Zero to GenAI Product Leader is a practical and strategic guide to mastering product management in the era of Generative AI and Agentic AI. In today's world, where every product is becoming an AI product, product managers need more than buzzwords-they need clarity, judgment, and the confidence to lead. This book delivers a clear playbook for thriving in AI-driven environments. Written for a wide range of readers-aspiring product managers, experienced PMs looking to scale their impact, career switchers from engineering, design, or data science, and founders building AI-powered products-this book provides step-by-step guidance for navigating the next wave of technology.
Insider, readers will discover:
- How to transition into AI product management roles and gain an AI edge
- Clear explanations of Generative AI, AI agents, and orchestration applied to real product decisions
- Playbooks for leading teams and building AI-native products
- How to navigate evolving roles, expectations, and AI PM interviews
- Practical strategies to accelerate career growth and avoid common pitfalls
- Case studies that illustrate smarter product and go-to-market decisions
Who should read this book
- Aspiring product managers who want to break in with an AI edge
- Experienced PMs aiming to stay relevant and scale their impact in an AI-first world
- Career switchers from technical or non-technical backgrounds transitioning into AI PM roles
- Founders and leaders who need practical frameworks to guide AI teams
What you'll get out of reading
Step-by-step guidance to break into product management or transition into AI roles. Accessible explanations of Generative AI and Agentic AI applied to real product challenges. Practical frameworks for leading teams and building AI-native products. Career maps, interview preparation, and growth strategies to land and excel in high-impact roles.
Why this book
In an era where every product is becoming an AI product, this book **cuts through the hype and provides grounded guidance. You won't find fluffy frameworks or recycled advice here. Instead, this book draws on the author's transition from traditional product roles to leading GenAI initiatives at Microsoft-alongside years of mentoring aspiring PMs and helping them grow into confident, AI-literate leaders.
Saumil Shrivastava, a product leader at Microsoft with experience driving AI platform initiatives, brings over a decade of expertise. An alumnus of the Ross School of Business and IIT Bombay, and mentor to hundreds of PMs, he combines hands-on product leadership with practical career coaching. This book is the essential career companion for anyone serious about breaking into AI product management, leveling up their impact, and thriving as an AI Product Manager.
Shrivastava: - Saumil Shrivastava is a product leader at Microsoft, where he helps shape the future of Generative and Agentic AI on the Azure AI Platform. He works at the intersection of cutting-edge research, large language models, and developer tooling-empowering startups and enterprises to build and scale real-world GenAI solutions. He also leads Foundry Labs, a Microsoft initiative connecting developers with emerging innovations from Microsoft Research.With over a decade of experience launching products across startups and Big Tech, Saumil has driven cross-functional AI initiatives and coached hundreds of aspiring and practicing product managers globally-offering structured guidance on career transitions, interviews, and breaking into AI product roles.His latest book, Zero to GenAI Product Leader, is a practical, strategic guide for navigating the AI shift in product management-from foundational skills to real-world execution. He is also the author of Roller Coaster Ride, a coming-of-age fiction novel exploring ambition and self-discovery.Saumil earned his MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and his engineering degree from IIT Bombay. Beyond product leadership, he shares reflections on career, well-being, and intentional living through platforms like @GoodVibesBySam, LinkedIn (@saumilshri), Medium (@saumil23) and Twitter (@sam1983).
