In a rapidly evolving marketplace, small businesses stand at crossroads. They must harness the power of technology to remain competitive, yet many find themselves wrestling with software designed for sprawling enterprises. The resulting complexity drains resources, stifles growth, and pushes tech adoption down the priority list. Ishaan Agarwal is determined to reverse that trend.
A product manager with a penchant for user-centric design, Agarwal specializes in transforming convoluted interfaces into accessible tools. Whether it's a new feature to expedite online purchases or a simplified dashboard for Microsoft 365, his work reflects a guiding principle: software should serve people, not the other way around.
Foundations in Technology and Design
Agarwal's grounding in computer science is as rigorous as it is diverse. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in the field within four years at Brown University—an accomplishment rooted in efficiency and ambition. While there, he spent two years researching user behavior at Professor Jeff Huang's Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) lab. This experience sharpened his awareness of the subtleties of how individuals navigate digital platforms.
Computer science alone wasn't enough. Alongside his technical prowess, Agarwal pursued coursework in economics and finance, acquiring the language of commerce that frequently shapes business decisions. This hybrid approach was further enriched by advanced design classes at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he refined his ability to communicate ideas visually. The combination of coding expertise, financial insight, and design thinking planted the seeds for a holistic product management career.
A Dual Role at Facebook (Meta)
One of Agarwal's earliest testbeds for innovation was an internship at Facebook—now Meta—where he split his time between product strategy and software engineering. By day, he observed the nuances of product leadership under a seasoned manager; by night, he coded as an engineering intern. The double duty offered a rare vantage point, allowing him to see how product concepts take shape and eventually materialize in lines of code.
This experience not only fanned the flames of his passion for product development but also illustrated the importance of empathy for the end user. As Agarwal quickly learned, a product's success hinges as much on intuitive design as it does on robust technology.
Overhauling Microsoft 365 for the Underserved
Fresh from his studies, Agarwal joined Microsoft, where he took the lead in overhauling the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. Initially crafted with corporate IT teams in mind, the Admin Center's labyrinthine features baffled many small business owners. These users often want to manage subscriptions for Office, Teams, or Outlook with minimal fuss.
Agarwal's goal was clear: strip away the jargon, declutter the dashboards, and offer clear, actionable insights. He introduced a "buy it again" feature to streamline subscriptions—an elegantly simple idea that lets businesses quickly replicate past purchases rather than wade through endless licensing options. The outcome was a measurable leap in Net Promoter Score (NPS) and an equally tangible drop in user frustration.
The Challenge of Becoming a Product Manager
Cracking into product management is no small feat, especially for newcomers. Agarwal confronted an industry reality: most companies prefer experienced PMs, leaving few opportunities for fresh graduates. Leveraging his mentor relationships and proven track record, he secured a coveted product manager role at Microsoft, turning the usual obstacles into a springboard for rapid professional growth.
Yet the real test came in translating big-company tech into bite-sized solutions small businesses could readily adopt. "User-friendly" is a mantra often repeated but seldom delivered, and Agarwal made it his personal benchmark for product success.
Vision for the Future at Square (Block Inc.)
Now at Square (Block Inc.), Agarwal zeroes in on the daily pain points that hamper small business owners—ranging from convoluted scheduling to cumbersome website management. His guiding principle remains straightforward: every entrepreneur should be able to operate with the efficiency of a large-scale enterprise without requiring a specialized IT department.
Looking ahead, Agarwal envisions an ecosystem of intuitive, cost-effective solutions tailored to time-strapped business owners. By fusing simplicity and functionality, he hopes to not only shore up day-to-day operations but also unleash the potential for growth. For him, the ultimate success story is a small business that expands and innovates unencumbered by technology—because the tools at its disposal are finally as lean and agile as the business itself.
