Real-World Experience at Autodesk
Professional work experience at Autodesk is helping Anisha Gandhi, MS’25, information systems, strengthen her technical and product management skills, and develop expertise in presentations, teamwork, and leadership.
Anisha Gandhi, MS’25, information systems, is developing a range of technical and business skills as a product manager intern at Autodesk. She has found that these experiences, in conjunction with her coursework, are preparing her for a successful future.
Gandhi is involved in the development of a new reporting and dashboarding solution for Autodesk’s Construction Cloud customers, a project that empowers construction professionals to make data-driven decisions, thereby enhancing project quality and safety. Collaborating closely with senior product managers, she not only drives feature development but also participates in user experience reviews, ensuring that the product meets both customer needs and business goals.
Her experience during the internship extended beyond product development to client interactions, where she had the opportunity to work with high-profile clients across various industries. Leading design validation and customer research meetings, she developed the ability to translate client feedback into actionable insights, prioritize the product backlog, and drive improvements that matter to end-users. A highlight of her internship was hosting a webinar to present the solution to clients, an experience that highlighted her ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and confidence.
The work environment at Autodesk has been a rich learning ground for Gandhi. From regular one-on-one meetings with the director and senior director of product management to intern sessions with Autodesk’s president, Gandhi has been immersed in a culture that values learning and growth. The supportive atmosphere, reinforced by her manager’s words, “Your success is my success,” has enabled her to thrive, making her feel valued and empowered.
Gandhi’s journey at Autodesk has not been without its challenges. Navigating the complexities of working with leadership members and cross-functional teams required a delicate balance of collaboration and initiative. However, with the constant support of her team, she has turned these challenges into opportunities for growth, emerging as a confident and capable product manager.
At Autodesk, Gandhi utilized a range of skills acquired from her coursework, including database management and design, extract-transform-load (ETL) techniques and tools, data visualization, change management models, SQL, data analysis, data warehousing, and cloud computing platforms like Amazon Web Services and Azure.
The comprehensive experience she is gaining at Autodesk has fueled her passion for taking on more complex projects and leadership roles. As she continues her internship, Gandhi is excited to deepen her understanding of the product lifecycle, using her experiences to drive innovation in the technology industry.