“Interviews Aren’t Exams”: INI Alum Amy Rambhia Reframes the Hiring Process for Students

Amy Rambhia, a graduate of the M.S. in Information Security and Technical Management (MSISTM), now the M.S. in Information Security (MSIS), recently visited the Information Networking Institute (INI) to speak with current students about navigating today’s interview landscape.  

Working with Daniel Carr, INI’s director of career services and employer relations, the pair decided to host an interview-focused session to help students prepare more effectively ahead of competitive hiring cycles.  

Rambhia focused her session on helping students rethink how they approach interviews, pulling from her over 15 years of experience as a product manager working with companies including Microsoft, Apple, Slack and Meta.  

For Rambhia, interviews are a conversation, not a one-sided evaluation. Both sides are assessing alignment. “Employers aren’t looking for a reason to fail you,” she said. “They’re looking for reasons to hire you. So, focus on how you show up.”   

Her talk, titled “Demystifying Job Interviews: Shifting Your Mindset,” walked students through the hidden dynamics of multi-round interviews. With a structured framework introduced during Rambhia’s presentation, students could reshape their thought process by thinking deliberately about how they present their story, demonstrate proof of their skills, ask thoughtful questions and engage as partners during their interviews.  

She encouraged students to focus on deliberate practice and preparation in a hiring environment shaped by rapid change and evolving expectations. Pulling from her own experiences, she identified common pitfalls she has seen throughout her career, including memorizing scripts, jumping to solutions without explaining reasoning and failing to ask clarifying questions.   

From left to right: Keshav Raju, Manigandan Ramadasan, Amy Rambhia, Daniel Carr and Bhargavee Chavarkar

A computer engineer originally from Mumbai, India, Rambhia’s journey to the INI began with a family recommendation. Her sister learned about the INI while attending an EWF conference and pushed her to apply. It was a call with INI Director Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis and EWF Founder and CEO Joyce Brocaglia that  ultimately shaped her decision.“What stood out to me was how much they genuinely cared,” Rambhia said. “There was belief, encouragement and a shared sense of purpose. It made me want to join the program.”  

She went on to become the inaugural EWF-INI Fellow. The fellowship provides scholarship support and access to a national network of women leaders in security, privacy and risk management.  

Reflecting on her time at the INI, Rambhia credits the program with shaping her resilience. “The INI teaches you real grit,” she said. “That stays with you.”