Course
Course Description
In an era shaped by rapid innovation, platform disruption, and AI acceleration, Advanced Product Management prepares students to confidently step into senior product leadership roles across global corporations, high-growth startups, and mission-driven ventures. This immersive, case-based course explores the full complexity of modern product leadership, equipping students with the skills to design, scale, and lead resilient product organizations. Emphasizing the practical application of strategy, students will learn to translate vision into execution while navigating uncertainty and operating at the intersection of engineering, design, and business.
The curriculum explores how to scale high-performing product teams in both hypergrowth and enterprise contexts, design inclusive and globally relevant solutions for emerging markets such as Africa and LATAM, and apply differentiated product strategies across peacetime and wartime market conditions. Students will evaluate build vs. buy vs. partner decisions through both financial and technical lenses, and learn to embed AI and machine learning into product experiences and workflows. The course also emphasizes ethical product design, inclusive innovation, and governance frameworks for responsible AI. Finally, students will examine how to build strong product cultures and organizational rituals that support continuous experimentation, growth, and innovation at scale.
Through a combination of real-world case studies, leadership simulations, and executive guest lectures from top Product Leaders, students will begin to develop the necessary mindset and capabilities to lead the next generation of transformative products.
Students who will benefit the most from this course:
- non-STEM students exploring careers in tech
- STEM students seeking preparation for product-centric tech roles
- Students who have already taken a SCET Berkeley Challenge Lab (ENGIN 183C) or ENGIN 183D
- Have a general understanding of modern product management and product development approaches (e.g. waterfall, agile/scrum)
Course by application ONLY. Application will be live on April 30th with enrollment decisions sent during Phase 2.
Instructor
Laura Teclemariam
With over 20 years of experience in product management, Laura Teclemariam is passionate about creating innovative and engaging products that delight billions of users worldwide. She recently was the Sr. Director of Product Management at LinkedIn, where she led the consumer products for Profile, Messaging, and Groups teams. Before joining LinkedIn, she was the Director of Product Innovation at Netflix, where she served as Head of product innovation for Interactive Media and the Netflix Animation Studio. She has an Electrical Engineering and Computer Science degree from UC Irvine and her MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Through her unparalleled expertise, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to driving positive change, Laura Teclemariam continues to redefine the landscape of technology and creativity in Silicon Valley and beyond.