My Duke Product Lab Experience

Coming from a Computer Science background, I initially started my career in software engineering but quickly realized that while I loved tech, the specific role wasn’t the right fit. I knew I wanted to pivot to Product Management, and Duke’s Product Lab became the bridge to make that happen. The program provided the perfect balance to my theoretical CS studies by offering hands-on, practical experience with real clients.

The curriculum and the mentorship from professors were invaluable; they didn’t just teach theory, they prepared me for the actual workforce. Working on a real-world final project rounded out my resume and confirmed my excitement for the field. The experience was so impactful that I returned as a Teaching Assistant to help guide the next cohort of PMs. As a TA, I was able to influence the curriculum and built relationships with professors and students. Now, when Duke students reach out to me interested in product, I always point them to Product Lab.

After Duke Product Lab

After graduating, I joined Salesforce’s Associate Product Manager (APM) program in San Francisco. This two-year rotational program has offered incredible mentorship and executive sponsorship, allowing me to dive into three distinct product areas. I started on MuleSoft working on the API Catalog, which honed my technical detail; moved to Salesforce Go to streamline admin setup; and am currently working on Field Service to improve the mobile experience for technicians.

Duke Product Lab was instrumental in getting me here. The community and faculty supported me through the highs and lows of job hunting, giving me the confidence to enter the workforce. Today, I still rely on that mentorship and apply the program’s core philosophy—centering the user experience—to every decision I make, ensuring I deliver real value and save time for Salesforce users.

Is there anything else you would like to comment on about your experiences?

I just want to reiterate how incredible the faculty support is. Navigating the recruiting landscape for Product Management is incredibly competitive and stressful, but having the Product Lab professors in my corner made all the difference. Duke Product Lab was easily one of the most impactful experiences of my time at Duke.