Student Spotlight: Innovating in AI Without Taking a Pause
Sherry Li (Online MIIPS ’26) is innovating in AI from anywhere — without pausing her life — through the Online MIIPS Program.
By Hannah Brelsford
Sherry Li (Online MIIPS ‘26) joined the Integrated Innovation Institute in 2022 as an Online Master of Integrated Innovation for Products & Services student.
She has been a lifelong learner and has completed many degrees along this journey. Her previous degrees include a Bachelor of Medicine from Peking University and a Master of Science in Epidemiology and Health Statistics from there. Additionally, she has pursued a Master of Science in Management and a Master of Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. However, her desired career transition into product innovation is what brought her to the iii.
“Ultimately, my goal is to create AI-driven products that not only advance technology but also improve how people learn, shop, and work in their daily lives.”
The Fast Facts: A Summary of Sherry’s Time in the Online MIIPS Program
Learning from Anywhere 💻
- Learning to fit her lifestyle
- Upskilling while still pursuing professional endeavors
- Understanding the entire product lifecycle
Hands-On Experience in an Online Environment 🤔
- Learning from classroom simulations
- How the interdisciplinary hands-on education of MIIPS mirrors real work environments
Balancing a Busy Schedule 🗓️
- Her schedule as an Online student
- The flexible environment of the classroom
Long-Term Work Experience within AI 💼
- Working in the AI industry in 2021
- Product Manager intern at United Imaging Intelligence
- CEO and Co-Founder of AI Marketing Startup
- Pursuing AI research
What’s Next 🎓
- Loves her lifestyle of learning and still being able to pursue everything personally that she wants
- Passion for traveling the world
- Pursuing her PhD in Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Considering the future and driving innovation within AI
Learning from Anywhere
The Online MIIPS degree was ideal for Sherry’s lifestyle and educational needs. She appreciated the integrated curriculum, which combined knowledge and skills from engineering, design, and business, helping her develop into a successful product manager.
In addition to the integrated curriculum, Sherry was drawn to the program because of the hands-on learning experiences that would be available, even in the online format. As a prospective student, she read testimonials from current students who described how they learned theories and skills one day and then applied them in their professional work the following day.
One of the key aspects of the Online MIIPS program that attracted her was the flexibility to complete the coursework from anywhere. This structure enables her to continue her current professional responsibilities while exploring new opportunities for her future.
By participating in this program, she can pursue lifelong learning without needing to take a break from her career. The Online program allows her to integrate her studies into her daily life, maintaining her routines.
“This flexibility makes it easier to balance my education with work commitments.”
The Online MIIPS degree offers an opportunity to understand the entire product lifecycle with a strategic, customer-centric mindset. This approach ensures alignment between business goals, user needs, and sustainability, providing Sherry with the knowledge she needs to transition into product management.
Hands-On Experience in an Online Environment
There’s a common misconception that it’s difficult to attain an engaged learning experience in an online program. However, Sherry has found that the MIIPS Online program has given her opportunities to learn with and in community, providing a valuable and hands-on experience.
One of these hands-on opportunities came from a business simulation. Sherry was leading her team in the marketplace business simulation, part of the Product Strategy and Planning course taught by Professor David Lamont. She took on the role of CEO and VP of Finance and collaborated with three of her other classmates, turning $4 million of seed investment into $25 million of net profit, ranking them in the top 1% globally.
Throughout this project, Sherry discovered her strengths in leadership under pressure. She intends to carry this newfound skill with her throughout her career.
The interdisciplinary and hands-on approach of the institute reflects the work environment of cross-functional teams, particularly in the software industry where she is located. Students have the opportunity to generate ideas, propose solutions, and provide constructive feedback—essential skills that need to be practiced before being applied in real-world settings.
This focus on skills development and interdisciplinary collaboration at the institute helps her to prepare more effectively for her future career, as well as for her current professional environments.
“I chose CMU’s MIIPS Online for project‑based learning that integrates human‑centered design, engineering, and business, giving me a practical toolkit I use at work in real time to turn insights into launchable solutions.”
Long-Term Work Experience within AI
Before Sherry came to the iii, she interned as a product manager at United Imaging Intelligence. Here, she led the development of a new AI product that helped produce “dental diagnostics based on medical images.” This professional experience was between 2021 and 2022, offering Sherry experience within the AI industry before its boom. This has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of AI from multiple areas and how it can be used effectively to help improve workflows and drive results.
Her previous work experience has paved the way for her current role as the co-founder and CEO of a startup that uses AI in marketing. The startup specializes in creating personalized marketing content and recommendation services, aimed at tailoring user experiences on a larger scale. She oversees the development of generative AI and translates customer insights into product designs to drive growth for the company.
What’s Next
Thanks to the flexibility of the online MIIPS degree, Sherry is able to embrace her identity outside the classroom. She loves to travel, and the online format of her classes enables her to explore the world on her own schedule. Some of her favorite destinations include the Louvre, the British Museum, the National Gallery, Musée d'Orsay, and various historic cathedrals, all of which have deepened her appreciation for artistic expression throughout history.
This fall, Sherry is excited to begin her PhD in Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign while completing her MIIPS degree in 2026. In her PhD program, she aims to focus on AI research and combine it with the product design and business strategy skills she is gaining from MIIPS.
Looking ahead, Sherry is also considering the future of AI. She hopes to develop “robotic AI systems that are reliable, ethical, and user-centered,” focusing on solutions that address human problems. With this vision, she plans to bridge her passions in AI and her MIIPS education to drive future innovation.