Hello UWPM Community!
A new term is here, and we’re kicking off Winter 2025 with an exciting lineup of events, learning opportunities, and connections to fuel your growth in product management! Last term, UWPM hosted our annual flagship event – ProdCon, where 37 teams came together to explore the transformative potential of immersive learning in the banking sector
This term, the team is bringing fresh energy with hands-on workshops, insightful podcast episodes and networking opportunities designed to help you level up your PM skills.
In this edition, you’ll get the inside scoop on what’s coming up—plus tips, resources, and ways to make the most of UWPM this winter. Dive in and see what’s waiting for you this term!
Let’s make Winter 2025 an amazing one! ❄️🔥
🗓 Upcoming Events: PM 101
Curious about Product Management but not sure where to start? PM 101 is your perfect first step! Whether you’re completely new to the field or looking to sharpen your skills, this event will break down everything you need to know about what PMs do, how to break into the industry, and how UWPM can support your journey.
Join us for an engaging session featuring:
An introduction to UWPM and how to get involved
A deep dive into what product management really is
Insights into the daily life of a PM and key industry tools
How to land a PM role—skills, networking, and interview prep
Fun, interactive games & activities to apply what you learn
🎟️ Save the date! Join us on Wednesday, February 12th, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in MC 4021 for an exciting session. Bring your curiosity, and stay tuned on Instagram and Discord for more updates!
Link to Registration: https://forms.gle/oBbgyvbttZnDAxS37
🎧Podcast Episode Out
Breaking into product management isn’t easy—and thriving in it is an even bigger challenge. In today’s episode, we’re joined by Natasha Kasunic, Senior Product Manager, who started as a software development intern and navigated her way into the world of product management. She’s here to share her journey, lessons learned, and the mindset shifts that helped her grow in the field.
🌟 Discussion Highlights:
The Transition to PM: Natasha unpacks the challenges of moving from an intern role into product management and how she tackled the steep learning curve.
The Power of Self-Advocacy: How speaking up for yourself, setting clear career goals, and making strategic moves can be a game-changer for growth.
Your Career as an MVP: Thinking like a PM doesn’t just apply to work—it can transform how you approach your career development. Natasha shares her insights on treating your career like a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and iterating along the way.
Overcoming Setbacks & Building Confidence: Every career comes with hurdles. Natasha opens up about the roadblocks she faced and how she overcame them.
Being a Woman in Tech: The unique challenges and opportunities that come with navigating the tech industry as a woman.
Tune in on either Spotify or Apple Music for the full episode:
Spotify:
Apple:
Tech News:
DeepSeek AI Disrupts the Market
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has introduced its R1 model, a 671-billion-parameter open-source reasoning AI, developed at a fraction of the cost of its Western counterparts. This innovation has led to significant market reactions, including a substantial decline in Nvidia's stock value. DeepSeek's rapid ascent is prompting discussions about the future landscape of AI technology and international competition.
$500 Billion Stargate Project to Supercharge AI & Jobs in the U.S.
The Stargate Project, a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX, aims to revolutionize American AI capabilities. With the first data center already under construction in Abilene, Texas, the project is expected to create over 100,000 jobs while reinforcing national AI leadership. This massive investment signals a strategic push to strengthen AI infrastructure, reduce foreign dependency, and drive economic growth at an unprecedented scale.
🧑💻: Ponder like a Product Manager!
Want to sharpen your PM thinking? Estimation problems are a key part of interviews and real-world decision-making, testing your ability to think strategically, quantitatively, and under uncertainty.
This week’s question: How would you estimate the number of food delivery orders placed in the U.S. on a typical Friday night?
This question encourages you to break down big, abstract numbers into manageable components, assess market assumptions, and make strategic estimations based on user behaviour, subscription rates, and revenue streams. Give it a shot and see what revenue projections you come up with! Feel free to share your answers!
📌 Join our Discord Community
Want to connect with other students such as yourself interested in Product Management? Join our Discord Community, Invite Link Here: https://discord.gg/Nn9aJu2Z. Use our Discord Community to connect with other students and alumni to learn more about different opportunities in Product, practice mock interviews + resume critiques and more!
👋 Feel free to reach out
Thanks for joining us on this journey! We hope you learned something from this edition of the newsletter. Feel free to drop a line to introduce yourself and reach out if you have any questions.
Until next time,
- UWPM Team