Her Story
About Kanika
Kanika Sharma serves as Product Manager for Payment Services at Morgan Stanley, overseeing phrasing channels on Morgan Stanley and E*Trade.com. She began her full-time role in March 2020 following a summer 2019 internship with the firm during her graduate studies. Sharma earned her undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Bharti with Deepit in India and completed a Master's in Engineering Management at Duke University from August 2019 to December 2020. She also obtained certifications from the Product School to support her shift from technology-focused work into product management. Based in New York at One New York Plaza near Wall Street, she leads efforts across a global team including members in Mumbai, India, and Budapest. Her technology background inspired her entry into financial services, where she values leading from the front, ensuring team members feel seen and heard, and solving problems collaboratively while navigating time zones and cultural expectations.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kanika
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
There are no dumb questions. Always be the first person to raise your hand, and don't be afraid to make mistakes when you learn.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be sure of who you are at all times. Your self-worth is not dependent on a meeting, on a manager, on a firm. You define what your journey needs to be. Be very thorough and solid on your basics. You need to be analytical, and you need to think two steps ahead. Always have fun. The more personable you are, the more opportunities that they will find to connect with you.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Getting everybody on the same page when serving high net worth clients, as personal bias can come in. Navigating different time zones and cultural expectations at a huge organization scale, leading the team with empathy and from the front, making sure people feel seen and acknowledged.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Leading from the front. All the credit is always for the team, problems are for me to figure out and solve. Setting the example for the team rather than just delegating. Always to serve, help me help you. Making sure that people are feeling seen, feeling heard. Critique of the idea and not the person, to serve and help them grow.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.