Hello
I’m Tharun Poduru.
I’m a tech enthusiast turned aspiring Product Manager with a passion for solving meaningful problems. My journey has taken me from developing scalable, customer-focused software solutions as a Software Engineer at Amazon to leading impactful projects that enhanced user experiences across enterprise ecosystems.
Now, as an MBA candidate, I’m sharpening my business and strategic skills to complement my technical expertise and build products that make a difference.
This page isn’t just about my career, it’s about my passion for creating innovative solutions, my love for storytelling, and the moments that have shaped my journey so far.
Current Focus
As an MBA student at Santa Clara University, I’m diving deep into the world of Product Management, strategy, marketing, and leadership. Every day, I’m gaining tools and insights to approach challenges holistically, balancing customer needs, technical feasibility, and business impact.
Whether it’s exploring customer journey mapping or learning to navigate complex decision-making, my MBA journey is equipping me to tackle challenges and deliver products that create exceptional value.
My Journey
Growing up in Bengaluru, India — a hub of innovation and technology — I found inspiration watching company keynotes from the likes of Google, Samsung, and Apple. These events sparked my curiosity on how transformative products are envisioned, built, and brought to life.
While my ultimate aspiration has always been Product Management, I chose to start my journey in engineering. I believed that understanding the technical depths of product creation was crucial before stepping into a product role. This decision set the foundation for my career.
My professional path has been a progression of opportunities and learning. Starting my career at Wipro, I built a strong technical foundation, contributing to cloud-based solutions and enabling seamless data migrations for enterprise clients.
Driven by a desire to deepen my expertise, I moved to the U.S. to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science at Santa Clara University. Immersed in the Silicon Valley ecosystem, I gained not only technical knowledge but also a global perspective on innovation and collaboration.
This journey led me to Amazon, where I worked as a Software Development Engineer on the Alexa Smart Properties team. At Amazon, I spearheaded initiatives to streamline device deployment processes for enterprise clients, including the Echo Show 15. These efforts resulted in faster rollouts, enhanced scalability, and empowered businesses to seamlessly integrate Alexa into their ecosystems. Collaborating across diverse teams, I developed secure APIs and multimodal tools that reduced time-to-market and improved operational efficiency, leaving a lasting impact on both the product and its users.
While working on these cutting-edge projects, I gained a first hand view how Product Managers play a pivotal role in driving innovation and solving complex customer challenges. Inspired by their ability to lead cross-functional teams and shape the product lifecycle, I decided to pursue an MBA at Santa Clara University to complement my technical expertise with business and strategic skills.
Every step of this journey has brought me closer to realizing my passion for building impactful, customer-centric products.
Guiding Principles
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Customer Obsession
Every great product begins with a deep understanding of the customer. I believe in diving into customer pain points, empathizing with their needs, and delivering solutions that truly make a difference.
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Innovation with Purpose
Technology should do more than just impress—it should solve real problems, inspire people, and push boundaries. I’m driven by the challenge of creating solutions that are not only cutting-edge but also meaningful and impactful.
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Integrity and Ownership
Trust and accountability are at the core of everything I do. Whether it’s collaborating with a team or leading a project, I believe in taking responsibility and delivering with transparency and reliability.
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People First
No product or company is built without people. I believe in fostering meaningful connections, valuing diverse perspectives, and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. Great products come from great teams.
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Continuous Learning
The tech and business worlds are constantly evolving. Staying curious, seeking new knowledge, and embracing change are essential for growth.
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Prioritization with Impact
Building impactful products means making thoughtful trade-offs. I focus on aligning efforts with both customer needs and business goals to deliver results that matter most.
Beyond Work
Movies have always been my favorite way to escape, explore, and experience the creativity of brilliant minds. Whether it’s an action-packed thriller like The Bourne Ultimatum or an emotional drama, I love how movies immerse you in a world someone else has crafted with care and imagination. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed everything from solo theater outings to convincing 20 friends to join me for a movie night. Each experience reminds me of the power of storytelling to entertain, inspire, and bring people together.
When it comes to YouTube, creators like Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), Casey Neistat, Mark Rober, and Dude Perfect have shaped my perspective on creativity, storytelling, and innovation. Their content has deepened my curiosity for technology and entrepreneurship while giving me a behind-the-scenes look at how ideas come to life. Watching MKBHD unbox the latest gadgets or Casey Neistat tell a story through his lens has been both entertaining and inspiring.
Sports, on the other hand, are a perfect mix of strategy, resilience, and teamwork. Watching Manchester City rise to the top of football or the McLaren Formula 1 team battle it out on the track showcases the importance of persistence and adaptability. The emotional highs and lows of sports remind me that no great achievement comes without challenges.
Whether it’s a cinematic masterpiece, a creative YouTube series, or a game-winning goal, I find inspiration in the passion, effort, and dedication behind these pursuits. They may seem unrelated to my professional path, but they fuel my creativity and drive to make an impact in the work I do.