Mastering Product Leadership: Wisdom, Humility, and Grit with Aruna Adhikari

Introduction and Aruna’s Recognition by Pharma Voice

Rina Alexin | 00:00–04:38

Hi everyone, and welcome to *Productside Stories*, the podcast where we explore the real lessons learned from product leaders around the world. I’m **Rina Alexin**, CEO of Productside, and today I’m joined by **Aruna Adhikari**, Head of Product, Clinical Technologies at IQVIA — and recently named one of *Pharma Voice’s “100 Most Inspiring People in Life Sciences.”*

Aruna, congratulations!

Aruna Adhikari | 00:57–02:41

Thank you! Honestly, it felt surreal. When I got the email, I thought it was spam. I even asked someone if it was real. I hadn’t been in this industry for long, only six years, so to be recognized among people with 20–30 years of experience was humbling.

Rina Alexin | 02:50–04:14

And that’s exactly why it’s so deserved. At Productside, we’ve featured you multiple times for your leadership. Product management is hard, but product *leadership* — that’s another level of responsibility.

Aruna Adhikari | 03:35–04:38

Absolutely. Leadership is about humility. You have to let go of ego and make others the heroes. It takes wisdom to focus on the success of the product — not your own spotlight.

Aruna’s Journey from Engineering to Product Management

Aruna Adhikari | 04:54–07:25

I was studying electrical engineering when it all started. During an internship, I told the CEO, “This product won’t work.” I wanted to validate it before everyone kept building. That curiosity — and boldness — was my first taste of product discovery, even before I knew what that meant.

Later, I pursued an MBA in Strategic Technology Management, just as product management was emerging as a discipline. I realized I loved connecting market insight with technology and architecture to build meaningful solutions.

Early Lessons on Curiosity and Tenacity

Aruna Adhikari | 07:25–09:31

Curiosity and tenacity were innate for me. I didn’t want titles; I wanted impact. I was never chasing money or status — I wanted to make products succeed. That persistence has defined my journey.

Navigating Cross-Functional Conflicts

Rina Alexin | 09:31–10:54

Product managers often face tension with teams like sales, who are driven by immediate goals. How do you manage those conflicts while keeping long-term company interests in mind?

The “Empty Chair” Analogy and Empathy in Action

Aruna Adhikari | 10:54–15:24

I love Jeff Bezos’s *Empty Chair* analogy — imagine the customer sitting in the room during every discussion. Would you still argue about that feature?

That empathy extends to all stakeholders — sales, marketing, engineering. When I meet with sales, I frame conversations in terms of their wins. I ask, “How will this decision help you succeed?”

This mindset transforms friction into alignment. You lead through empathy, not authority.

Building Trust and Transparency with Clients

Aruna Adhikari | 15:24–20:06

With clients, authenticity matters more than perfection. Once, a client criticized us for not investing enough in a feature. Instead of deflecting, I said, “You’re right.” I explained the backend work we were doing to enable better UX in the future. That honesty saved the relationship.

Transparency builds trust faster than polished excuses ever can.

Practicing Courageous Conversations

Rina Alexin & Aruna Adhikari | 20:06–21:33

**Rina:** Courageous conversations — that’s what you’ve modeled since day one. **Aruna:** It’s about truth-telling. Product leaders must say what’s real, even when uncomfortable. Courage with empathy defines great leadership.

Building Self-Awareness and Confidence

Aruna Adhikari | 21:33–24:22

I’m an introvert who appears extroverted — but it’s practiced. Self-awareness changed everything for me. Once, a mentor told me I lacked it, and though it hurt, they were right. You can’t change what you’re not aware of. Product leaders must continuously reflect, learn, and adapt.

Lessons from Mentorship and Coaching

Aruna Adhikari | 24:22–26:48

Great mentors helped me build self-awareness and resilience. Coaching isn’t just about process; it’s about understanding your *psychology* — what drives and blocks you. That’s how you evolve from product manager to product leader.

The Psychology of Product Management

Aruna Adhikari | 26:48–31:35

Product management blends **psychology, technology, and frameworks**. To succeed, you must understand people as deeply as you understand systems. That’s why product leaders often become great CEOs — they connect empathy, logic, and execution.

Facing Failure and Defining Success

Aruna Adhikari | 31:35–32:13

I believe success starts at 70%. The universe gives you that much — you bring the remaining 30% with your mindset and action. Failure isn’t a threat; it’s feedback.

The Power of Daily Celebration

Aruna Adhikari | 32:13–35:38

Celebrate every day — a good meeting, a team win, a client breakthrough. Positivity fuels progress. As a leader, practice recognizing small victories to build confidence and joy.

Advice for Aspiring Product Leaders

Aruna Adhikari | 35:38–39:50

Forget titles and focus on knowledge. Be curious across domains — tech, marketing, strategy, psychology. Always ask: *What would my next-level self do?* Grow into leadership before you’re given the title.

How to Connect with Aruna

Aruna Adhikari & Rina Alexin | 39:50–End

**Aruna:** The best way to connect with me is through **LinkedIn**. **Rina:** Perfect — and thank you, Aruna, for sharing such profound insights. To our listeners, visit **Productside.com** for more stories, templates, and resources to elevate your product career.