Meet Naman Raval, MTM Class of 2018

Q: What were you doing before you began the MTM program?

A: Before joining MTM, my professional journey took me through two major management and software consulting firms: Accenture and Cognizant. During this period, I served as a Senior Consultant and Team Lead, collaborating closely with clients in the high-tech and financial services sectors. My role centered on driving transformative initiatives across digital, sales, service, and marketing domains. I led efforts to launch innovative products, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and applied AI to address complex business challenges and deliver impactful results. This experience honed my ability to guide diverse teams through intricate problem-solving and achieve measurable success in dynamic environments.

Q: Why did you want to join MTM?

A: Continuous learning has always been a cornerstone of my career. After a decade in the industry, I felt it was time to either take a sabbatical or pursue a higher degree that would allow me to acquire new skills, address any blind spots, and align with my goal of launching a SaaS company. MTM proved to be the perfect fit, offering a holistic approach that blends innovation, product management, and technology—essential for excelling in the job market or launching startups.

The program's faculty were exceptionally knowledgeable. Their industry insights, backed by research, publications, and hands-on experience, were unparalleled. MTM offered an outstanding, well-rounded learning experience. And, on a lighter note, who wouldn't love gaining such rich knowledge in the beautiful setting of Santa Barbara? Go Gauchos!

Q: What were some of the things you learned and did during MTM that have helped you in your career?

A: Each subject in the MTM program provided unique and valuable insights for both recent graduates and seasoned professionals. Professor Paul Leonardi’s course on innovation and market validation offered a solid framework for evaluating new ideas and creating products that align with product-market fit (PMF). The finance course was highly relevant, covering foundational economic principles, earned value management, and pricing strategies for software products.

Real-world projects with industry advisors provided the opportunity to learn directly from seasoned professionals who generously shared their expertise, blending theoretical insights with actionable, practical advice. Our faculty advisor equipped us with essential team-building skills and refined communication strategies critical for success in enterprise settings.

The exposure to visiting faculty, who shared real-life examples from marketing and operations management, deepened my strategic perspective. Career coaching sessions with Career Services offered structured guidance on career design and positioning in a competitive, high-skill job market. Professor Renee Rottner’s course on partnership-building and negotiation introduced vital frameworks that have been invaluable throughout my career.

Numerous networking opportunities, such as alumni connections, local conferences, and seminars hosted by local companies, provided critical industry exposure. Being in California also meant proximity to Silicon Valley (San Francisco) and Silicon Beach (Los Angeles), both of which offered strong job market potential.

Overall, the program endowed me with a robust set of tools and frameworks that enhanced my product management and career skills. Combined with my prior experience, the knowledge gained from MTM has been instrumental in navigating both familiar and unexpected challenges in various product management roles across startups and Fortune 500 companies since graduating from UCSB.

Q: What company do you work for and what do you do in your current position?

A: After completing the MTM program, I worked with two startups in the software industry—one specializing in cloud technology and the other in applied AI. I also held a role at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) before returning to management consulting. Currently, I serve in a product management role where I have led and delivered software (SaaS) MVPs and full-scale products from inception to launch (0 to 1).

In many roles, I have launched revenue-generating products for companies or clients, managing product portfolios with P&L contributions ranging from $20 million to $300 million. My focus has been on (a) creating new revenue streams through innovative products, (b) enhancing customer and platform experiences to drive growth and acquisition, and (c) reducing cycle times to boost productivity and support digital transformation. Additionally, I’ve had the privilege of building and leading high-performing teams in product and program management, all aligned with the companies’ OKRs.

In summary, it has been a rewarding and dynamic journey since completing MTM. I’m eager to continue building on these experiences as I advance my career in the tech sector!

Q: What do you enjoy most about this type of work?

A: Based on my experiences in both product management and management consulting, I believe some of the most enjoyable aspects of these roles are:

💡 Problem-solving: Both roles involve tackling complex business challenges and finding innovative solutions.

📊 Strategic thinking: Developing product strategies and consulting on business strategies allows for high-level, impactful thinking using the right tools and frameworks.

🤝 Cross-functional collaboration: Working with diverse teams across engineering, design, marketing, sales, and other departments provides visibility into how companies operate and how your work impacts various areas of the organization.

🤗 Client/stakeholder interaction: Building relationships with clients or internal stakeholders, understanding their needs, and crafting empathetic solutions that address their pain points is essential.

📚 Continuous learning: Both fields require staying up-to-date with industry trends and constantly acquiring new skills. I often tell people that product managers are like PhDs or doctors—you need to stay relevant, or you risk becoming obsolete.

🏅 Impactful work: Seeing tangible results from your efforts, whether it’s a successful product launch or improved business performance for a client, is incredibly satisfying.

Each success feels like winning an Olympic medal, and every failure becomes a valuable lesson learned along the way.

Needless to say, it’s not an easy path, but the dynamic, challenging, and rewarding nature of both product management and management consulting makes the journey worthwhile! 🚀

Q: What advice do you have for current or prospective MTM students?

A: Each subject in the program offers the potential to open doors to job opportunities in its specific area. So, immerse yourself fully in learning—give it your absolute best effort, even 200%! Take advantage of your time with the faculty and participate in career journey sessions to thoughtfully plan your career trajectory. Cultivate a continuous learning mindset by making it a daily habit to learn something new. Consider taking up a new hobby each year—ideally something that pushes you out of your comfort zone or offers a fresh perspective. Volunteering your time can also be deeply rewarding; I’ve been fortunate to work with several nonprofit organizations and found that giving back or paying it forward brings immense fulfillment.

Whether or not you come from an engineering background, explore coding or familiarize yourself with emerging technologies. Learning to code—perhaps in Java or Python—and working on personal projects can enhance your skill set and open new doors. 

Travel whenever you can and build meaningful connections. You’ll meet a variety of personalities throughout your academic, professional, and personal journeys. Strive to foster positive relationships while maintaining distance from negative influences. Remember, this is all part of your journey, so enjoy every moment of it! Leverage the tools and knowledge you gain from MTM as you carve out your unique path in the tech industry. I wish you every success in your career endeavors!

Q: What’s your favorite emoji?

● Before MTM: 💡+ 📚 (Problem solving & Continuous learning)

● After MTM: 🏅+ 🚀 (Impactful work & Growth/Startups)

Connect with Naman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/namanr

Learn more about MTM: tmp.ucsb.edu/mtm