eh108 – Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA

December 18, 2023December 18, 2023

Navigating the Tech MBA Experience as an International Student

Amanda Hanggoro Amanda is a current Tech MBA student, specializing in Product Management & Strategy. Before coming to Stern, she worked as a Product Manager in an education technology company with a focus on personalization and gamification. Post-MBA, she plans to continue working in product management as she explores her entrepreneurial interest. At Stern, she is involved in the Stern Technology Association, Gaming & eSports Management Society, Asian Business Society, Stern Women in Business, and Stern Football Club.

Moving across continents as an international student in the Tech MBA program is both exciting and intimidating. With a small cohort of only 51 individuals, I am one of two from Southeast Asia, and the only one from Indonesia. But no matter how daunting it is, the close-knit community and friendly environment here have made adapting to this new chapter much smoother, helping me soak up the learning opportunities at Stern.

Just as we got to share a bit of our story through the “Pick Six” essay during the application (which was definitely my favorite!), I would like to share my experience so far as an international student in the Tech MBA program and how I navigate the journey through six images:

Focused (Tech and Fashion & Luxury) MBA Gathering after orientation

Building a support system within the cohort

The warm and welcoming nature of the Tech MBA cohort shone even from day zero. Before summer classes kicked off, my classmates arranged a get-together for those who just arrived in the city. It was a great opportunity for both out-of-state and international students to connect, especially since most of us couldn’t attend the admitted students events. Despite the differing backgrounds and experiences, it was comforting to meet the people that I am sharing this journey with.

The sense of warmth grew over the summer as the Focused MBA students were the only students on campus. From happy hours to picnics, game nights, and spontaneous trips, every gathering helped us bond more. The Tech MBA cohort turned into a little family I could lean on, even as the courses got tougher and our paths diverged in the Fall semester.

Lunch with Indonesian Stern MBA Class of 2024 and 2025

Building connections beyond the Tech MBA cohort

Fall brought along opportunities to mingle with the broader MBA community at Stern. The program’s structure allows me to participate in student clubs and electives that pave the way for making connections with the Two-Year Full-Time MBAs, Langone Part-Time MBAs, and Executive MBAs.

I chose to actively engage in student clubs as an AVP in the Stern Technology Association and Gaming & eSports Management Society and as a member of the Asian Business Society, Stern Women in Business, and Stern Football Club. The unique range of student clubs allows me to balance my personal and professional interests, getting the best of both worlds.

Beyond the student clubs, I also get to connect with other Indonesian students in the Full-Time MBA program. Although the group is fairly small, they have been a great resource for all things from finding good Indonesian restaurants to curing homesickness and answering specific questions about recruiting as an international student

Eid Al-Adha prayer in Washington Square Park with NYU Islamic Center

Accessing NYU’s diverse communities and support

Being at Stern is like having a key to a vast, diverse community. NYU’s larger ecosystem has many international student events, student clubs, collaboration labs, and other supporting facilities. NYU Entrepreneurial Institute (Leslie eLab), for example, allows you to put up posters to seek potential collaborators for your project or join an existing project. Who knows you may stumble upon future co-founders coming from different schools within NYU!

Among the various facilities that NYU has, Global Spiritual Life has accommodated me to practice my faith. The center provides multifaith support through four major religious centers including The Islamic Center, the Catholic Center, the Hindu Center, and the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life. As a Muslim, I usually celebrate two major holidays, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, through communal prayer, family gatherings, and feasts. Despite being thousands of miles away from home, I still got to celebrate Eid Al-Adha during the summer with the NYU Islamic Community and feel the warmth of the holiday.

Impromptu public speaking exercise in Communication class

Getting support from the faculty

Navigating the professional landscape in a second language is a unique challenge that extends beyond language; it also requires cultural understanding and strategic individual approaches. Even though I could connect well with my peers and have worked in a cross-cultural team, mastering communication in a professional context in an entirely new country can take a while to crack.

