-min%20(1)%20(3)-min.png)
The Product Manager role is being redefined from multiple directions. AI is changing how PMs research, experiment, prototype, and work with technology teams. Fintech is creating demand for product professionals who can understand complex products and business models. And as these shifts happen, the skills that help a PM stand out in the hiring process are changing too.
Join us for an Industry Connect session with Palani RK, Product Management Leader at PayPal, for a conversation on “How AI, Fintech & Hiring Are Changing the PM Role?.” With experience spanning payments, commerce, data platforms, SaaS, cloud, and AI, Palani will unpack what these changes mean for product professionals at different stages of their careers. The conversation will look at how AI is influencing the day-to-day work of PMs, from shaping ideas and validating solutions to working more closely with technology and data.
For professionals exploring fintech, Palani will also share what it takes to move from general product management into a domain such as payments and financial technology - including the product skills and domain understanding that can make the transition more meaningful.
The discussion will also bring the hiring lens into focus: What are fintech companies actually looking for in PM candidates? What skills matter when experience alone doesn't tell the complete story? And how can PMs prepare themselves for where the role is heading?
This session is designed to connect technology shifts, fintech opportunities, and changing hiring expectations - giving participants a clearer view of the skills they can start building for their next product career move.
Key Takeaways:
**Please Note: If attending in person is not feasible, please register to join the session live via Zoom
-min.gif)
Copyright © 2026 Institute of Product Leadership