In honor of International Women’s Day, we connected with Shikha Garg, ‘22. Read on to learn about the Executive MBA experience at Booth from her perspective.
- By
- March 08, 2025
- Booth Women
Alumna Shikha Garg on Career Impact, Community, and International Women’s Day
In this blog, Shikha Garg shares what led her to Chicago Booth and how her experience helped further develop the skill set she needed to continue excelling in her career as a product leader. Shikha also discusses how she feels connected to International Women’s Day and why the holiday holds special significance.
Tell us about yourself and share what led you to Chicago Booth.
My name is Shikha Garg, and I am a software product leader based in the Bay Area. I completed the Executive MBA Program at Chicago Booth in 2022.
Choosing Chicago Booth was a no brainer for two key reasons. First, the rigorous, quant-focused academic curriculum aligned perfectly with my desire to deepen my analytical skills and complement my professional career. Second, the program's globally diverse cohort, representing professionals from various industries and countries, offered a unique opportunity to broaden my perspective. Engaging with peers from such varied backgrounds helped me cultivate empathy and refine my approach as a product leader.
Fun Fact: I have maintained strong connections with my Chicago Booth friends, and we often travel together, exploring new destinations and sharing memorable experiences.
What is your current role?
I most recently served as a Product Manager at Microsoft on the Azure team. Currently, I am evaluating exciting opportunities for the next phase of my career in the Bay Area.
What sold you on Chicago Booth’s Executive MBA Program?
When exploring MBA options, I was already established in product management and knew I wanted to continue excelling in this space. A full-time MBA program at that stage of my career carried a high opportunity cost, and commuting weekly from Houston to Chicago for a weekend program wasn’t feasible.
The Executive MBA Program stood out because it offered the same rigorous curriculum, faculty, and degree as the full-time program but was designed for experienced professionals. Its compact structure allowed me to balance work and study effectively. Conversations with alumni further solidified my decision; their experiences highlighted the program’s value in fostering leadership growth while accommodating mid-career professionals.
What was your favorite class at Chicago Booth? Furthermore, what course(s) and other resources did you find most beneficial in helping you hone in on your career goals?
Two courses stand out as particularly impactful: Competitive Strategy and Corporate Finance. Competitive Strategy equipped me with frameworks to develop differentiated product strategies that create sustainable competitive advantages for the software I work on. Corporate Finance deepened my understanding of financial concepts like NPV calculations, enabling me to quantify investment opportunities both professionally and personally. These courses have directly influenced my ability to make strategic decisions as a product leader and create differentiated value for myself and the team.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? Is there anything you’re looking forward to doing in celebration?
International Women’s Day holds special significance for me. It is a celebration of women's success as a whole in their personal and professional life. It is a celebration of all the allies who played significant roles in the success of women around them and helped in creating equal opportunities and removing barriers. I am really looking forward to joining the community of women in product management in the Bay Area and celebrating the success.
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