TPM Stories — Harman Preet Singh from McAfee
Interviewed by Betty Luk
Harman is a seasoned leader with a strong technical background and over two decades of success in consumer business. Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions in Core Engineering and has successfully transitioned into Technical Program Management and leadership roles with global teams that he has helped build. His impressive career includes key positions at Texas Instruments, Amazon, Airbnb, and Uber. In Aug 2024 he joined McAfee as a Sr. Director of Technical Program Management.
Connect with Harman on LinkedIn or learn more through the TPM panel videos.
Tell us about your career journey — how has your career transformed and how did you become a TPM?
My journey unfolds across three distinct phases:
2002–2011: Core Engineering
My career began at Texas Instruments, where I focused on technology development within the hardware space, particularly chip building. This foundational experience sharpened my implementation strategies, team leadership, and quality focus. I held both individual contributor and managerial positions, gaining a deep understanding of the meticulous nature of hardware design.
2011–2018: Technical Program Management and transition to Software
I transitioned to Customer Program Management for Nook tablets at Texas Instruments, marking my entry into technical program management and software. Here, I navigated the complexities of cross-functional collaborations, acting as the glue between customer engineering teams and internal engineering teams. My role evolved to encompass application software and customer launches. At Amazon, I worked on Fire TV in stealth mode and later led software services for mobile apps and voice interfaces at Amazon Music. I managed diverse programs, focusing on people management and product operations, leading initiatives like building live streaming infrastructure for audio and soccer streaming in Germany.
2018–2024: Leadership
At Airbnb, I contributed towards establishing the Technical Program Management team for their Homes business. I oversaw significant technological migrations (Monolith to Service oriented architecture) and implementing GraphQL-based data mesh architecture. I also orchestrated numerous product programs spanning search, reservations, checkout, messaging, among others with my team.
In 2022, I joined Uber, leading an interdisciplinary team that bridged technical support with engineering efforts. I scaled the team significantly and established a comprehensive operations function, focusing on customer-facing quality and operational excellence.
What do you enjoy the most about being a TPM? Where do you think a TPM can add the most value?
As a TPM, you have a deep connection to business outcomes that comes with the role. Whether I’m directly influencing results or managing technically complex programs, there’s a strong sense of accountability and ownership. Leading these intricate projects not only requires leadership skills but also provides valuable opportunities to collaborate with other leaders. This involvement broadens my perspective and fosters significant personal and professional growth.
TPMs add value by doing these 3 things well:
- Peeling the onion — They bring clarity to the program, so the teams can be clear on what, why and how (resolving ambiguity, identify risks and managing them)
- Distilling work into chunks — They leverage their technical knowledge to decide the workstreams that the project needs.
- Crisp communication — As a TPM you have to be very crisp and clear in your communication with your partners and stakeholders.
You’ve been a TPM at different companies over a number of years. How do you think the TPM role has evolved?
In large tech companies, TPM roles traditionally focus on managing complex programs such as product launches, technology innovation, infrastructure optimization, and engineering excellence. However, with the rise of AI and other advanced technologies, the role has expanded to require skilled navigation of organizational dynamics, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic alignment.
Conversely, some companies have begun using the title “TPM” for roles traditionally associated with business process and operations management. This shift reflects a growing recognition that as technology and engineering become increasingly central to products, program management must also adopt a more technical focus.
Additionally, many startups are now prioritizing the hiring of their first TPMs earlier in their development, acknowledging the value of having experienced technical program management from the outset.
You have been organizing TPM meetups for a number of years. What brings the community together and what makes the TPM community unique?
When the TPM community first came together over five years ago, there were limited opportunities for TPMs outside of large tech companies. I connected with several TPMs based in San Francisco who organized in-person meetups with panel discussions. I even managed to host an in-person meetup at Airbnb in early 2020, just before COVID-19 disrupted our plans.
Since then, we’ve leveraged the TPM Slack workspace to facilitate learning and sharing among members. In 2021, we launched a series of virtual panel discussions, which attracted a global audience of TPMs. Today, the TPM Summit conference serves as a major milestone for the community.
What truly brings us together is our collective ability to share knowledge, support one another, and foster growth. On the TPM Slack workspace, members regularly assist with job referrals, conduct mock interviews, tackle problems collaboratively, and exchange experiences. The sense of camaraderie is further strengthened by frequent in-person meetups and events.
You took a 6 month career break. Any tips for anyone considering taking a break, and how to get the most out of it?
Before taking a career break, it’s crucial to consider a few key questions:
- What are your main priorities during this time off?
- How will your finances support you through a longer break?
- What interests or hobbies would you like to explore?
- Do you have a side project or gig you want to develop?
For me, the highlight of my break was spending quality time with young kids and focusing on physical activity. I committed to weekly hikes and joined several tennis leagues to stay competitive. Additionally, I invested time in yard work, which helped me better understand our maintenance needs.
What are you most looking forward to at the upcoming TPM Summit?
I’m looking forward to reconnecting with my TPM friends and former colleagues in person. The TPM Summit is also a fantastic opportunity to learn from others, with some great sessions lined up for this year. One session I’m especially excited about is the panel discussion, “The TPM Evolution: Adapting to Change and Embracing AI in the Next Era,” where I’ll have the privilege of participating as a panelist.
Use code TPMSTORIES for a 10% discount to the upcoming TPM Summit!
TPMs — What’s your story? If you are interested in contributing or sharing your story, please reach out!