Other than the career office providing resources for international students, the courses and faculty at Stern have shown a commitment to supporting students through this journey. In my Communication course, Professor Brian Hanssen incorporated many practical exercises in the class ranging from planned group presentations to impromptu personal ones. The constructive feedback from both him and my peers throughout this exercise made a huge difference in boosting my communication confidence.

Beyond that, he also sets aside time for office hours where we could discuss specific challenges we face in our academic or professional journey. This offer is extended even after the course ends and allows me to regularly check in to formulate an actionable plan for my strategic communication.

IBM Watson office in Astor Place

Adapting to a global work setting

What stands out in the Tech MBA program is the hands-on learning experience through the experiential learning courses. New York City Immersion, Tech Solutions, and Endless Frontier Labs not only let us apply what we learned in class but also gave us a unique chance to collaborate with big tech companies and emerging start-ups.

While I had prior experience working with regional teams and international partners, working in a US-based company presented a new set of challenges. Through experiential learning, I gained firsthand experience working within New York City’s diverse community, including my classmates, who brought diverse professional and cultural backgrounds to the table.

Working with IBM in the Tech Solutions course was one of my favorite experiences. Every discussion and checkpoint was a learning curve, not only on the business-technology case we were working with but also on collaborating with diverse stakeholders in technology.

Whether you plan to work internationally or stay in the United States, these courses provide invaluable insights into real-world applications of business and tech, ensuring your readiness for any professional environment.

Google Trek with Stern Technology Association

Navigating professional career prospects

The post-MBA recruitment process can be intimidating for an international student, but Stern provides essential support through the career office and professional clubs. I get to regularly check in with a career coach specializing in the tech industry for international students and participate in knowledge management events organized by student clubs. The collaboration between the two gives me access to resources for recruitment, workshops, study groups, alumni talks, company presentations, and company treks.

One of the most recent company treks I joined was the Google Trek to its New York City office which was organized by the Stern Technology Association. During the event, we got to talk with current part-time students and alumni working at Google and had an office tour to better understand the company. The diverse speakers with various roles and backgrounds, including international ones, and the intimate setting made the conversations more engaging and tailored to our interests.

Being an international student in the Tech MBA program sure has its challenges but the community really gives me endless opportunities to learn, connect, and thrive. Pursuing this degree has helped me grow so fast in the last six months and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for me!

November 15, 2023November 15, 2023

Navigating the Andre Koo Tech MBA with a Non-Tech Background

Elizabeth is a current Tech MBA student, specializing in Business Analytics, Tech Product Management, and Strategy. Prior to Stern, she worked at Methods+Mastery as a Business Intelligence Analyst supporting full-scale social intelligence and analytics work streams for Google and YouTube. Post-MBA, she plans to pursue a business analytics or strategy role in the tech industry. At Stern, she is a part of several clubs, including the Graduate Marketing Association (GMA), Stern Management & Strategy Club (SMS), Stern Women in Business (SWIB), and Stern Technology Association (STA). Additionally, Elizabeth is a part of the 2023-2024 Makhoul Family Leadership Fellows Program. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys playing volleyball, collecting rare plants, and spending time with her dog Shelby.

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Venturing into the tech world can seem like an arduous journey, especially if you come from a non-tech background like me. When I first enrolled in the NYU Stern Andre Koo Tech MBA program, I was thrilled and apprehensive. My resume spelled out my strengths in customer experience, analytics, and market research. I have worked with tech clients, but diving deep into tech? That was a different ballgame.

Initial Hesitation

My initial concerns revolved around whether I’d be able to grasp the intricacies of the engineering side of the tech industry and its ever-evolving landscape. The jargon, the coding, and the business models all seemed very distant from my past experiences. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my career, it’s that challenges are opportunities in disguise.

