Master of Product Design & Development Management, Northwestern University

Master of Product Design & Development Management, Northwestern University Welcome to the Official page for the Master of Product Design and Development Program, Northwestern University. Fusion of MBA and MS in Engineering

Information Sessions: https://bit.ly/3gzfiID

As our capstone projects continue, Team Blue’s work reflects how MPD2 students are exploring emerging opportunities at t...
06/02/2026

As our capstone projects continue, Team Blue’s work reflects how MPD2 students are exploring emerging opportunities at the intersection of data, design, and human health.

In collaboration with iFIT, the team is exploring how a leading connected fitness platform can evolve into a more holistic, connected health experience, particularly in the women’s health and fitness space.

Their focus is on designing a system that delivers personalized, data-driven health recommendations, moving beyond workout tracking to provide meaningful insights that support each user’s broader wellness journey. By combining behavioral insights, user data, and human-centered design, the team is working to translate complex information into actionable everyday value.

Guided by Rick Hoobler, Joshua Naylor, John Latanzi, and Rachel Alexander of iFIT, and supported by MPD2 alumni mentor Sabrina Katz, Team Blue is applying an interdisciplinary approach that balances design innovation, technical feasibility, and product strategy.

This project highlights a defining aspect of the MPD experience: the opportunity to work on forward-looking challenges where technology, data, and user experience converge to shape the future of connected product ecosystems.

Team Blue (left to right): Ian Fried, Shahan Ahmed, Matt Czach

Reflecting on their experience, the team shared:

“Working with iFIT has been a great experience. They have offered us a unique and challenging proposition to work on. During our meetings, they are engaged and collaborative, always making time to support our progress while trusting us to take ownership of our work. It has been rewarding to work with a sponsor that gives our team the autonomy to explore creative solutions while remaining involved throughout the process.”

We extend our sincere thanks to the iFIT team and Sabrina Katz for their partnership and continued investment in developing the next generation of product leaders.

One of the most valuable parts of the Northwestern MPD2 experience is learning directly from leaders who are actively sh...
06/01/2026

One of the most valuable parts of the Northwestern MPD2 experience is learning directly from leaders who are actively shaping conversations around innovation, leadership, and transformation.�

Last weekend, our MPD2 cohort welcomed Laura Gassner Otting, bestselling author, executive coach, entrepreneur, internationally recognized keynote speaker, and Founder & Chief Catalyzing Officer of Limitless Possibility as a guest speaker in Professor Shelley Paxton’s Global Leadership in a Smart and Connected World course.�

The discussion challenged us to rethink ideas around success, resilience, career growth, and authentic leadership in rapidly changing industries. Laura’s ability to connect personal growth with professional leadership created a conversation that was both deeply reflective and highly practical.�

A huge thank you to Professor Shelley Paxton for bringing this experience to the program and continuing to foster the kind of learning environment that encourages curiosity, courage, and meaningful dialogue.�

Moments like this reflect what makes Northwestern MPD2 special is a community where innovation is not only technical it’s personal, strategic, and human-centered.

Another great weekend of learning in the Northwestern MPD2 program.Our MPD2 cohort had the opportunity to hear from Matt...
06/01/2026

Another great weekend of learning in the Northwestern MPD2 program.

Our MPD2 cohort had the opportunity to hear from Matt Yao during Product Management class, at the invitation of Professor Birju Shah.�

Matt shared an honest and insightful look into his career journey from Uber’s APM program to building and leading products across Afterpay, Block, fintech, AI, and startups, and now serving as Head of Product at Roe.

What made the session especially impactful was the transparency of the conversation about growth, uncertainty, experimentation, and building products in rapidly evolving industries.

Beyond product strategy, Matt spoke about:
👉 Finding impact-driven work
👉 Navigating career transitions
👉 Working closely with customers
👉 Building in AI-native environments
👉 The realities of startup ex*****on

Guest lectures like these are among the many reasons the MPD2 experience stands out. Students gain direct access to leaders actively shaping the future of product, technology, and innovation.

