College Experiences That Helped A Senior Product Manager At A Tech Company Succeed
Vinnie's aerospace engineering background at UCLA instilled a valuable "analytical mindset" and a "formal process" for problem-solving, which remains highly beneficial in their current role as a Senior Product Manager, even when dealing with questions lacking definitive answers. This scientific approach to tackling challenges has proven crucial for success in their career.
Analytical Skills, Problem-Solving, Process Orientation, Formal Education, Technical Mindset
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Vinnie Shahzad
Senior Product Manager
Mid-Size Technology Support Company
UCLA, 2006
N/A
Engineering - Aerospace
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Video Highlights
1. Develop a strong analytical mindset: Vinnie's background in aerospace engineering taught him a systematic approach to problem-solving, which remains valuable even in less quantifiable situations. This structured thinking helps when tackling complex issues without clear-cut answers.
2. Embrace a scientific approach to problem-solving: The ability to methodically analyze problems and seek solutions, even when there's not a single 'right' answer, is crucial for success.
3. Formal education provides a valuable foundation: While not the sole determinant, a formal education, like Vinnie's engineering degree, helps establish a structured thought process adaptable to various professional challenges
Transcript
Vinny, taking you back to your time at UCLA for undergrad. What did you do that set you up for success in your career?
My undergraduate degree was in aerospace engineering. Aerospace engineering is a very formal process where you start with a problem, go through mathematical equations and formulas, and come out with a solution.
That analytical mindset, where you have a formal process to follow and arrive at an answer, has helped me a lot. Even though there isn't a single right answer anymore in what I'm doing, it still helps me think in a way that I can be very scientific about answering questions that don't necessarily have a fixed solution.
So, just being very analytical and thoughtful in the way I approach my work has been very useful for me.