Career Path of a Senior Content Program Manager at Khan Academy
Sasha's career journey, beginning with a biology degree and teaching experience ("teaching is a great job...you get to manage a lot of people and really help them develop and grow"), transitioned through business school, a family business, and a decade at the New York City Department of Education managing science programs and STEM partnerships. This ultimately led to their current role as Senior Content Program Manager at Khan Academy, leveraging both educational and managerial skills to work on curriculum development.
Education, Program Management, Career Pivoting, EdTech, Leadership Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sasha Ban
Senior Content Program Manager
Leading Edtech Company
Barnard College
UCLA MBA
Biology & Related Sciences
Education, Technology
Operations and Project Management
Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Sasha's career path highlights a combination of education and business experience, showcasing how diverse skills can lead to a fulfilling career in edtech. Her journey from biology major to teacher to business school graduate to edtech program manager demonstrates a willingness to adapt and explore different avenues.
2. Sasha's experience as a teacher provided her with valuable managerial and people-development skills, emphasizing the transferable nature of skills gained in diverse roles. This is useful insight for students interested in program management positions.
3. Sasha's career shift into edtech, motivated by the pandemic's impact on education, highlights the evolving nature of the field and how personal experiences can shape career transitions. This is inspirational for students looking for a career in a dynamic and impactful industry.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I majored in biology in college. I knew I wanted to study science but wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with it.
I didn't want to pursue the typical pre-med or health professions track that many of my classmates were on. However, I did enjoy being a teaching assistant and volunteering in schools. This led me to decide to become a teacher after finishing undergrad.
I attended teacher's college at Columbia University and earned a master's in secondary science education. I student-taught in a couple of New York City schools. Afterward, I was hired as a biology teacher at the high school I had attended in New Jersey.
I spent three years there and really enjoyed it, learning a lot. I believe teaching is a great profession, especially early in one's career. It offers the chance to manage many people and processes and help them develop and grow, thus building strong managerial skills.
However, I was curious about other opportunities. So, I decided to attend business school and applied to a few. I got into UCLA and went there. During my first and second year of business school, I interned at a biotech company in the Bay Area.
I graduated in 2009, right at the peak of the recession, which made for a very tough job market. I ended up working for my family's business for a couple of years, focusing on strategy and operations. The company, started by my father, was in the semiconductor industry.
Afterward, I decided to return to education, but in an administrative role. I spent about ten years at the New York City Department of Education, the public school system for the city. I began by developing leadership programs for teachers, aiming to enhance their capabilities beyond the classroom.
I then transitioned into a program management role, overseeing various science programs for the city. These programs supported students in conducting investigative research or project-based learning. They were often run in collaboration with at least one partner.
I also took on leadership of all our STEM partnerships across the city. This involved working as the district representative with museums, nonprofit organizations, and university outreach programs to support high-quality science education.
When the pandemic hit, we had to focus on developing digital curricula and exploring edtech resources. I enjoyed this exploration immensely, which sparked my curiosity about working for an organization that creates these resources, rather than just being an end-user. This interest led me to explore edtech opportunities.
I began applying for different jobs and accepted a position at Khan Academy in the summer of 2022 as their Senior Content Program Manager. I now work on our US content team, designing courses for the US market, including math, science, English language arts, and social studies.
My role involves managing team operations, many of our partnerships, vendor relationships, and several special projects and initiatives. I've been at Khan Academy for two years now, and I'm able to utilize both my educator skills and the managerial skills I gained from business school.