Being a PM requires a balanced blend of technical and business knowledge, with responsibilities such as performing market assessments, translating business to technical requirements, and figuring out technical design and implementation. It's a role that I originally didn't know I wanted, but felt perfect for me once I found it due to the experience and education I received in Purdue’s MEM. My balanced profile allowed me to excel as a PM, which in turn led to my decision to leave Ford in order to transition to becoming a PM at Microsoft. I am excited to be pursuing a career in the tech industry, something in which I have always been interested.

One piece of advice I have for current MEM students is to do some research on potential jobs that you're interested in before signing up for classes. You can take advantage of the wide range of engineering courses that are available in the program by choosing the topics that offer the skills currently required or that will be relevant to the jobs you want in the future. Taking this approach will help tremendously in making you a strong candidate when interviewing for these roles.