Nikita Chepuri

Nikita ChepuriAug 6, 2026

Microsoft is HIRING! Internships Product Manager: Internship 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g2wZDF7p Technical Program Manager: Internship 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gqPstcqV Research Intern - Firmware Security 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ghW9Sx5Z Software Engineer: Fullstack Product Intern 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g9FK8-cb Software Engineer: Cloud & Distributed Backend Intern 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g23M-sZE Software Engineer: AI/ML & LLM Intern 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gkEtysXE Software Engineer: Security & Identity Intern 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gukDhNKE Financial Analysis Intern 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gybZC_NC Software Engineer: Data Platform/Analytics Intern 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gSqRezgm Tag someone whos looking!

Nikita ChepuriAug 13, 2026

PM vs TPM vs AI PM — what’s actually the difference? They sound similar, but the day-to-day work can be VERY different. Product Manager (PM) → Owns the what + why → Talks to users and identifies problems → Defines product strategy + roadmap → Prioritizes features → Works with engineering, design, data, etc. → Tracks whether the product actually succeeded Think: “What should we build, and why?” Technical Program Manager (TPM) → Owns the how + execution across teams → Coordinates complex technical programs → Manages dependencies, timelines, and risks → Works heavily with engineering teams → Makes sure multiple teams are aligned and actually ship Think: “How do we get all these teams to deliver this successfully?” AI Product Manager (AI PM) → Still a PM — but focused on AI-powered products → Defines AI use cases and user problems → Works closely with ML/AI engineers + data scientists → Thinks about model quality, evaluations, latency, cost, hallucinations, and safety → Decides where AI actually adds value vs. where it’s just hype Think: “Where should we use AI, and how do we make it useful enough for people to trust?” The easiest way I explain it: PM: Are we building the right thing? TPM: Are we building it successfully? AI PM: Are we building the right AI-powered thing — and does the AI actually work? And yes, there’s overlap. A strong PM needs execution skills. A strong TPM needs product context. And an AI PM still needs all the fundamentals of product management. The title matters less than understanding what you actually want to spend your day doing. Which one would you choose: PM, TPM, or AI PM?

Nikita ChepuriAug 7, 2026

“Do you have any questions for us?” This is where many candidates make a mistake. They either say, “No, I think I’m good.” Or they ask something too generic. But this part of the interview is not just a formality. It is your chance to understand the role, the team, the expectations, and whether this opportunity is actually right for you. Ask questions like: How do you define success in this role? What would you expect me to accomplish in the first 90 days? What are the biggest challenges this role needs to solve? What does a typical day or week look like? What are the team’s current priorities? How is the team structured, and who would I work with most closely? What challenges has the previous person in this role faced? How are decisions made within the team? These questions help you learn what the job description does not always show. You can understand the real priorities, the team culture, the decision-making style, the workload, and the problems you would be expected to solve. And honestly, interviews are not only about proving yourself. They are also about protecting your time, energy, and career direction. A good interview question can reveal whether the role is clear, supportive, realistic, and aligned with your goals. So before your next PM interview, prepare your answers. But also prepare your questions. Which question do you always ask at the end of an interview?