Episode 4: Shalini Chander

Today I interview my cousin Shalini Chander, Director of Product at Align Technologies. Shalini shares her journey from consulting in pharmaceutical manufacturing to becoming a software product leader. We track her career progress through process, storytelling, relationship-building, and advocacy. Shalini also emphasizes the importance of building visibility and sharing learnings within a company for advancement.

00:00 Introduction to the Push Pull Podcast
03:05 Meet Shalini Chander: Career Overview
04:03 Early Career in Pharmaceutical Consulting
12:01 Transition to In-House Roles and Grad School
16:43 Business School Experience and Lessons
19:50 Post-Business School: Consulting and Startups
22:41 Challenges in Startups and Learning Experiences
30:56 Joining Abbott: Product Management Journey
35:21 Navigating Career Changes at Abbott
38:15 Balancing Career and Motherhood
40:30 Transitioning to Genetics and Startups
45:29 Challenges and Successes in Product Management
55:00 Advancing in Product Management at Align
01:04:44 The Importance of Storytelling in Career Growth
01:07:15 Final Thoughts and Career Advice