Meet Kareena Patel, MTM Class of 2024

Kareena is originally from the Bay Area in Northern California and graduated from UCSB with a bachelor’s in economics.

Q: Why did you want to join the MTM graduate program?

A: I originally found out about MTM when I was applying to UCSB for my undergrad degree. When I was applying to schools, I was mainly looking at business majors, because that’s the field I wanted to go into, but the closest thing UCSB had was economics. I then learned about the TMP Certificate Program in the Technology Management department, which allowed me to get a business background during my undergrad degree. I got an exposure to what the Technology Management classes were like and what we learn in them, so I was intrigued to get more of that business background before actually going into the work environment. 

Q: What has been your favorite moment of the year?

A: At the end of winter quarter, in our Communication class we had to film a terrible pitch idea, in which we used persuasive communication techniques to create a video that convinced the class to buy our product. It made us think outside the box in a very creative way. Our team filmed a video, like a skit advertisement, outside of class, which was really fun and enabled us to look back on what we compiled together at the end of the project. I thought this was an exciting and creative project, and it taught me about the power of persuasion when presenting any idea, good or bad. The way you present an idea is often more important than the idea itself, especially in the workplace.

Q: What is something you learned that you look forward to using in your next job?

A: I have learned public speaking in a lot of my classes, especially in the Communication course. I didn’t really have much exposure to this skill in undergrad, because a lot of economics classes are all homework based, and there are not a lot of presentations. Presentations are something you do very often in the workplace, so being able to present confidently in front of a group of people is a very important skill that I have learned.

Q: What is your favorite part about going to graduate school in Santa Barbara?

A: The beach and the weather. I feel like it is unbeatable to have such a nice campus in such a perfect location. Also for me, one of my favorite parts was being able to spend another year here after my undergrad but also make that year very effective. There are not many programs out there where you can complete a master’s degree in a year. Being able to continue living with my friends but also benefiting my education in the long run was very incentivizing for me to stay here for grad school.

Q: What roles or industries are you pursuing for your next job?

A: I am looking at full-time positions in product manager roles, and preferably within a tech company. I grew up in the Bay Area, so I have had a lot of exposure to the tech industry and would like to start my career there. 

Q: What is your field project and what skills are you using to solve this business challenge?

A: I am on the Teledyne FLIR field project team, and our project is looking to improve their product lifecycle management process, particularly the transition between the engineering and manufacturing departments. We have been doing a lot of data analysis thus far, so I am honing that skillset. Another important skill I have learned on this project is how to manage stakeholders effectively and how to work constructively with multiple viewpoints. It is very important to get an understanding of that before you go to work in the real world, because it is something that you will encounter a lot. 

Q: What is one of the things you like the most about the MTM program?

A: The cohort aspect of this program is really great. I have never learned in a cohort-based environment, but being able to go through classes with everyone and do the same things together feels really supportive. Being able to see these people every day and then also spend time together outside of class has been amazing. Coming into this, I thought that because I had just graduated from college, everyone would be a lot older and have a lot more experience than me, but there are other students who have the same background. It has been super nice getting to know them, and we have formed friendships and hang out outside of class, which I wasn’t expecting coming into this, but honestly it has been really terrific.

Q: What is your favorite new technology?

A: Google Gemini! I love inputting random prompts into these search engines because they have really creative ideas. Oftentimes I have a random thought or a question, and instead of searching it up on Google, I just type it in the chat. I have also used it to help me figure out what to eat because if I have certain items in my fridge, it will give me great ideas to figure out what I can make with them!

Connect with Kareena on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareenaapatel

Learn more about MTM: https://tmp.ucsb.edu/academics/master-technology-management