Embracing the Learning Curve

The start was, unsurprisingly, a steep learning curve. Terms like distributed cloud, blockchain, and quantum computing were often thrown around. Long hours were dedicated to online tutorials, intensive reading, and numerous consultations with professors and classmates. Every project became an opportunity, a stepping stone to assimilate and learn more.

One key realization for me was that my non-tech background was not a disadvantage but a unique lens through which I could approach problems. My analytical skills, honed from diving deep into consumer insights or strategizing market research for leading brands, allowed me to approach tech challenges with a distinct perspective.

Leveraging My Unique Perspective

In group discussions and projects, I found that my questions – often rooted in the “why” rather than the “how” – brought new dimensions to the table. It was a reminder that tech, at its core, is about solving human-centric problems. And as the classes unfolded, the parallels between my analytical background and the technical intricacies became evident. Coding, much like marketing analytics, became a methodical dance of logic and creativity. Each algorithm, every line of code, mirrored the systematic approach I’d honed over the years, albeit in a different language.

The real victory, however, wasn’t just about grasping these technical skills but realizing that my background wasn’t a limitation; it was a strength. The skills I had developed over the years were adaptable, relevant, and crucial to my success in this new environment.

Building a Supportive Network

The NYU community was invaluable in my journey. From professors who went the extra mile to explain complex topics to peers who shared their tech expertise, I was surrounded by a supportive network. Study groups became collaborative learning experiences, and late-night discussions often led to eureka moments.

Key Takeaways

Joining the NYU Stern Andre Koo Tech MBA with a non-tech background is not just about acquiring technical knowledge but also about integrating diverse skills to bring fresh perspectives to the tech industry.

For anyone considering a tech MBA with a non-tech background, here’s my advice:

Embrace the Learning Curve: Every challenge is an opportunity to grow.
Leverage Your Unique Perspective: Your non-tech background can offer invaluable insights.
Build a Supportive Network: Surround yourself with those who can complement your skills.

In hindsight, my non-tech background was not a hindrance but a strength. It has equipped me with a holistic understanding of tech, blending the technical with the human, and uniquely positioned me in the tech world.

November 6, 2023November 6, 2023

A Week In The Life Of A Tech MBA Student (Summer Semester)

Scott is a current Tech MBA student from South Brunswick, NJ. Prior to Stern, Scott worked in technology risk consulting at KPMG. Outside of school, Scott enjoys basketball, golf, cooking, and technology.

The Summer Semester of the Tech MBA program is both a rewarding, and a challenging experience. The semester kicks off with orientation in mid-May, where you have the opportunity to meet your Tech Cohort and familiarize yourself with Stern’s facilities and staff. After a couple days of orientation, you dive right into classes taking 19.5 credits from mid-May to late August. Throughout the Summer you are basically in class Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm – it is truly a full-time job. Here is a week in the life of a Tech MBA student…

Monday –

Like most days in the summer semester, class starts at 9am. My day kicks off with our Leadership class taught by Professor Nate Pettit. This was one of my favorite courses this summer, and from 9am-12pm you explore topics in leadership, communication, authenticity, and experiential learning. Professor Pettit is an incredible lecturer, and a wonderful storyteller. His lectures are top-notch. During lecture class discussion was extremely lively and students often chimed in with stories of leadership (both good and bad) from their career experience. I always find it interesting to hear about my classmate’s pre-Stern careers. After lecture we usually end each class with an ‘experiential’ learning experience. In this class we often learn by doing, simulating various leadership experiences with our classmates. Through improvisation and fun games, we were able to explore leadership topics in real-time and put our lecture material to practice.

After class you have an hour and a half break to take lunch, go to the gym, do homework, hang out with friends at the park – the time is truly yours. On this day I brought lunch from home and ate it with friends from the Tech-MBA program at Stern. We used the time to catch up on our weekends, eat lunch, and do some studying before afternoon classes.

