Gagan Singh
Informatics alum
Q: Where do you work? What’s your job title and what do you do?
A: I’m a Technical Program Manager (TPM) at Microsoft in Cloud Operations & Innovation. In my day-to-day, I work on internal programs and processes that help optimize operations with a data-driven approach. My team ensures that the global network infrastructure suppliers that create the backbone of Azure and OpenAI perform at their best. From streamlining supplier collaboration to optimizing network performance, every improvement impacts the hyperscaler on one of the most transformative technologies of our time. The goal is not just to keep the lights on, but to unlock hundreds of millions in untapped value at a scale where even small wins ripple to create large gains.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about the field you’ve chosen?
A: Being a TPM is the perfect blend of technical problem-solving and business strategy. The role builds foundational skills from data-driven decision making to stakeholder management, process optimization and product thinking, and these skills are transferable across industries, domains, projects and even entrepreneurship. That versatility means I can explore areas I’m passionate about while continuously refining my craft, making each project and role both a challenge and an opportunity to grow.
Q: How did your experience at the iSchool prepare you to solve information challenges in the industry?
A: As a first-generation college student, the iSchool didn’t just teach me to work with information, but it taught me to see its potential for impact. Through projects like leading an AI-focused capstone, founding the PM Club and conducting research, I learned to approach challenges through multiple lenses: human-centered design, technical feasibility and business strategy. That skill of translating between engineers, designers and executives is what I now use to turn complex cloud and AI operations into actionable solutions.
Q: What advice do you have for students interested in a career like yours?
A: Treat your career like a startup you own. Start learning early and don’t say no to opportunities just because they’re outside your comfort zone or you don’t check every qualification box. Some of my biggest growth moments came from creating opportunities for myself: working on my own startup, applying to internships I wasn’t “qualified” for, and leaning into extra projects whenever I could. I’ve worked in roles people often overlook from call centers/warehouses to creating a VPN alternative at Cisco Meraki, and each one taught me skills I still use today. In each role, I approached the work with an ownership mindset — thinking like an entrepreneur, finding ways to improve processes and creating value. The key is to connect every experience into something unique that only you can offer. Seek out ambiguous problems where the outcome truly matters and stay curious; the next big opportunity is often hiding in a problem no one’s solved yet. Finally, trust and enjoy the process.