Since its founding in 1975, Microsoft has evolved into a global tech powerhouse, shaping the future of AI, cloud computing, and digital transformation. Ashwani Sharma, UCI Merage MBA ’24, has joined this innovative landscape as a Business Program Manager, leveraging his expertise in strategy and AI commercialization. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, he shares his MBA journey, career insights, and how he landed his dream job at Microsoft.
Ashwani Sharma, UCI Merage MBA ’24, Business Program Manager at Microsoft
Age: 31
Hometown: Delhi, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Delhi Technological University (Formerly Delhi College of Engineering)
Graduate Business School, Graduation Year, and Concentration: School: University of California, Irvine – The Paul Merage School of Business, Graduation Year: 2024, Concentration: Digital Transformation, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Pre-MBA Work Experience: July 2015 – May 2017: Co-founder of a Consumer Products Startup (Industry: Consumer Products); June 2017 – November 2020: Engagement Manager/ Senior Consultant for Consocia Advisory (Management Consulting firm focussing on Business Transformation & Strategic Advisory) – Industry: Consulting; Dec 2020 – July 2022: Strategy Program Manager/ Product Strategist for Central Square Foundation (An Edtech Digital Transformation Social Enterprise) – Industry: Technology
Post-MBA Work Experience: March 2024 – September 2024: Strategy Manager for a Stealth AI Startup (Industry – Technology with an emphasis on Generative AI products); October 2024 – Present: Business Program Manager at Microsoft (Industry – Technology (AI Products and commercialization)
Why did you choose to attend business school?
My decision to attend business school was driven by three factors. First, I wanted to broaden my strategic and leadership skills, transition into product strategy roles, and expand my professional network. Coming from a background in consulting and product, I wanted to refine my ability to drive large-scale business transformations. The UCI MBA provided the structured learning needed to enhance my leadership, financial acumen, and decision-making abilities. Second, in addition to my experience in GTM and Product strategies that led to my interest in AI-driven product management, the business school gave me exposure to the digital acumen needed to thrive in a technology space, largely driven by AI nowadays. Lastly, attending a great business school like UCI allowed me to connect with industry leaders and technology startups, providing me valuable insights into different markets and industries while accelerating my career trajectory in the technology space.
Why UCI Merage? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose the UCI Paul Merage School of Business for its emphasis on digital transformation, its STEM-designated MBA program, and its strategic location on the Tech Coast. The Merage School’s curriculum specifically emphasizes Digital Transformation, which was aligned with my experiences in digital product strategy. The fully STEM-designated MBA program deepened my knowledge of management science and quantitative analyses, which was essential for my career progression in the technology sector. Additionally, the school’s proximity to tech giants like Amazon, Google, and numerous innovative startups provided unparalleled opportunities for industry engagement and professional growth. Another key factor was the entrepreneurial focus of UCI, which enabled me to compete in the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition, where my team secured second place, reinforcing my ability to build and scale products that solve real problems and challenges.
What about your MBA experience prepared you for your current career?
The diverse range of courses and concentrations at UCI allowed me to customize my MBA experience to align with my post-MBA career goals. Additionally, the UCI Career Center provided invaluable support in navigating a challenging recruiting landscape, guiding me through both my internship search and full-time job placement with strategic insights and resources.
What was your internship during business school? How did that inform your post-MBA career choice?
I got an opportunity to work as a Business Technology Consultant intern at ZS Associates in their New Jersey office. I got an opportunity to co-lead a product strategy to drive sales effectiveness for a Fortune 500 Pharma Client. It was a wonderful experience wherein I realized firsthand how a product strategy driven by customer insight and data could potentially lead to better health outcomes for the most important part of the healthcare value chain, i.e., the patients. This motivated me to venture forth into the technology sector and choose a role that was a perfect intersection of business and technology.
Why did you choose Microsoft post-MBA? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to work?
Microsoft was one of my targets since day 1 of B-School. I had heard great things about Microsoft’s culture, and I wanted to be part of a mission-driven organization. I was able to not only establish a strong network of my own but also received great guidance from key stakeholders (now my colleagues) at Microsoft to help navigate the recruiting process. Additionally, an opportunity to work on AI Products to drive customer impact was something that I had targeted early on, which made securing this role more rewarding.
Advice to current MBA students:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of the job search?
Networking. There’s a lot of value in networking – not just to get referrals, but to build a network/ connections that will help one grow as a professional.
–One thing you would change or do differently as part of the job search?
I would participate in conferences/ sessions to directly interact with companies and their representatives. It’s a traditional but an effective method to interact with target companies in person.
–Were there any surprises regarding your current employer’s recruiting process?
Not really. The process was smooth throughout.
–What piece of advice do you wish you had been given during your MBA?
Get a head start on AI and associated courses. It’s important to identify the target industry and take a deep dive in resources/ courses that directly speak to AI applications for that target industry.