After lunch we packed up our things and headed to Economics, taught by Professor Joe Foudy. Professor Foudy is another great professor, who makes class fun with lots of one liners and clever economics related jokes. Economics, like many courses, began as a general intro to economics and overtime became more technical and complex. Real world examples such as the dollar pizza market in NYC illustrate topics such as price elasticity, and supply & demand to life.

After Econ I stayed at Stern for a couple of hours to wrap up some homework and catch up on readings assigned for the week. Then I headed home, walking through Washington Square Park to the 9th Street PATH Station where I caught the PATH train back home to Hoboken, New Jersey.

Tuesday –

I hopped on the train and made my way to the West Village for 9am class. One of the best parts of my day is walking through Washington Square Park on my way to school.

The famous Washington Square Park Arch

On this Tuesday, the Tech MBA Students had a full day session (9am-12pm – Lunch – 1:30-4:30pm) of Databases for Business Analytics with Professor Panos Iperiotis. This class is focused on developing the SQL and database skills necessary for a career in technology, specifically geared towards potential use cases in Tech Product Management. As someone with some SQL experience from undergrad and my time at KPMG, this course was a great refresher for me. Starting with basic SELECT queries, by the end of the semester you are writing complex SQL queries to build meaningful data sets.

After the morning session I went to the NYU Student Gym which is a couple of blocks from Stern and got a workout in before grabbing a quick bite to eat and heading back to class for the afternoon session. After 3 hours of SQL coding and database discussion it was good to head to the gym to clear my head. In the summer it feels like you have the gym all to yourself because the rest of the students are on summer vacation.

Wednesday –

On Wednesdays we have our NYC Tech Immersion class which is our Summer Experiential Learning Experience. The course is designed to give Tech MBA students exposure to the unique and vibrant technology ecosystem in NYC. This course is built around a semester-long project in which you are paired with a group of Tech MBA students to help real world clients identify a business problem, and propose a solution and go-to-market strategy to solve the problem you’ve identified. My group was assigned to Salesforce, and we worked with them to explore potential Generative AI solutions to improve their current product offerings. This was an awesome experience, and one of the highlights of the summer.

When we weren’t working on our class projects Tech Immersion was filled with Guest Speakers, many of whom are alums who now work in Tech in NYC. We also had the chance to visit companies and get facetime with employees at companies such as Google, Uber, and Goldman Sachs. This Wednesday we visited Google’s NYC HQ in Chelsea and had the unique opportunity to meet with members of the Google Product Design Team. The Google Design team had a presentation prepared for us where we learned about the world of Design, and Product Storytelling at Google. Getting exposure to NYC’s vibrant Tech scene is one of the best parts of the Tech MBA experience!

After class on Wednesday night, I saw a concert (Noah Kahan – one of my favorite artists) at Radio City Music Hall! There is so much to do in NYC.

Visiting Google HQ

Attending Noah Kahan’s concert at radio city music hall

Thursday –

On Thursday we had another full day of class: Leadership in the morning and Economics in the afternoon. I got to Stern early on Thursday to work on my Econ homework that was due later that afternoon. The summer semester is a rigorous academic experience and I found it best to carve out specific time in my calendar before / after class to work on homework assignments and group projects. After class we had an IGNITE activity led by the Careers Team. In this session we worked in groups and practiced our elevator pitches and behavioral mock interview questions. There are many sessions like this throughout the summer semester, and they are extremely valuable. Tech MBAs and Fashion & Luxury MBAs have the full attention of the Careers Team in the summer, which is such a perk! The Careers Team holds office hours where you can focus on your career path after the MBA, resume review, mock interviews etc. After the session, a couple of my classmates and I headed over to a bar near school to grab a couple of drinks for Happy Hour and hang out before heading home. My favorite spots near Stern to do Happy Hour are Half Pint and Swift Hibernian Lounge, both a couple of blocks from school.

