I worked at Highland Electric Fleets as a product manager. Highland is a leader in electrifying student transportation — it plans and implements electrification projects for a school district or commercial customer. These projects include services that range from planning a project to procuring the buses and chargers and paying for the electricity to charge those buses. Highland's mission is to make electric school fleets accessible and affordable for all. In order to further this mission statement, I had the opportunity to work on a project to broaden Highland's scale and to help more customers electrify at a faster pace. My team and I were responsible for creating new tools to boost EV sales for Highland's channel partners; these tools consisted of

1. a real-time pricing tool, enabling Highland's partners to quote and close Highland deals in-house, massively improving scale; and
2. a new product marketing campaign, created with the goal of broadening the customer base. In the process, I created a product roadmap, market requirements document, and marketing collateral for our customers, and led interviews with customers to understand their priorities and pain points. We spent significant time assessing the list of customers in order to come up with a prioritized list of customers to go-to-market with. Ultimately, the team met its ambitious deadline of launching the product to its beta customers.

   The analytical and strategic thinking skills I gained from my MBA coursework helped me in creating a comprehensive product roadmap and a market requirements document. This involved analyzing market trends, customer preferences, and the overarching competitive landscape (even though the market is in its nascent stages) to ensure that Highland's product aligns with the needs of the target audience and the broader market. Additionally, the marketing and communication skills I developed during my MBA were essential in designing the new product marketing campaign. Crafting compelling marketing collateral and messages to effectively communicate the value proposition of our product to potential customers was a direct application of the product management principles I learned in my various classes. Specifically, the ability to conduct customer interviews and gather insights effectively was a skill I honed through the Digital Product Management Lab taught by Professor Chris LaSala. I utilize my learnings from Climate Finance (Professor Bruce Usher) when ideating on the real-time pricing tool. Understanding project finance, pricing strategies, and financial implications of different pricing models allowed me to contribute meaningfully to the tool's development.

   In addition to the project-specific skills I gained at CBS, I had the opportunity to regularly present to the company's top leadership, including the CEO, CFO, and chief commercial officer (CCO). The confidence and ability to present effectively were cultivated through various presentations, group discussions, and my role in club leadership. This exposure enabled me to present project progress, elaborate on strategic decisions, and provide insights into market dynamics with a high level of professionalism and poise. As a result, I could effectively communicate the value and impact of our project, ensuring alignment with the company's overall mission and objectives. These experiences allowed me to deliver complex ideas clearly and persuasively to customers and senior executives.

   I encountered and successfully navigated through numerous challenges that enriched both my professional growth and the project's outcomes. Initially, I grappled with the unfamiliarity of the electric vehicle (EV) market, particularly concerning school buses. Despite lacking prior expertise, I swiftly immersed myself in industry research and collaborated with stakeholders to bridge knowledge gaps. Simultaneously, addressing intricate project finance aspects without a strong foundation in financial modeling was a hurdle I proactively tackled. Concepts like depreciation and IRA tax credits were complex, but working with the finance team enabled me to incorporate these intricacies into our product. Furthermore, the weekly presentations to senior leadership, while not inherently a challenge, provided a pivotal learning opportunity. These interactions refined my communication skills, honing my ability to succinctly convey intricate project details with persuasion and clarity. My time at Highland was marked with learning opportunities that not only made for a better product but also helped me become a more adaptable and proficient PM.

   Highland has undeniably provided me with one of the most enriching environments in which I've had the privilege to work. As the first formalized product manager, I took advantage of a unique learning opportunity by integrating my prior product management background and knowledge into Highland's existing processes. This role demanded not only leveraging my skills but also influencing the company's trajectory, which enriched my professional journey with a sense of accomplishment and empowerment. The distinctiveness of Highland's rapid pace has truly set it apart from my previous roles. The accelerated nature of the startup environment allowed for swift iterations and rapid product deployment, ensuring an optimized customer experience.

   In conclusion, Highland's fast-paced startup culture has been instrumental in broadening my horizons as a product manager. The convergence of my prior expertise with Highland's dynamic environment has allowed me to contribute meaningfully, drive innovation, and thrive in a setting that values speed, adaptability, and continuous learning.