Skip to main content

Andrew Bowker

Program: Full-Time
Graduation: MBA 2019
Organization/Current title: IBM, Senior Product Manager

Linked in

Q: Why did you choose the NC State Jenkins MBA program for your graduate education?

A: The Jenkins MBA Program was a perfect mix of classes, location size, price, prestige.

Q: How did your experience in the program contribute to your professional achievements and successes?

A: My experience in the MBA program allowed me to learn tools to market my capabilities, equipped with practical knowledge and allowed for lots of “outside of class” growth opportunities in entrepreneurship.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your time in the Jenkins MBA Program?

A: I enjoyed growing rapidly. Drinking from that fire hose.

Q: What do you miss most now that you have graduated?

A: I miss taking in new information every day. Now I’m only learning if I intentionally read a book or listen to a podcast in my limited spare time.

Q: What are a few of the most impactful classes/lessons you learned during your time at NC State?

A: I learned how to interview/resume/LinkedIn/network your way into a job. The most impactful classes I had were entrepreneurship competitions and strategy class with Chuck Bamford.

Q: What are your lasting impressions of the Jenkins MBA program?

A: My lasting impressions was that even though there weren’t many students in the full-time program there is a significant investment in helping them be successful.

Q: What advice would you give for prospective and current students who are interested in your industry/profession?

A: Build something. Anything. People want to know that you can solve problems, pitch stories, and
influence others to join you in your initiatives. That is best done by doing something on your own you find interesting. (i.e. Building a robot / selling a cookbook / getting social media followers / etc. really anything).

Q: What advice do you have for prospective Jenkins MBA students?

A: Think of some STAR (google it) stories for your interview and practice out loud to refine. Do it with
someone who can give you feedback.

Q: Could you give a brief explanation of your current line of work, and what has led you to it?

A: I work in software product management. I own small piece of business within a much larger company and I manage everything from development to marketing and customer research. It was the most entrepreneurial role in a larger firm I could possible do.

Q: What do you believe is your most interesting accomplishment since graduation?

A: I became a father. Lol but really… it’s hard to balance family and career growth and I think things are going very well. Know your priorities.

Q: What are your goals and plans for the future?

A: I’d like to keep moving up and eventually manage a business / strategy within the company.