Carnegie Mellon University

Integrated Innovation Institute

Engineering + Design + Business

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Black & White headshots of Online Certificate alumni  Ray Fortney, Aymen Tarar, and Julie Wagner

Preparing for Career Success: Online Certificates Deliver In-Demand Skills

Alumni share their "why" and the impact of their online educational experience.

The Integrated Innovation Institute (iii) launched its Online Certificate program in January 2022 with the aim of increasing access to the skills and core tenets of the residential Master of Integrated Innovation for Products and Services (MIIPS) degree.

Satisfying the same learning objectives as the residential degree, this modular learning environment gives students the flexibility to learn the skills they want at the pace their lives necessitate.

The first four certificates are divided into two courses, which can be completed concurrently (one certificate in 1 semester) or sequentially (one certificate in 2 semesters). The final certificate, a capstone course, is reserved for degree-seeking students.

We spoke to alumni of the first three certificates to understand why they enrolled and how the skills they learned have impacted them professionally.

Aymen Tarar Headshot "I'm amazed to see how I am unintentionally practicing all the concepts that I learned through this course. My communication and my engagement with the sales team, and several other teams, has been drastically changed and improved."

AYMEN TARAR, Senior Product Manager
New Product Development - Spring 2022

Leveling Up for the C-Suite

Over the past decade, Aymen Tarar has built a career in the healthcare industry while developing domain expertise in software development lifecycles and agile frameworks.

She started as a business analyst at a “healthcare IT firm” and is now a senior product manager at Providence Health & Systems.

"I have been working in software development ever since I graduated. At this stage of my career, my next goals are to obtain a C-suite or an executive position. So what are those steps that I take to reach there? I thought that I should broaden my perspective," Tarar said.

Tarar discovered the Master of Integrated Innovation for Products and Services degree program more than five years ago but was unable to pursue it due to the logistical challenges of relocating her young family from California to Pennsylvania.

The launch of the online stackable certificates finally made enrolling possible.

"Last year, I was again exploring options. I was looking more into a curriculum where I can get into the business side - a flavor of MBA - to understand where I can add value to the overall organization. When I figured out that this program is now being offered online, I didn’t look anywhere else. This is one of the programs that was on my bucket list for many years," Tarar shared.

Tarar was part of the inaugural class of the New Product Development certificate, which was first offered in January 2022.

"Being a product manager, I have never explored the finance side. This certificate helped me learn what elements I need to consider as a PM who interacts with different cross functional teams," Tarar said.

One of Tarar’s favorite exercises was a simulation game, in which students built a company and launched a new product, thus practicing the course concepts in real time.

"It helped me get deeper insights into the world of marketing and sales. After going through this certificate, I started working and thinking in a different dimension. I learned, for example, ‘What are the pain points of our sales team’? Previously I used to think of them as an internal stakeholder, but after this certificate, I started thinking of them as my partners who will help me to build solutions and work on the external customer pain points," Tarar said.

"I'm amazed to see how I am unintentionally practicing all the concepts that I learned through this course. My communication and my engagement with the sales team, and several other teams, has been drastically changed and improved."

Ray Fortney Headshot "As a product manager, this certificate fundamentally shifted the way I approach discovery work. I know now which methodologies to use to identify product opportunity gaps. I can now lead a product from idea to product market fit with confidence."

RAY FORTNEY, Product Manager
Methods & Tools for Product Innovation - Summer 2022

Applying Lessons in Real Time

After studying marketing as an undergraduate, Ray Fortney began his career as a project manager at the event production and technology company Digitell, where he quickly ascended to the role of product manager.

When BroadcastMed, a leading creator of medical content, acquired Digitell in December 2021, Fortney was retained as a PM but assigned to a different responsibility: Identifying a new B2C venture.

To level up his professional game, increase his design skills, and expand his technical breadth, Fortney enrolled in the Methods & Tools for Product Innovation certificate in Summer 2022.

"Not only did I learn how to use tools like Miro to create a collaborative environment, but the courses also gave me the methodologies and processes to find product opportunity gaps and use quantitative and qualitative analysis to validate them. It fundamentally changed the way that I think about a product's problem space," Fortney said.

"I have been able to implement my new skills directly into my day-to-day responsibilities at work. Prior to the certificate, I would have incorrectly told you that I knew how to do product discovery. After learning the correct methods, I realized that I had been shooting in the dark and wasting time. I can now present product opportunity insights with confidence to any member of my team because I have the data to back up my findings, ” Fortney said.

The certificate also provided Fortney with tools to leverage that data, like empathy mapping, user journeys, and usability testing.

In addition to learning applicable, on-the-job skills, Fortney believes that online programs, like the Institute’s certificates, better position learners for the workforce.

"Whether it’s cultural differences, timezone differences, or communication barriers, an online working environment can be challenging. Regardless of how we feel, the workforce is becoming more and more remote so these are all challenges that we must become accustomed to," Fortney said.

“Why wouldn't you put yourself in an educational environment where you can learn from some of the best on how to collaborate effectively online? I can now run a creative, collaborative meeting over Zoom with confidence while keeping everybody engaged," Fortney said.

Julie Wagner Headshot "It gave me not only the skills but the confidence to translate design into other areas. It's been almost twenty years since I was out of school, and I haven't ever taken the time to look at why I do the things I do. So it's been twofold: I'm reevaluating myself as an architect, and I'm also excited about all the different things that I can apply myself to."

JULIE WAGNER, Architect
Product Design Innovation - Summer 2022

Evolving Beyond One's Comfort Zone

Julie Wagner is a designer and architect who has been practicing as a sole proprietor for 15 years. She is also a mom to four children, ages 7-16. And, now, she is also an online student – a decision she pondered for years before diving in.

"I started considering what else I could do with my design thinking. How could I move beyond physical buildings into products and services? Living in Pittsburgh, I looked at MIIPS for a couple of years, but I didn't step into it right away. I was on the fence," Wagner said.

Understandably so: Wagner had to consider the financial aspect, especially with four kids who may want to pursue higher education; the time and logistical commitment of balancing work, life, and school; and the impact on her career and earning potential.

"That's what was attractive about the certificate program: It's flexible. You can do it on your own schedule to a certain degree. It hit all the boxes. I don't know why I finally enrolled. I probably had too much coffee one day, and I was like, 'I'm doing it! There's no turning back!'" Wagner joked.

Timing (and jokes) aside, Wagner's enrollment seemed inevitable given the motivating factors.

"One of my kids is dyslexic; there are so many opportunities to innovate on the products and services currently offered to support learning. Also, my daughter's a Type 1 diabetic. While there have been many advancements in care for people with T1D, there’s so much more that can be done, especially for children who have the disease. I see my kids' needs not being met so that was my motivation," Wagner explained.

Wagner visited the website for her daughter's glucose monitor, primed to share user feedback with its designers, and found something she hadn't been looking for.

"I started to look at the job listings and that's when I realized that there are opportunities to make an impact on this and to design. So what do I need to shore up my foundation to go into those areas? I'd need more than just my undergraduate bachelor. I'd need some credentials and new skills so it all came into being," Wagner recalled.

Wagner took her first certificate, Product Design Innovation, in summer 2022.

"It gave me not only the skills but the confidence to translate design into other areas. It's been almost twenty years since I was out of school, and I haven't ever taken the time to look at why I do the things I do. So it's been twofold: I'm reevaluating myself as an architect, and I'm also excited about all the different things that I can apply myself to," Wagner said.

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