Sofia is a current Tech MBA student, specializing in Product Management. Prior to Stern, she worked at Samsung Electronics as an E-commerce Product Manager. Post-MBA, she plans to pursue Product Management in tech. At Stern, she is involved in Stern Tech Association, the Latin American Business Association, and the Entrepreneurship and Startup Association, and enjoys traveling and discovering new coffee shops in NYC.
Experiences in the NYC Immersion
The NYC Immersion is the only all-summer course in the Tech MBA program. It is built to introduce students to the tech ecosystem in New York City. Throughout the course, we learned from different experts in fields such as fintech, security, ethics, health tech, and real estate, and we even got to learn how to leverage NYU Library Resources for our project research. Overall, it was an experience that gave us a head start on what we will experience as tech advocates in the future.
The Essence of the NYC Immersions
One of our most memorable visits over the summer was our visit to the Uber offices in Manhattan. We learned about different projects involving Stern alumni who are currently working at Uber. Part of the presentation included a challenge related to a potential endeavor or new revenue stream. We worked as a team, using our collaborative skills and creative ideas to devise a solution. The visit encapsulated the essence of the NYC Immersion—bridging the gap between theory and practice, learning and application.
Learning to Use Tech for Good
We had many memorable sessions. One of them was about the future of Finance by Andrew Chang. He was an engaging and thought-provoking speaker who filled in the gaps in our fintech knowledge. By assimilating diverse perspectives on the future, we honed our own viewpoints. Undoubtedly, the prominence of Gen AI dominated many discussions, reflecting the pivotal role it occupies this year and in the years to come. We analyzed the potential uses of this technology and the risks as it becomes mainstream. Addressing the risks of Gen AI was a lecture that was enlightening and reflective, as Mike Posner and Paul Barrett shared the latest research and insights from the Center for Business and Human Rights at NYU Stern. We all have the responsibility to make sure that this technology is used for good.
Experiential Product Consulting
A substantial part of the summer was dedicated to collaborating with companies as Product Consultant. Grouped into teams, we tackled distinct prompts for different companies. Employing design thinking methodologies, our task was to find core issues within the prompts and create impactful solutions. After several check-ins, we were able to deliver a final project and recommendations. One of the most interesting parts was learning about other teams and their work process during the summer.
As the NYC Tech Immersion journey comes to an end, we are now more familiar with the tech ecosystem and its inner workings. We are also more confident in our ability to navigate the ever-changing landscape. We will be responsible and ethical advocates for technology, using it to solve problems and improve people’s lives.
Students at Uber Offices during the NYC Tech Immersion
