Chaitanya Shahare

Bridging Vision and Innovation in India's Digital Frontier

Chaitanya Shahare

Head of Products,

Karza Technologies

I n today’s business environment, success is not a fi xed point but rather a constantly shifting terrain. Chaitanya Shahare, the head of products at Karza Technologies, exemplifi es the qualities of a true leader. His approach to leadership is not just a strategy; it’s a transformative journey. Chaitanya fosters a collaborative environment where ideas fl ow freely, and creativity knows no bounds. He bridges the gap between engineering, design, and marketing, nurturing a space where diverse talents unite for a common quest for excellence. His leadership centres around vision and alignment, ensuring that every team member understands not just what they do but why they do it. This shared purpose propels them forward.
What makes Chaitanya exceptional is his celebration of diversity. He encourages crossfunctional collaboration, weaving together engineering, design, and marketing expertise to defi ne their products. His philosophy is simple: empower and acknowledge. By granting his team the autonomy to innovate within their expertise, he cultivates morale and encourages a culture of swift decisionmaking and innovative ideas. Data forms the basis of Chaitanya’s decisions, and his commitment to continuous learning keeps his team ahead of the curve, ready to adapt to market dynamics. Above all, Chaitanya’s leadership is defi ned by his unwavering dedication to the end user. Every decision, strategy, and innovation revolves around the end user, transforming Karza’s products into indispensable solutions.
Let’s delve into this exclusive interaction with Chaitanya to learn more about him.

Can you provide an overview of your professional journey and the key milestones you have achieved?

With 15 years of diverse expertise in digital transformation, product management, marketing, and analytics, I’ve achieved signifi cant milestones. My academic background includes a B.Tech in Production Engineering from VJTI, Mumbai University, and an MBA (PGDM) in Strategy and Finance from IIM Calcutta. I began in IT product marketing in Dubai, founded a digital marketing startup, and progressed to pivotal roles at ICICI Bank, IIFL Securities, Indiabulls Securities, Kotak Life Insurance, and SBI General Insurance. As the current Head of Products in the fi ntech industry, my primary focus revolves around accelerating revenue growth, ensuring profi tability, and fostering continuous product innovation. My approach is anchored in collaboration, data-driven decision-making, ethical practices, and the development of user-centric solutions. My unwavering commitment to digital product management has consistently driven innovative solutions, operational effi ciency, and tangible results. My adeptness at thriving in dynamic, highpaced environments has been instrumental in achieving key milestones and propelling business expansion. I am enthusiastic about the prospect of continuing to lead and innovate in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

How do you prioritise features and improvements in your product roadmap? What factors infl uence these decisions?

As a digital product leader, I prioritise features and improvements on our product roadmap through a meticulous process. We maintain a customer-centric focus by gathering user feedback, addressing pain points, and prioritising features that enhance the user experience. Alignment with business goals is paramount, ensuring that our roadmap supports our mission and growth. Our data-driven approach relies on metrics like user engagement and satisfaction scores to guide decisions. We balance effort versus impact, emphasising features with a high impact-to-effort ratio. Monitoring competitors and considering technical feasibility are key, as are assessing revenue potential and regulatory compliance. Input from internal stakeholders, including sales and marketing teams, informs our decisions. In sum, our prioritisation strategy combines user needs, business objectives, data insights, technical feasibility, and stakeholder input to maximise value for our users and drive product and organisational success.

How do ethics and responsible technology infl uence your product development, ensuring alignment with innovative digital solutions?

As the Head of Products at Karza, ethics and responsible technology are core to our product development. We prioritise ethical considerations from the outset, evaluating potential impacts on user privacy, inclusivity, and misuse risks during ideation. User privacy and data security are nonnegotiable, with strict adherence to data protection standards and regular security audits. Inclusivity and accessibility are integral, ensuring our products serve users of all backgrounds and abilities. Transparency, accountability, and ethical AI and ML practices are woven into our development process. Collaborative partnerships with like-minded organisations help us align with industry best practices. By upholding these principles, we not only drive innovation but also contribute to a more ethical digital landscape, serving the best interests of our users and society.

What key lessons from your professional journey would you share with aspiring product leaders?

First and foremost, prioritise your customers and empathise with their needs. Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, embrace a growth mindset, and base decisions on data. Ethics should be integrated into your product development process, with a focus on privacy, inclusivity, and responsible technology. Effective communication is key, both within your team and with end users. Find a balance between innovation and execution, and continually invest in learning. Remember to celebrate successes and learn from failures, viewing setbacks as opportunities for improvement. These lessons have been instrumental in my career, and I hope they guide aspiring product leaders as they embark on their own journeys.