Meet Ambika, Associate Product Manager at Zopa

We caught up with Ambika, an Associate Product Manager at Zopa, to find out more about their expirence so far.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

I joined Zopa as a graduate after studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford. I really enjoyed my degree, but I was excited to start working. I knew I wanted a role that involved lots of collaboration, creativity and problem-solving, because I've always enjoyed working with others to solve complex challenges.

What is your role and how long have you been here?

I'm an Associate Product Manager and have been at Zopa for almost two years. I actually started as a Product Associate, where I spent a lot of time working with data, running A/B tests and understanding customer behaviour. Since then, I've moved into product management and now work in our Investments team.

I've had the opportunity to own some really exciting projects,  including delivery our Targeted Support proposition and leading our new ETF offering from 0 to 1. That means defining the product strategy, working closely with designers and engineers, and making sure we're building something that genuinely solves customer problems.

What inspired you to apply for this role/company?

I knew I wanted a role with a lot of ownership and autonomy. I didn't want to spend my days doing repetitive tasks or feel like my ideas weren't valued.

What really stood out to me about Zopa was the culture. I read a lot of Glassdoor reviews from people in Product, and they all talked about how much ownership they had and how collaborative the environment was. The idea of building products that solve real customer problems, while working with talented people across different disciplines, really appealed to me.

What would a 'normal' day look like for someone in your role?

One of the things I love most about product management is that there isn't really a "normal" day.

Typically, I'll start by catching up with the engineering team to understand progress on what we're building and meeting with product designers to review upcoming features. I'll also spend time working with stakeholders across the business or external partners to make sure everyone is aligned.

Beyond that, every day can be completely different. Some days I'll spend hours interviewing customers to understand their needs. Other days I'll be analysing data to identify areas of friction or opportunities to improve the product. Sometimes I'll step back and think about the longer-term strategy and vision for our Investments proposition.

What do you find most interesting about the sector/industry you're in?

For me, it's seeing ideas turn into real products that customers actually use. I love working in a cross-functional team and taking something from an idea on a whiteboard all the way through to launch. It can take months of collaboration between product, engineering, design and lots of other teams, so seeing customers use something you've built is incredibly rewarding.

I also love that financial services has such a meaningful impact on people's lives. The work we're doing can genuinely help people feel more confident with their money, which makes it feel worthwhile.

What is the company culture like?

The culture at Zopa is one of my favourite things about working here. Everyone is incredibly smart, but also genuinely kind and approachable. People are always willing to help, whether that's answering questions, giving feedback or sharing their expertise.

There's also a huge amount of trust. Even early in my career, I've been given ownership of major projects and encouraged to share my ideas. It's a place where people care about building great products, but also care about each other, which makes it a really enjoyable environment to work in.

Finally, any tips for anyone who'd like to apply for a similar role?

Be curious. Product management is all about understanding people, solving problems and being open to learning. You don't need to have all the answers—in fact, asking questions is often more important than having the right solution straight away.

I'd also recommend getting comfortable with working across lots of different teams. Communication and collaboration are just as important as analytical skills.

Finally, don't be put off if you don't tick every box in a job description. If you're excited about solving customer problems, enjoy learning and are willing to take ownership, I'd absolutely encourage you to apply.