WIB-Pittsburgh & PDMA: Beyond the Bench – Career Paths in Product Development & Management

At WIB-Pittsburgh, we experienced the shock and joy of being sold out for our first in-person event of the year! The event on January 24, 2024, at Bridgeside was co-hosted with PDMA Pittsburgh, and it was great to see the two organizations come together and talk during the networking portion of the evening. The panel discussion proved to be an enlightening exploration of the essential skills for success in a product role, the day-to-day life in product development within different industries, and the non-linear career paths and interesting personal stories that led the panelists to their current roles. Additionally, we explored the unique challenges and triumphs of navigating STEM professions as women. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to our exceptional panelists, including Linda van Roosmalen, PhD, Yelina Kim, Chelsea Merkel, PhD, Lindsy Thomas Bartoleit, and our moderator, Andrea Joseph Ruttenberg.

After the panel discussion, there was an engaging Q&A session, networking, and refreshments. A huge shoutout to Karen Carney, PhD, for this phenomenal idea of bringing our two organizations together to collaborate on this event. We also extend our appreciation to the WIB-Pittsburgh Leadership team, including Amanda Weaver, Maria Geraghty, Joie Marhefka, Beth Stronach, PhD, Tiffany Prince, Vonya Eisinger, and others who helped with the event organization. Our volunteering collective is super-amazing!

Submitted by Vonya Eisinger