Huge thanks to Matt Yao for sharing his experience and to Professor Briju Shah for continuing to bring industry perspectives into the classroom.

Fuel successful product leadership and innovation through Northwestern's Master of Product Design and Development Manage...
05/28/2026

Fuel successful product leadership and innovation through Northwestern's Master of Product Design and Development Management program. Our curriculum is designed to provide graduates a pathway to senior management through a comprehensive understanding of design and related business application processes.

Learn more at our upcoming online information session on Thursday, June 11 at 6:00 p.m. CDT.

Register at bit.ly/3PbnXHv

Join us at our Visit Day on campus and experience our program firsthand. You’ll have the opportunity to attend a class, ...
05/25/2026

Join us at our Visit Day on campus and experience our program firsthand. You’ll have the opportunity to attend a class, meet current students, and connect with faculty. You’re not required to stay the full duration from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; however, we highly recommend being present from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

Learn more at our upcoming in-person visit day on Saturday, May 30 at 8:30 a.m. CDT.

Register at bit.ly/4t5TxnL

Santiago Vivas-Gonzalez (mpd² '22) spends his days leading AI/ML strategy at Capital One and his nights developing softw...
05/18/2026

Santiago Vivas-Gonzalez (mpd² '22) spends his days leading AI/ML strategy at Capital One and his nights developing software to help brave adventurers in their battles against orcs, ogres, and dragons.

Last weekend, the MPD2 cohort at Northwestern University wrapped up the Leading with Data Analytics course led by Profes...
05/09/2026

Last weekend, the MPD2 cohort at Northwestern University wrapped up the Leading with Data Analytics course led by Professor Anthony (Tony) Orzechowski.�

This course pushed students beyond simply “analyzing data” to truly thinking like decision-makers.

A central takeaway: analytics is not about perfect models or complex math it’s about using data to make better, timely decisions that drive real outcomes.
Throughout the course, students explored how to:�
👉 Translate data into meaningful insights rather than just metrics�
👉 Focus on decisions first, then determine what data is needed�
👉 Understand variation, risk, and the importance of managing uncertainty�
👉 Move from descriptive and causal insights to actionable, prescriptive decisions

Professor Orzechowski emphasized that great analytics is only valuable if it leads to action. From designing experiments to understanding trade-offs, students learned how to connect analytical thinking directly to business impact and leadership.�

We are incredibly grateful to Professor Orzechowski for bringing such clarity, rigor, and real-world perspective to the classroom. His emphasis on attention to detail, decision-driven thinking, and effective communication will stay with our students far beyond the program.

What does it take to build AI products that actually work in the real world?This past weekend, MPD2 students explored th...
05/08/2026

What does it take to build AI products that actually work in the real world?

This past weekend, MPD2 students explored that question with Neda Raji, VP of Product at SAP Labs and an alumna of Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, whose experience spans enterprise platforms at global scale and leadership roles at Walmart.

In a session hosted by Professor Birju Shah & Jason Beauregard, Neda shared how enterprise AI is fundamentally different from consumer AI where mistakes are costly, trust is critical, and product decisions must be grounded in real workflows.

Students examined how AI is transforming global logistics systems reducing manual effort, improving decision-making, and enabling teams to focus on higher-value work.

More importantly, the discussion reinforced a core MPD2 principle:�Product management is not just about building features it’s about solving the right problems, with the right tools, at the right time.

Experiences like this where classroom learning meets real-world complexity are what prepare MPD2 students to lead in today’s evolving product landscape.

Thank you to Professor Birju Shah & Jason Beauregard for facilitating this session.

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Fuel successful product leadership and innovation through Northwestern's Master of Product Design and Development Manage...
05/05/2026

Fuel successful product leadership and innovation through Northwestern's Master of Product Design and Development Management program. Our curriculum is designed to provide graduates a pathway to senior management through a comprehensive understanding of design and related business application processes.

Learn more at our upcoming online information session on Thursday, May 7 at at 6:00 p.m. CDT.

Register at bit.ly/4w1dYoL

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