After starting her career in consulting, Jovanna Youssef (Anderson, ‘16) got her MBA at UCLA Anderson and transitioned into a career in Product Management. Throughout her post-MBA career, Jovanna has launched products at leading companies in the tech, retail, and fashion industries. In this interview, Jovanna shares her journey to product management, thoughts on what MBAs need to know about product management, and her advice for MBA students interested in product management. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify today
Show Notes
- 2:15 – Why an MBA and Why Anderson
- 4:24 – Experiences and opportunities at Anderson that helped transition into product management
- 6:35 – Examples of aspects of business school that help develop product management skills
- 7:45 – What MBA students should know about Product Management
- 9:30 – Importance of leading through influence as a Product Manager
- 11:15 – Determining what kind of Product Manager you want to become
- 13:20 – The importance of alignment and context
- 15:10 – Importance of empathy as a PM
- 16:20 – How do you find out what kind of Product Manager you are?
- 18:50 – The difference between business, design, or technical product driven companies, and how founders driven the type of company you are at
- 21:20 – Jovanna’s experience as a Product Manager at Apple
- 24:50 – Jovanna’s new role at the intersection of fashion, retail, and product management and product marketing
- 28:22 – Pros and Cons of working on a mature product, versus a newer product, and vice versa
- 31:45 – How to listen to customers to generate insights and solve problems
- 34:25 – What MBAs should focus on in business school if they are interested in product management
- 41:18 – The importance of an MBA education, and the responsibility that MBAs have for playing a role in solving the world’s greatest challenges.