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Karan and Yaras

Managing Software and a Full-Time Career: An MSSM Part-Time Program Feature

What is it really like to be a student in the MSSM Part-Time program right in the heart of Silicon Valley? How does a hybrid learning format work? Karan Shah (MSSM PT ‘23) and Yaras Shaikh (MSSM PT ‘25) share their experience.

By Kaitlyn Stossel

Our Master of Science in Software Management Part-Time Program (MSSM PT) is famous for its flexibility. Take classes when you want, take time off when you need to. Attend classes on campus, or attend classes remotely. You have options.

Designed with the working professional in mind, this format allows students to attend classes during the evening. Students are also given the option to attend classes in person, at Carnegie Mellon University’s esteemed Silicon Valley campus, or remotely from the comfort of their own home. 

While the degree can be completed in as little as two years, students also have the opportunity to extend that up to six years based on demands in their professional and personal lives. 

To give you some perspective, we chatted with one current student, and one who has just graduated. Both of these students have taken full advantage of the program’s flexibility- attending some classes in person and some remote, taking time off, and continuing to work full time. Let’s see how they did it. 

img_karan-shah-800x800.pngKaran Shah (MSSM PT '23)

Principal Software Engineer, Microsoft

Connect with Karan

iii: Tell me a little bit about your professional background that led you to the MSSM program.

I got my undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering and then came over to the Bay Area and joined Microsoft. During my undergrad, I spent a lot of my freetime working on three or four different startups, and that really excited me. I was always entrepreneurially driven and interested in the product strategy and business side of things. I joined Microsoft as an engineer and that was my goal, but I wanted to get really good at building or managing a product.

I was looking for something that allowed me to graduate my knowledge from software to the more managerial side of things, and MSSM was just that. I wanted to take a step back and understand how I could do my job better, how I could better equip myself with a set of product skills. 

iii: Why did you opt for a part-time program? 

This part-time program offered me a lot of flexibility with my own life choices. I could further my education without compromising my own full time commitments, so that was fantastic. For me, the best part about the remote side was the flexibility. Throughout the program I had some travels and other reasons that I couldn’t be in person, so outside of the part-time flexibility, the remote option offers the flexibility that I could be virtually wherever I want. For example, I was in India for several months during the program because of family commitments. I was joining class at 4 or 5 AM every morning, but it was a privilege to be able to wake up anywhere in the world and attend classes. 

iii: How did you connect with your classmates and professors in a remote setting?

This program wasn’t like other programs because it was always designed to be part-time and hybrid. I feel like this program was already equipped to handle the nature of remote education, even before the pandemic. I was really impressed by the remote classroom experience. There were mics on every table and guidelines to being inclusive in a hybrid setting that were already in place.This was all a part of the remote culture which brought some intimacy to the cohort.

Doing class on Zoom, it was unnatural at first, but it eventually became very natural to transition from the classroom to breakout rooms using the tools offered. I think it worked out really well, and the students and professors all adapted very well.

In every team I worked with throughout the program, we had a communication channel whether this was setting up scheduled Zoom meetings through Google Calendar, WhatsApp or Slack. One team that I was on even did a standup meeting where we had recurring meetings to just chat and update each other. I did both in person and remote projects and both worked seamlessly whether you came to class or hopped on a Zoom call. 

iii: Anything else you want to add? 

I think it’s awesome that this part-time program is so flexible and accommodating, allowing me to do the course the way I did, which was probably more unusual than the average person. I did my first full year completing the core courses with part-time students, and then I did the electives at my own pace through the pandemic. I’m just grateful that I got a chance to complete this program at my own pace, choosing my own courses. 

headshot of yaras shaikhYaras Shaikh (MSSM PT '25)

Lead Product Manager, Nike

Connect with Yaras

iii: Can you describe your professional background that led you to this program?

I hold a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering that laid the foundation of technology and analytical skills for me. Over the past decade I have been deeply involved in the software management space. I started my career as a business analyst and transitioned into product management, and now I’m working as a Lead Product Manager. 

I started looking for a master’s program that combined my technical background with business management. The MSSM program appealed to me more than a traditional MBA because I wanted to be in the tech space. 

iii: Why opt for a part-time program?

A part-time format allowed me to continue advancing my career as well as expanding my academic knowledge, and this program had the unique blend of technology and management. I really like that this program provided me the flexibility to take classes remotely as well. Initially I was attending class mainly in person, but later on I had some other commitments come up and was unable to travel to campus, and the transition between remote and residential classes was really smooth. 


iii: Did you feel like there was still a strong cohort connection, although some students were attending classes remotely? 

From the very beginning, there were ample opportunities for us to meet face-to-face, beginning with orientation day. This allowed me to meet the cohort and establish those connections right from the outset. Additionally, we typically organized class dinners for our final courses. Even for those who were entirely remote, we've become accustomed to remote interactions. Given that everyone already possesses professional experience, we were familiar with Zoom etiquette and coordinating on conference calls. When everyone is actively engaged, it's effortless to have productive remote discussions.  

iii: How have the classes in the MSSM PT program helped advance your career?

The courses I’m presently enrolled in serve as core foundational courses. For instance, Product Management serves as a refresher on product management concepts, while Software Management exposes me to business financials and can be considered as a mini MBA. In the upcoming semesters, I’m looking forward to enrolling in classes like AI, User Experience and HCI, which I believe will be highly beneficial for my career progression.

iii: Anything else you would like to add?

It’s been a really awesome experience so far. This program gives you the flexibility that allows students to complete their studies at their own pace. That adaptability is really ingrained in the program, so if you have something going on in your personal or professional life, you can always tweak your schedule and finish the program at your own pace, and I think many students would benefit from that flexibility.

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