Joshua Mindel

My career path

I’m currently working with YouTube (Google/Alphabet) in the San Francisco Bay Area as a Technical Program Manager.

I first earned an MS in Computer Science from Virginia Tech and then after working several years in the USA, Africa and Asia went on to study in EPP’s PhD program. After graduation, I became a faculty hire at San Francisco State University’s business school teaching in the EMBA, MBA, and undergraduate programs with an emphasis on management information systems, technology investment decisions, and telecommunications policy.

I was then hired within Google’s engineering organization where I held differing roles. I started by working on data center site selection, followed by working on data center machine fleet management. Currently, my role deals with YouTube big data.

Other career highlights include spending a summer at the FCC with Doug Sicker and Cameron Cooper; and later published this book based on our work.

I was also the first U.S. Peace Corps volunteer assigned to Vietnam (late 1994). This was during a period of rapid economic transition where I launched a super successful Vietnam disaster management unit program funded by the UN, VN, and the private sector. Earlier that year, I also setup an information systems office at the Liberia National UNICEF office during their raging civil war.

How did EPP help?  

Honestly, my degree in Engineering and Public Policy from CMU mostly opened doors for me by virtue of Carnegie Mellon University name recognition. EPP specifically helped because it boosted my ability to operate across the engineering, policy, and finance disciplines and provided a credential that I could successfully do so. Working with selected classmates and faculty raised my bar for excellence. 

What are your recommendation to current EPP students?

Balance academic focus with other tangible life experience.  IMO, you’ll be a better professional and a better human being.  These three quotes provide useful guidance.

“Never let your schooling interfere with your education.” - Mark Twain

"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is." - Source is debated

"You can spend all of your time making the right decision, or you can make the decision and spend all of your time making it right." - Phil Kolko