AI and digital analytics are radically changing business today. Nowhere is this truer than in the field of product management. From finance and banking and healthcare and software development to automotive, industrial automation, and a wide range of other manufacturing and service industries, product managers with broad technical and leadership skills are needed.
Weatherhead School of Management is answering this need with the launch of the Online MBA in Product Management that incorporates a digital, analytics, and AI infused curriculum. Designed for working professionals looking to pivot into the promising career of product management, the graduate program is a 50/50 blend of self-paced coursework and live virtual classes that combine the breadth of an MBA core with the depth of product management focused degree.
Satish Nambisan, the Nancy and Joseph Keithley Professor of Technology Management and professor of design and innovation at the Weatherhead School of Management, led in the development of the program. He was guided by a highly engaged advisory board comprised of world-class executive cohort from several Fortune 500 companies including Rockwell Automation, KeyBank, Progressive, Penske and Steris. Promotional efforts to drive Fall 2024 enrollment for the program have begun, and there are strong market indicators that the program will be a success.
Students enrolled in the product management program also participate in experiential education through two in-person residencies. The first residency occurs in the second year as part of the Product Management and Venturing course. This offers students the opportunity to interact with startup firms to gain a first-hand understanding of the unique issues facing new enterprises. The second residency takes place in the third year as part of the Experiential Project in PM II course. This residency provides students the opportunity to present their completed project findings to the sponsor companies and to engage in intensive discussions with senior executives on the product management challenges of today.
Glassdoor recently ranked product management in their list of the best-suited jobs in America, with more than 17,000 job openings. Forecasts are for this high number of openings to continue. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates an annual need of 16,800 new product managers through 2028.
ZipRecruiter found the average salary in the United States for an individual with a master’s degree in product management to be $159,405. While the salary for product managers depends on the industry, location and experience, in companies such as Microsoft, Google, Meta and Slack, product managers easily earn above $200,000, and are in high demand.
Mike Fisher, who serves on the Advisory Board and is the former CTO at Etsy, believes the timing is perfect for offering this graduate degree. “Weatherhead’s MBA in Product Management fills the need for curriculum targeting product management, as the market for product management talent is as competitive as it is for software engineers, said Fisher.”
Visit the Online MBA in Product Management Program Page