to take, as well as how important exploration was in finding her passion. A genuine curiosity of how the technology she relied on so much as a full-time graphics engineer (pre-Adobe) worked behind-the-scenes, for instance, inspired her to pursue computer science. And a long-standing interest and excitement about business guided her towards later pursuing her MBA. Looking back at her entire academic and professional career, Shalini reflects how these real-world experiences helped her follow her heart in deciding what it is she wanted to do with her life.

Tune in to this week’s episode of Debugged to hear more about the fascinating and inspiring career path of Shalini Ahuja, as well as more advice to students hoping to pursue computer science or product management!

More about Debugged

Founded in 2021 by the Congressional App Challenge’s Alumni Advisory Board, Debugged is a unique podcast experience that seeks to redefine STEM education, shine a light on diverse voices, and further the narrative around a myriad of computer science topics. By highlighting trends in the industry, breaking down complicated concepts, and interviewing high profile guests, listeners are given the opportunity to delve into the world of technology in an analytical yet engaging way.

Debugged is free to stream on your favorite platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more via Anchor.fm! To be the first to know about new episodes, and to learn more about the team of eleven alumni behind every one, follow @cacdebugged on Instagram and X. Thank you so much for your viewership; we hope you enjoy the episode!