Welcome to the last article for AY23/24 with NUS Product Club: A Year in Review! As we celebrate the successful launch and growth of our club, we are excited to share with you the highlights and milestones that have defined our journey over the past year. From dynamic events to inspiring collaborations, and the unwavering support of our dedicated members, this review encapsulates the vibrant spirit and achievements of the NUS Product Club. Join us as we reflect on the pivotal moments that have shaped our club's first year, celebrate the contributions of our community, and look forward to even greater accomplishments in the future.

Kicking off the launch of NUS Product Club in our first semester, members of our Founding Team organised a virtual Welcome Tea session to share their motivations behind starting our club, as well as some of our core activities which have been planned - including our flagship programme PM1101E: Exposure to Product Management and our fireside chats.

Harry (President) and Kayleigh (Vice-President) elaborated on our club’s origins, traction and structure for our prospective members to learn more about our new club. After which, Joanna (Head of Curriculum) gave an in-depth overview of PM1101E, as well as the various sessions for participants to expect while in our programme. Jane (Head of Partnerships) also shared about our fireside chats and other prospective events planned, before our team answered some frequently asked questions about our club to end off the session.

During our first semester, we launched the inaugural run of our very own curriculum programme, PM1101E: Exposure to Product Management. This intensive 6-week course was meticulously designed to impart and apply essential product management skills. Our pioneer batch of 21 participants benefited immensely from the expert guidance of product managers Jason Teo and Jierong Tan from Trust Bank, alongside Hazel Teng from Foodpanda. The programme featured unique, hands-on workshops, providing participants with practical insights and real-world applications of product management. Throughout the programme, participants had the opportunity to consolidate their learning and showcase their abilities in the Internal Product Competition hosted at ShopBack's campus. Here, they demonstrated remarkable growth and innovative thinking in developing product solutions. This first semester not only equipped our participants with invaluable skills but also laid a robust foundation, promising continued success for future iterations of PM1101E.

Following the resounding success of our first iteration of PM1101E, we proudly welcomed an expanded cohort of 23 student participants in Semester 2. This growth allowed us to enhance our programme with the expertise of 5 full-time Product Managers serving as instructors. Joining us were esteemed product managers including Jason Teo, Head of Product Management at Trust Bank; Vanessa Lea, Product Manager at SingSaver; Ka Yan Lui, User Researcher at MoneyHero Group; Ashutosh Shukla, Group Product Manager at Carousell and Ally Tan, Product Manager at Burpple. Their diverse backgrounds and extensive industry experience enriched the curriculum, offering participants invaluable insights and practical guidance in product management. The semester culminated in the Internal Product Competition held at Carousell's campus, where participants showcased their innovation and skills in real-world product scenarios, further solidifying PM1101E as a cornerstone for aspiring product managers.

Our first-ever fireside chat featured Ash, a Product Owner from Swire Shipping, who spoke on Maritime Product Management. Ash discussed the intricacies of product development within the maritime industry, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs and market dynamics. She also shared insights into Swire Shipping’s digital transformation journey, highlighting how they are leveraging digital technologies to innovate and streamline operations through the adoption of new digital tools and platforms.

In collaboration with N-House, we hosted a session with Isaac Tay, VP of Product at ShopBack, on Launching & Scaling Tech Companies. Isaac shared his expertise on the lifecycle of digital products, from ideation to execution, and the critical factors that contribute to their success. The discussion also delved into the rapid growth of e-commerce, strategies for capturing market share, and the technological advancements driving this sector. Isaac emphasized the importance of taking risks in entrepreneurship, sharing key lessons from his own experiences in the tech industry. He provided practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on starting and scaling their own tech ventures.

We also had Paul Aw, a PM at Ninja Van, who conducted a session on PM Decision Making. Paul provided a deep dive into the decision-making processes behind NinjaVan’s product features, illustrating how data-driven and customer-centric approaches are employed. He shared insights into his daily experiences as a PM at Ninja Van, highlighting the challenges and rewards of managing product development in a fast-paced logistics company.

In collaboration with SMU Product Club, we hosted a session on how to Get Hired as a Junior PM. This event featured experienced PMs who shared real-world product challenges they faced and how they overcame them, offering valuable lessons for aspiring PMs. The session included an introduction to key PM frameworks and methodologies essential for solving complex product problems effectively. Participants from both NUS and SMU were engaged in interactive discussions, asking questions and sharing their own experiences and insights.

Another event, "PM Interview Workshop", held in collaboration with N-House and SMU Product Club, included a series of activities designed to prepare participants for a PM role. The event featured presentations of PM case studies take-home assignments, where participants received feedback from industry professionals. A fireside chat provided an open forum for participants to ask seasoned PMs practical questions about the industry, career paths, and best practices. The networking session offered opportunities to connect with industry professionals, fellow students, and potential mentors, fostering valuable relationships and professional networks. Collaborative group discussions allowed participants to learn from each other and gain diverse perspectives on PM topics. Additionally, tips and strategies for acing PM interviews were shared, including common questions, how to prepare, and what recruiters are looking for. The event concluded with a dedicated Q&A session, addressing any remaining questions and providing clarity on the PM role.

Industrial Attachment (IA) was one of the highlights of our second semester, with the Partnerships team taking the lead on this initiative. In collaboration with various startups, we managed to provide an experiential learning journey for our participants, so that they can gain a deeper insight into product management. 

For the first iteration of IA, we started the journey off with PM1101C – a condensed version of our PM1101E curriculum. Through this workshop, our participants were equipped with the basics of product management, such as the product journey, important frameworks in product management and the like.

Then, our participants were attached to various projects from our startup partners. In total, we partnered with 6 startups across varying industries – from traveling to artificial intelligence, so that participants can gain hands-on experience with real-life projects to increase their proficiency with product management.

We ended our first year as a club with a bang with Product Networking Night (PNN), our largest-scale event held so far. Together with SMU and NTU Product Club, we worked tirelessly over countless days and nights to plan for the event. 

Our event kicked off with a speech from SMU Product Club’s vice president, Ivyn. Then, we had a fireside chat moderated by Arnav, our partnerships executive. For the fireside chat, we invited 4 esteemed product managers – Waldron Aw, Belle Loke, May Chin and Neil Shah – to share more about their transition into product management, cross-cultural insights and their leadership experiences. A Q&A segment was also introduced, where the participants asked for further advice about starting a career in product management.

After the fireside chat, the participants were given the time to walk around and speak with our various networking guests. In total, we had 16 guests, all from a wide variety of professional backgrounds and industries. The atmosphere was warm and lively, as participants and product managers chatted lively about product management and the wider professional world.

PNN was a resounding success, and we are indebtedly grateful to all the participants, product managers, as well as our sponsors and student partners who have made this possible. It was a culmination of all the kindness and diligence of everyone involved, and we thank everyone who has taken time out of their day to plan for or participate in this event.

As we wrap up AY23/24, we're proud of the milestones we've achieved in our inaugural year at NUS Product Club. From launching PM1101E and hosting insightful fireside chats to collaborating with SMU and NTU for the Product Networking Night, our events have significantly contributed to the growth and learning of aspiring product managers.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our participants for their enthusiasm, our guest speakers and industry partners for their valuable insights, and our student partners for their support. These collective efforts have made our first year a resounding success.

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue fostering a vibrant community and creating impactful experiences. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and on to the next year for NUS Product Club!

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