WomenTech Network’s June monthly networking event brought together aspiring and seasoned product managers for an inspiring and eye-opening session hosted in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business. The virtual room was brimming with curiosity and ambition as we explored the journey “From Starting Out to Standing Out: Building Your Product Management Skills and Mindset.”
This month’s spotlight shone brightly on two dynamic alumnae of Carnegie Mellon’s Master of Science in Product Management (MSPM) program: Brielle Irving, Digital Product Manager at Rocket Mortgage, and Priyanka Khandewal, Senior Technical Product Manager at Amazon Web Services. These leaders offered attendees an unfiltered look at what it takes to rise in product management — especially when you're starting from a non-technical background.
Topics and Insights from the Speakers
What was your journey into product management
Brielle Irving began by stating plainly that she does not have a traditional technical background. With over a decade in talent acquisition, she once believed she couldn’t break into product management, much less in AI. But through Carnegie Mellon’s MSPM program and her own commitment to learning, she now leads AI product development at Rocket Mortgage. Her focus isn’t on building AI algorithms, but designing intuitive, user-first experiences powered by AI.
She emphasized that her “superpower” lies not in Python, but in empathy, product thinking, and strategic storytelling. She shared detailed examples from her current work, including developing ethical AI chat agents using real customer transcripts and leveraging prompt engineering to enhance tools like Salesforce Einstein and Rocket's internal GPT-like platform, Navigator.
One standout story came from Super Bowl weekend, when Brielle provided real-time web traffic reports every 20 minutes after Rocket Mortgage’s commercial aired. By integrating AI and human intuition, she delivered actionable insights at scale—an experience that cemented her belief in the value of non-coders in AI product roles.
Priyanka Khandewal: Charting a Strategic Path to AWS
Priyanka traced her journey from studying economics in India to managing cloud security products at Amazon Web Services. Her career began in a program management role at Oyo, where she fell in love with the complexity and impact of product work. Realizing that she lacked technical and customer-centric thinking at the time, she methodically mapped her skill gaps and created a personal roadmap.
Her approach was deliberate: she studied 100 successful products, explored UX design, and chose CMU’s MSPM program over a traditional MBA to gain leadership and tech acumen. Now, as a PM at AWS, she leads networking and security product development for millions of users. She credits her success to three mindsets: curiosity, resilience (especially in facing rejection), and a deep commitment to solving real-world problems with simplicity.
Using a metaphor from her love of football (soccer), Priyanka likened product managers to midfielders—connecting engineering and marketing to drive products forward. For her, product management is not just a career, but a way to continually build, improve, and make meaningful impact.
Brad Eiben: Inside the MSPM Experience
Brad Eiben, Executive Director of the MSPM program, shared what makes the program unique. Built around four pillars—business, technology, human-centered design, and hands-on learning—the MSPM degree is designed specifically to prepare students for product leadership roles in any industry.
He emphasized the program’s one-year timeline, the January start, and the depth of its specialization, with every course customized for product managers—from “Presentations for Product Managers” to “HCI for Product Managers.” Applications for the January 2025 cohort are now open, and WomenTech attendees were invited to apply with a free application code: WTECH26.
What’s your “Why” for pursuing this path?
Brielle’s turning point came while watching Zootopia with her toddler. A line from the film—“make the world a better place”—struck her deeply after being laid off during back-to-back workforce reductions. She decided to enroll in CMU’s product management program and dedicate her career to building AI tools that support people, not replace them.
Priyanka’s “why” was more strategic. She wanted to work in a role that combined her love for execution and communication. She’s happiest when building, collaborating, and delivering value to users—and product management gave her that platform. Her vision is long-term: to be a product leader building for millions, with joy and intent.
What role did hands-on learning and capstones play in your development?
Both speakers highlighted the value of their internships and capstone projects. Brielle and Priyanka worked together on a capstone that reimagined a gaming company’s product strategy—transforming its roadmap in just two months. Priyanka noted that capstones often convert into job offers. Brielle added that key lessons from product marketing and ethical AI classes were immediately applicable in her internship.
Whether it was testing the “test everything” ethos from Booking.com or recognizing the value of explainability in AI (XAI), their experiences at CMU weren’t just academic—they were transformative.
Final Thoughts: What mindsets helped you succeed?
For Priyanka, it was curiosity, thick skin, and starting before she felt fully ready. She faced many rejections but remained focused on building her skills and staying informed.
Brielle admitted to struggling with imposter syndrome, but said trusting her instincts, building confidence through performance, and reminding herself of her unique value helped her push through self-doubt. She emphasized that bravery is often about showing up, even when uncertain.
Brielle underscored the value of empathy and product thinking in AI, even without a coding background.
"Success in AI isn’t about replacing people—it’s about enhancing their decisions, actions, and experiences. You don’t need to code to lead in AI. Product strategy—not Python—is my superpower."
Priyanka spoke about persistence, learning, and bringing joy to product building.
"Start somewhere. Start curious. And keep going—don’t wait for it to be perfect. Being a great product manager is like being a midfielder in football—you connect the whole team and move the product forward."
Brad highlighted the program’s targeted and transformative nature.
"The MS in product management program at CMU is one of a kind in many ways... we focus on PM in all the classes... founded on four pillars: business fundamentals, tech skills, human-centered design, and hands-on experience."
The event underscored the importance of curiosity, resilience, and the power of diverse experiences in shaping successful product management careers. Through the candid journeys and insights shared by Brielle and Priyanka, attendees were inspired to embrace their unique paths and empowered with practical strategies to break into and thrive in the world of tech and AI product management.
As a reminder, the Round 2 application deadline for the MSPM program is July 7, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity—apply today! Carnegie Mellon is generously offering an application fee waiver for attendees of this session. Use the code WTECH26 to waive your fee. For more information about the MSPM program, visit the Carnegie Mellon MSPM Program.
Watch the full recording here 👇
