MTM Newsletter - October 2024
The Buzz Around OpenAI
As we prepare to release this newsletter, the tech world is abuzz with news and gossip about OpenAI. On one hand, the exit of top executives continues with the departure of chief technology officer Mira Murati. This follows the high-profile departures of several of the most senior executives, including all the founders except for CEO Sam Altman.
Is this a case of rats fleeing a sinking ship (or at least a badly managed one) or is this a normal phase in an entrepreneurial firm that has outgrown the team that founded it? Read more from Professor Nelson Phillips to find out.
Welcome, Class of 2025, to UCSB’s Master of Technology Management Program
It’s an exciting time as the new Class of 2025 begins the MTM Graduate Program, diving deep into topics such as strategy for technology-driven companies and learning to work with intelligent machines with some of the top professors in the field. Technology IS the future of work and we can’t wait to see what the new class of leaders and entrepreneurs can achieve. Welcome, Class of 2025, and enjoy everything the program has to offer!
Applications Now Open
Explore more and apply here: Link to MTM Admissions
Industry Insights—What’s Trending In Tech
Exploring the Biological Basis of the Symbolic in Management Studies
MTM Professor Nelson Phillips and co-author Christine Moser (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) delve into the evolution of language, cognition, and societal development in their recent Journal of Management Studies article. They argue that human evolution begins with the symbolic, shaping our capacity for:
- Language development
- Social bonding
- Advanced cognition
Their research highlights how these traits, rooted in our biology, influence how we manage and organize today.
Digital Exhaustion Webinar with Professor Paul Leonardi - Replay now available here!
Upcoming MTM Events
- Thursday, October 17: Alumni Perspectives: Navigating the Future of Technology and Management
- Wednesday, October 23: Admissions Webinar for Humanities and Social Sciences Majors
- Thursday, October 24: In-Person Information Session
- Monday, November 4: Application Tips Webinar
Learn more and register for these events!
Grad Spotlights
Purav Shah, Class of 2018
With a master’s degree and a career in engineering, Purav Shah sought a program to help him transition into product management. The MTM program gave him insights into how products are built and brought to market, along with experience and exposure.
“Having the field projects [at MTM] was really great because they gave us exposure not only to the industry, but also to the corporate lifestyle, to working with different team members within different verticals within the companies and also working within our own project team,” Purav shared. The program also helped him understand the complete product lifecycle and offered invaluable support during his job search.
Purav is currently a Product Manager at Teladoc Health. Learn more about Purav's story here.
Sabrina Chisholm, Class of 2024
Sabrina Chisholm graduated from UCSB with a BA in English after switching from a data science degree, and she then found her perfect fit in the MTM graduate program. “MTM is very business-focused, but there's also a lot of creativity in tech, and this combination is an important and valuable part of MTM,” she explains. This is what drew her in, setting her on a path toward a dynamic career in tech.
Sabrina is currently a Client Partnership Associate at CJ. Learn more about Sabrina's story here.
Santa Barbara in the News
UCSB Drives Santa Barbara’s Growth as a Tech Hub
UC Santa Barbara’s world-renowned programs in Environmental Science, Engineering, and Technology are perfectly situated to foster innovation, talent, and business opportunities between academia and the Santa Barbara community.
The Innovation + Entrepreneurship program for students, faculty, and entrepreneurs is designed to stimulate new, diverse, and lasting economic development opportunities. Adding to the vibrant economy, the UCSB I+E program has expanded physical infrastructure, educational programming, technology translation, and startup incubation and acceleration.
Learn more about why Santa Barbara is a favorite for startups.
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