Five Minutes with Isha Pareek

Product Manager, Ingenuity Hosting

In this interview, we hear from our Product Manager, Isha Pareek, talking about how new technologies allow her to quickly transform raw customer feedback into structured plans, generate design mock-ups and improve speed to market & product development processes.

Reflecting on her early career, Isha also shares the challenges of being one of the few women in the room and the importance of finding mentors who champion her growth. She highlights how curiosity, clear communication, and a focus on inclusivity have been key to her success, helping her navigate a male-dominated industry while fostering supportive, collaborative environments.

Tell us about some of the key learnings in your career so far.

As a product manager, one of the most powerful shifts I’ve experienced recently is how much easier it’s become to communicate a clear product vision, thanks to AI.

There was a time when translating rough ideas into something tangible for engineers, designers, or leadership meant hours (sometimes days) of writing, mocking, aligning, and rewriting. Now, with the help of tools like Lovable, Bolt.new I can take raw feedback from a customer call and turn it into a structured PRD. I can generate first-draft mock-ups to unblock a design conversation or summarise multiple team updates into a coherent narrative before a leadership sync.

One of my favourite moments recently was when I used AI to storyboard a checkout flow that I was struggling to explain in words. Seeing that concept visualised instantly helped the engineering lead get it—and within minutes, we were already discussing trade-offs and sprint timelines. That kind of alignment used to take multiple meetings.

The biggest learning curve in 2025 is understanding how to work with AI – not just use it. It’s about learning how to ask the right questions, sense-check the output, and build products that are both intelligent and trustworthy. 

Have you faced any unique challenges as a woman in product management, and how have you navigated them?

I’ve often been the only woman in the room – or one of very few. When I first got into a Product career, I felt pressure to “act more assertive” or to prove my technical abilities constantly. Over time, I learned that my difference is my strength. I bring empathy, user intuition, and a collaborative mindset to the table, and those are powerful tools. I also found sponsors – people who didn’t just mentor me but actively advocated for me. That made a huge difference. I’m still early in my career, so I really value learning from the women who’ve paved the way before me. Their experiences, leadership styles, and resilience inspire me and help shape how I approach being a woman in tech 🙂

What’s one skill or mindset that has helped you thrive in a male-dominated industry?

Curiosity. I ask “why” often. I don’t pretend to know everything, but I show up ready to learn, challenge ideas thoughtfully, and build trust across functions. I also firmly believe that clarity is power – being able to communicate priorities crisply has helped me lead even when I wasn’t the loudest in the room.

How do you manage competing priorities while advocating for inclusivity in tech?

I focus on building inclusive practices into everyday decisions: whether it’s how we define our users, structure our team rituals, or even in user feedback. That way, inclusion isn’t an extra task, it’s part of how we work! even when things get busy.

What advice would you give to other women aspiring to break into product management?

Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready, apply anyway!! Ask for help from Product Leaders who you look up to. Find your people women who lift you up, challenge you, and remind you that you belong. 🙂

Isha’s background in Product Management & Data Science, coupled with her experience at Twitter and in the technology sector makes her a qualified product lead for our hosting brands including UK2.net & Midphase.