Meet Shelby Salling, MTM Class of 2018

Shelby currently works for Amazon Web Services and completed the MTM program in 2018. The following comments are from an interview that took place in Fall 2023. 

Q: Why did you consider doing the MTM program? 

A: I was going into my senior year at UCSB, and I was in the Technology Management undergraduate certificate program. It really helped because I had actually been interning at a startup over the summer, and I worked there part time into senior year. I was doing some app development work, creating marketing campaigns, and working on pitch decks so we could get more funding from venture capital firms. I found the Technology Management certificate program to be useful because it gave me that business context in addition to my work learning to be a technologist. Because of that, I had a lot of contacts in the program already, and it was recommended to me by my advisor (shout-out Katie!) to go to an information session for MTM, where I was able to have one-on-one discussions with the program’s founders and key people in MTM. It was everything I was looking for in terms of building up my business knowledge while I was getting some of that early experience working at a startup. 

Once I met all the people in MTM and learned that I could bridge that knowledge gap between my business understanding and my existing early technology experience, it seemed like a no-brainer to me to stay another year at UCSB and get the MTM degree. I already enjoyed learning anyway, so I didn't really think twice about going into the program. 

Q: Did you have an idea of what a role you wanted after graduation? 

A: I didn't! I was just coming out of school, and I knew I was interested in technology. One thing I personally really struggled with a lot is that I knew I liked software, but I wasn't really sure where I fit into that ecosystem. I could see myself in a lot of different roles. Going into the program was exciting, but I wasn't sure what I wanted out of it. I knew I was excited to learn the things that were outlined in the MTM curriculum, such as corporate strategy, product and market validation, and organizational design and behavior. MTM felt like the right place to learn crucial business functions while figuring out what my career goals were. 

Q: Let's talk about some of the program highlights for you. What were the standouts of your experience in the program? 

A: What made the program truly exceptional was the access to experts in their fields, who provided invaluable context about the landscape at the time. For instance, we had a sociologist who had been studying tech companies and organizational behavior for over 20 years, covering a huge chunk of the history of Silicon Valley. Also, my Building Brands professor was a key figure at one of the early tech giants. It was incredibly enriching to learn not just from textbooks, but also from their personal anecdotes and experiences. Having direct access to these experts was invaluable—I was able to pick their brains during office hours, after class, or through engaging discussions. With our cohort being just under 40 people, the intimate setting allowed for deeper, more meaningful learning. I firmly believe that the best way to learn is through the real-world experiences of others.

Q: What career services did you use? I was hearing about designing a life and connecting with some informational interviews, did they make an impact on you in any way? 

A: MTM’s approach to dedicated career planning is incredibly intentional. As with anything in life, the effort you put in determines what you get out. The career services team was clear that their doors were always open and that they were eager to help. When I stepped into the career planning office, a lot of uncertainties were cleared up. The one-on-one connection was particularly valuable—it gave me the focus I needed to ask the right questions and figure out my direction. Beyond the discussions, they introduced me to key people in the field. My career advisor took the time to understand my interests deeply and then connected me with someone they thought would be a great fit—a woman they had met 20 years ago who started at Salesforce and was named Silicon Valley Woman of the Year. I was thrilled at the chance to meet her, and through MTM’s career services, I did, in person, in the Bay Area. That connection was something I could never have made on my own. The advice she gave me shaped my first job and, I believe, played a significant role in where I am today. 

Q: What about the field project? Other MTM alumni have talked about how the hands-on learning was really a positive experience. Was that a great highlight for you? 

A: That experience was a major highlight for me. I initially struggled in one of the MTM courses, and the professor of that course ended up becoming my advisor. It was interesting to see the transformation—I went from being challenged in the first quarter to really growing both academically and personally. My relationship with this professor also evolved, especially since I became the team lead for our project. I took on the responsibility of organizing the work, checking in, and ensuring we stayed on track, which meant working closely with this faculty member. This collaboration led to a strong, supportive relationship. Beyond just working at the companies, the one-on-one mentorship was invaluable. 

For my project, I worked at FLIR, where I was positioned between the product and engineering teams, aiming to help them improve predictability of individual project success. Now, having been part of development teams and having worked in both product and engineering roles, I can appreciate just how challenging that was, especially for green grad students like me. But the team was patient and open, welcoming my questions, and I still keep in touch with some of those folks today. 

Q: Tell me about your current role. How do you think MTM set you up for success in it? 

A: I am currently at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where I work as a Technical Business Developer within the Worldwide Specialist Organization. In this role, I build and execute go-to-market plans across a few AWS compute offerings, work closely with our service teams, and accelerate the adoption of those existing offerings within North America. I collaborate with a broad group across AWS, acting as the conduit between our customers and AWS product teams. Most importantly, I apply my expertise to address our customers’ most critical problems, helping turn innovative ideas into technical reality. Without going through MTM, I would not have the strong foundation that I need to allow me to excel in this role.

Q: Do you think having a Master’s gives you some edge? 

A: Yes, I do believe it gives me credibility and the ability to think from that 30,000-foot business perspective. Based on my industry experience thus far, there is a noticeable divide in our industry between people and technology. Here’s what I mean by that - some people are incredibly technically savvy, capable of diving deep into engineering or other technical roles. Others are great with people, but lack the technical skills to implement complex engineering solutions. The role I’ve found myself in aims to bridge the gap between the two, acting as somewhat of a “translator”, as I work closely with both sales teams and engineering teams helping them communicate and send signals to each other. This ability to effectively navigate both the technical and the interpersonal sides of the business definitely gives me an edge, I think, and MTM has helped me tackle problems with strong academic backing. 

Q: How did you feel about going to grad school in Santa Barbara specifically? 

A: I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, so not too far away. Santa Barbara is a special place. I lived there for the last eight years until I moved to New York. What other school are you going to go to that has such a great academic reputation and is right on the beach? You usually have to pick one or the other—the fun and beauty, or the academics. On top of that, I was an athlete at UCSB as well, so that was a big factor for me personally going to UCSB; I played water polo. I think between being able to balance a beautiful campus, great knowledge base from the faculty, and between the mountains and the ocean, it really doesn’t get much better than that! I am sure that I will make my way back someday… 

Q: What would you say to a prospective MTM student? What would you tell them about this program? 

A: MTM brings together faculty from top schools worldwide. What really stood out to me was the small, dedicated cohort experience, which was crucial for me. I thrive on one-to-one connections, and the smaller class size made that possible. MTM is the perfect blend of learning from highly experienced faculty who have real-world experience in the technology space, while also benefiting from the intimate, focused environment of a smaller class. 

Q: Is there anything we haven’t discussed that you’d like to mention? 

A: Say yes to everything! My experience at MTM was as valuable as it was because I embraced this mindset early on. I received some great advice to keep an open mind and say yes to things that sparked even a little interest, even if they were outside my comfort zone. Those are the opportunities that truly expand your perspective. If you’d asked me five or six years ago to chart my path, I couldn’t have done it. I believe I’ve gotten to where I am today by saying yes to new challenges and pushing myself beyond my comfort zone. I sought feedback from people I respected and admired, and I kept an open mind, even when the feedback wasn’t what I wanted to hear at the time. That mindset has been crucial to my growth, both during the program and beyond.

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