How to Make Your Product Management Goals Stand Out in MBA Applications
                     Why Generic Product 
Management Goals 
Won’t Work In MBA 
 AThep hype alroiuncd aProdtucit oManagesment grew after the pandemic. 
Tech companies saw growth, and PMs were considered rock stars. But 
as global uncertainties increased, the tech industry saw layoffs. Many 
PMs found themselves fixing bugs instead of owning product vision. 
This article explores how to pitch Product Management goals in MBA 
applications.
The Pitfall of Vague 
Aspirations
 Nothing bores adcoms more than reading about applicants desperate 
to become product managers. Many applicants lack the 
understanding that product managers get inputs from strategy and 
program teams. In healthcare, PMs focus on enabling systems to 
support the business. Applicants need to understand that product 
management is a broad field. If your application strategy is to 
vaguely mention a few product management-like projects as an 
engineer in your pre-MBA career and then propose full-bodied 
product management goals, you will be very disappointed.
Solid PM Goals: A 
Mindset Shift
 Product management should not be presented as a glorified 
technical role with vagueness. Aspiring product managers should 
convey a mindset that refuses to accept inefficiencies. The best 
product managers see a fundamental problem and recognize how a 
technology-enabled solution can change the game.
Technology-Enabled 
Solutions: Bridging 
Critical Gaps
 Imagine a doctor in a remote clinic unable to make important 
decisions due to fragmented patient records. A mobile, technology-
enabled diagnostic tool could bridge that gap. Product Management 
has the power to transform entire populations. When done right, 
Product Management has the power to transform entire populations, 
as seen in India’s successful battle to eradicate polio, where a 
complex, nationwide technology-based system was meticulously 
orchestrated to track every individual, mobilize resources, and ensure 
no child was left behind, turning India’s polio health crisis into a 
triumph of strategic management.
Revolutionizing 
Sectors: Empowering 
Key Community Players
 Think about smallholder farmers squeezed by middlemen. An end-to-
end supply chain product platform could redefine fair prices and 
access. Equipping farmers with strategic insights on crop 
diversification based on predictive analysis of demand and estimated 
prices would be even more interesting.
Financial Inclusion: 
Data-Driven Lending
 Millions of people remain excluded from the financial system due to a 
lack of credit history. A data-driven alternative lending model could be 
the key to financial inclusion.
Center Your Narrative 
Around Problem-
 SWhoen plitvchinign yogur product management goals, center your 
narrative around a problem you are committed to solving. 
Demonstrate to the admissions committees your deep awareness of a 
critical gap or challenge in the market. Articulate the far-reaching 
consequences if left unaddressed. True product management is about 
creating solutions that drive real change and bring tangible value to 
the world.
Get Personalized Advice
 Get personalized advice tailored to your specific situation. Reach out for guidance on MBA Applications or Interview 
Preparation. Contact MBA Guide Consulting at [email protected].