In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we head to the Pacific Northwest to hear from Pratibha Shivnani, who recently graduated with an MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business. Her time at Foster—marked by hands-on learning, a collaborative community, and an impactful internship at Amazon—equipped her with the skills to thrive in ambiguity and lead with a customer-first mindset. Passionate about innovation and the startup space, she continues to chart a dynamic path in tech with Amazon Web Services while calling Seattle home. Read on for her story.
Pratibha Shivnani, Washington Foster MBA ’23, Senior Product Manager, Amazon Web Services
Hometown: Delhi, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Thapar University, Patiala, Majored in Electronics and Communication Engineering
Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration: Foster School of Business, University of Washington, 2023, Marketing and Analytics
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Technology Consultant /Sr. Engineer, Deloitte and Accenture, 6.5 yrs, IT and Software
Post-MBA Work Experience: Sr. Product Manager (Tech), Amazon (AWS), 1yr+, IT and Software
Why did you choose to attend business school?
I chose to attend business school because I wanted to transition from executing decisions to shaping them. I loved my work as an implementation engineer in HR Tech and FinTech—solving complex challenges and building solutions for customers. But after a few years, I started feeling stuck. The work became repetitive—designing similar implementations, debugging familiar issues—just for different customers.
More than that, I realized I was too far from the bigger picture. I had access to RFPs and sometimes even helped design them, but I had little insight into why certain decisions were made or how they fit into the company’s broader strategy. Those conversations happened at levels far above me, often by leaders with 15+ years in the industry. I wasn’t willing to wait that long to have a say in the direction of a business.
I wanted to build the skills and perspective needed to move from execution to strategy—to not just solve problems, but define which ones were worth solving. Business school was the best way to accelerate that journey, giving me the tools, exposure, and network to transition into a role where I could drive impact at a larger scale.
Why Washington Foster? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
As an international student, my top priorities when choosing a business school were career opportunities and return on investment. Foster checked all the right boxes—its strong connections with top companies, vibrant startup culture, and hands-on industry exposure made it the perfect choice. Being in Seattle meant I had direct access to a thriving job market, with opportunities across tech, Fortune 500 companies, and the startup ecosystem.
Beyond career prospects, the scholarship I received made the financial decision easier, and the small, tight-knit community at Foster was another major draw. Collaboration is deeply ingrained in the culture here—whether it’s interview prep, career planning, or just pushing each other to succeed, my classmates have always had my back.
I’ve also always been passionate about the startup world, and I know at some point in my career, I’ll pivot in that direction. Foster has provided the perfect playground to nurture that ambition, with the right resources, network, and experiential learning opportunities to develop my skills in entrepreneurship and innovation.
And of course, the Pacific Northwest itself was an added bonus—the natural beauty, combined with the city’s dynamic energy, made Foster the ideal place for both personal and professional growth. Looking back, I couldn’t have made a better choice.
What about your Foster MBA experience prepared you for your current career?
One of the most valuable lessons from my MBA experience was learning to embrace uncertainty and confidently dive into the unknown. Throughout the program, we were constantly exposed to case studies across diverse industries—many of which I had little to no prior experience in. Yet, by breaking down problems, applying first principles, and collaborating with peers, I realized that no challenge is too complex if approached methodically. What initially seemed unfamiliar soon became an area we could analyze deeply, understand, and make strategic recommendations on.
A standout experience for me was in my entrepreneurship class, where we had to design a product from zero to one. It wasn’t just about coming up with an idea—it required understanding the market, identifying a real customer pain point, building a viable business model, and iterating based on feedback. This hands-on experience reinforced a lesson that now defines how I approach my work: always start with the customer problem and work backward to find the right solution.
This mindset, instilled throughout my MBA, has been instrumental in my career. Whether tackling new problem spaces, defining product strategies, or making high-impact decisions, I feel equipped to navigate ambiguity and drive meaningful outcomes with confidence.
What was your internship during your Foster MBA? How did that inform your post-MBA career choice?
During my MBA internship, I worked at Amazon as a Senior Product Manager – Technical in the Global Business team on the retail side. My project sat at the intersection of business, technology, and finance—I was tasked with developing a cost allocation strategy for a complex internal tool used by my team. Initially, the product and the problem space were completely unfamiliar to me, but my MBA training had taught me to embrace the unknown. By applying structured thinking and breaking down the problem methodically, I was able to navigate the challenge and deliver a viable strategy.
This experience clarified two major things for me. First, I realized that I genuinely enjoyed working in tech and wanted to continue growing in this space. When I started my MBA, I had considered pivoting into marketing, but my internship reaffirmed my passion for building and scaling tech products. However, I also recognized that I wanted to transition from retail to cloud and enterprise technology, where I could work on B2B products and focus on more complex and scalable solutions.
Second, I discovered that I thrive in a high-energy, fast-paced environment. The constant need for innovation, quick decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration was something I found exciting and fulfilling. These insights ultimately guided my decision to stay in a technical product management role post-MBA, focusing on cloud and enterprise tech.
Why did you choose your current company? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to work?
Amazon offered me a full-time role after my internship, and it turned out to be a decision I was equally eager to make. I love the fast-paced, “fail fast” culture Amazon embodies—the energy and constant innovation in the company make it a dynamic place to work.
Plus, I wasn’t quite ready to leave Seattle, and Amazon offers so many diverse opportunities across different areas of the business. The flexibility to move internally is also a big plus. I’ve always been drawn to the cloud space, and with AWS being a leader in that domain, it felt like the perfect place for me to take the next step in my career. On a personal note, I also got married between my MBA, and my partner is based in Seattle, which made staying here even more meaningful for both of us.
Advice to current MBA students:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of the job search?
I would absolutely have infinite coffee chats. Talking to as many people as possible in the domains you’re interested in gives you valuable insights into what they do and how they do it. People are generally very open to chatting with students because they’ve been in your shoes at some point, and it’s a great way to build relationships and learn from others’ experiences.
–One thing you would change or do differently as part of the job search?
I would continue to search, even after receiving an offer. The market can shift quickly, and you never know what other opportunities might come up, so it’s important to keep exploring until you’re fully settled.
–Were there any surprises regarding your current employer’s recruiting process?
Yes, my joining was delayed by a couple of months and I learnt about it three weeks before my graduation date.
–What piece of advice do you wish you had been given during your MBA at Foster?
It’s a ride. Don’t forget to take a moment for yourself, slow down, and breathe. The MBA journey can be intense, and it’s easy to get caught up in everything, but taking the time to recharge is just as important as the work you’re doing.