Friday –

On Friday my day started out with taking the PATH to 9th Street from Hoboken. From here it is about a 10 minute walk from school and I stopped at a local bagel store for an iced coffee and a bagel for breakfast. We had a half day of class with our Databases for Business Analytics class from 9am-12pm. We spent the morning discussing database design and architecture, and writing SQL queries on a database of all restaurants in NYC to find out which restaurants in NYC had the best ratings per critic reviews. This class is hands-on and technical – it’s a great experience for students who don’t come from a very technical background. It is challenging, but also very fun when you can build the perfect query.

After class I went to play basketball at the NYU gym with some of my classmates. The NYU Recreation and Athletic facilities (Paulson Center, and Palladium) are accessible to all MBA students. The basketball courts in the athletic facility are really nice, and generally not crowded in the summer. Playing some hoops was a great way to end my week before heading home for the weekend.

Basketball court at the NYU Recreation and Athletic facilities

October 25, 2023October 25, 2023

New York City Immersions

Sofia Aliste Paez

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

October 11, 2023October 11, 2023

The ROI of the Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA Program: My Personal Experience

Popin Bose Roy is a Senior Product Manager at Amazon with expertise in AI, machine learning, and SaaS. An alum of NYU Stern’s Tech MBA program, Popin has led high-impact projects at Amazon that leverage technology to drive business efficiency and growth. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and staying updated on emerging technologies.

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As someone with a solid foundation in AI, machine learning, and SaaS, I was always captivated by technology’s potential to solve real-world problems. However, I found myself yearning for a deeper understanding of business strategy and leadership to propel my career to new heights. This led me to the Andre Koo Tech MBA program at NYU Stern School of Business, a decision that has paid dividends in numerous ways.

Why I Chose the Tech MBA at NYU Stern

First and foremost, my aim was to blend my technical background with a robust business skill set, equipping myself to drive innovation in an increasingly complex tech landscape. The Andre Koo Tech MBA program offered just that—imparting invaluable business acumen while enabling me to keep my finger on the pulse of evolving tech trends.

Key Takeaways

Business Acumen

I’ve always been a technically minded person. While that has its perks, the Tech MBA showed me the equally compelling universe of business strategy, financial modeling, and corporate leadership. For example, my courses in supply chain management gave me the tools to renegotiate a contract with a supplier at Amazon, saving the company $1 million annually—a direct impact that I could quantify.

Staying Ahead of Tech Trends

Staying relevant in the tech industry is no small feat. The Andre Koo Tech MBA program ensured I was up-to-date with the latest technologies and methodologies, which directly fed into my current role. Case in point: my understanding of machine learning models enabled me to lead a team that improved Amazon’s product recommendation algorithm, resulting in a 10% increase in sales.

Networking and Career Advancements

The opportunity to rub shoulders with leading tech executives and participate in case competitions was priceless. These connections played a pivotal role in landing my current role at Amazon, where I’m spearheading projects with high financial impact. I also owe some of these connections to the program’s strong focus on leadership and communication skills, which have been equally crucial in my professional journey.

Real-World ROI

Since graduating, I’ve assumed a role as a Senior Product Manager at Amazon, where I’ve overseen projects estimated to save the company around $400 million in annual operational costs. These outcomes weren’t just luck or timing—they were the result of applying the rigorous business and tech training I received during my MBA. That’s an ROI that’s easy to measure, and it has been gratifying to witness the direct impact of my education on my job performance.

Conclusion: A Worthwhile Investment

For those contemplating the Andre Koo Tech MBA at NYU Stern, I can unreservedly say that the program has been a transformative force in my career. It has empowered me to think more strategically, act more decisively, and engage more meaningfully with both the tech and business communities. I’m a better professional because of it, and I have no doubt that the dividends will continue to accrue in the years to come.

In today’s fiercely competitive job market, the Tech MBA isn’t just a feather in your cap—it’s an arsenal of knowledge and skills that can propel your career to uncharted territories. I’m incredibly grateful for my time at NYU Stern, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next.