Career Path Of A Design Program Manager At Google
Marin Dennis, a Design Program Manager at Google working on Nest products, shares a career journey marked by adaptability and continuous learning, starting with early internships and a first job at a fashion accessory company where Marin "grew really really fast," then transitioning to tech through roles at Fitbit, a logistics startup, Peloton, and culminating in their current position at Google, all while pursuing an MBA in design strategy. This path demonstrates a willingness to embrace new challenges and leverage each experience to build a strong skillset and confidence.
Career Development, Project Management, Design, Technology, Resilience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Marin Dennis
Design Program Manager
Fortune 10 Technology Company
Santa Clara university 2012
California college of the arts MBA in design strategy
Communications
Technology
Creative
Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Marin's career path highlights a combination of diverse experiences and continuous learning. Starting with internships in various fields during college, she transitioned from a fashion design company to the tech industry, showcasing adaptability and a willingness to explore different opportunities.
2. Her experience at Fitbit, where she worked across different design disciplines (soft goods, industrial design, UX), demonstrates a breadth of knowledge within the design field and showcases a commitment to acquiring diverse skills.
3. Marin's decision to pursue an MBA in design strategy while working full-time highlights her dedication to professional development and continuous learning. She emphasizes how this advanced her leadership skills and confidence when engaging in complex business conversations. This underscores the value of continuous learning and further education in career advancement.
Transcript
Can you introduce yourself? Please share your name, your role, and your company if you're comfortable.
Then, we can jump right into the first question. It's really just about walking us through your career path, starting with your experiences in college. Did you have any internships or jobs? Then, how did you get your first job?
I'm Marin Dennis, and I'm currently a Design Program Manager at Google, working on their Nest products. I live in San Francisco and have been in tech for about 10 years.
My career path started in college with a Communications major and a minor in Retail Management from the business school. This allowed me to take introductory business classes without formally applying to the business school.
Through that program, there were career fairs for its students. It was a small, focused fair on retail with only about 30 to 40 students per grade, so it was very hands-on. I got my first job through that program with internships.
During college, my internships were mostly with small, local companies in my hometown. I worked in a sporting goods store, as a receptionist at a beach club, and for a car auction house. I took any job I could early on for experience and to earn some money.
My first job out of college was through that program, with a company called She Hensler. They were a fashion design company that manufactured fashion accessories, primarily belts and handbags, for major retailers like The Gap, J. Crew, and Banana Republic. I started as an assistant, mainly handling paperwork.
It was a 30-person company, so they provided comprehensive training. Within my first year, I learned all the steps involved in bringing a product to life, from design concept to mass production and shipping to a retailer.
I quickly grew into an Account Manager role. Within my first year or two, I was managing 11 accounts and a small business unit. I attribute getting that job to my university program. Of course, I attended the interview and secured the position myself, but the program was the connector. That was my first real stepping stone in my career.
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