Finding Inspiration at the 2019 Women In Product Conference

Chabely Amo Fernandez (MEM '19) knows that once she graduates from Northwestern's Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program, she wants to pursue a career in product management. That is why Amo Fernandez found herself at the 2019 Women in Product Conference this past November in San Francisco, where she was among more than 2,000 product leaders who came together to celebrate the role and contributions of female product managers.

The conference provides the opportunity for attendees to interact with one another and gain a deeper understanding of the role product management plays in a variety of industries. 

"I saw this conference as a great opportunity to learn, get inspired, and network," Amo Fernandez said.

After she returned from San Francisco, Amo Fernandez took some time to reflect on the conference and how she thinks she'll be able to combine lessons she learned with her experience in MEM to help propel her career forward.

What was your reaction to your experience at the Women in Product Conference?

It was very inspiring to hear anecdotes and stories from many women in the industry about the obstacles they went through, the successes they enjoyed, and the lessons they gathered that made them who they are today.

Who was your favorite speaker at the conference? 

My favorite keynote speaker was Peggy Alford, SVP for Core Markets at PayPal. Peggy talked about how coming from a very diverse family — where all of her siblings are from different races — and having strong role models growing up impacted her career and the way she conducts business. She mentioned that in order to have a successful product, behaviors, traits, and trends from all demographics need to be taken into consideration. The best way to accomplish that, she said, is by having a diverse team made up of people of different races, gender, ways of thinking, and personal and work experiences.

Peggy was my favorite speaker because, apart from being very inspiring, I resonate with her speech. I believe one of the best ways to learn and grow is by interacting with people from different backgrounds and from all around the world. I have been lucky to have the opportunity to live in different cities and countries where I have met and made friends with people from all over, and those experiences have changed the way I think and see life for the better. 

What were some of the most important lessons you learned from the conference?

1. Always have a strong “why” when creating new products — and also in life in general — as this will guide your path and your team’s as well.
2. Make something good out of something bad. When we go through bad events in life, there are good things that can often come out of them, like using lessons we learned from that experience to help others. Always look for the brighter side when bad things happen. 

What type of networking opportunities, if any, were you able to take advantage of?

The conference had a sponsor pavilion where I got the chance to speak with different companies. Also, just having the opportunity to chat with people all over the conference was amazing. It was great not only to connect with people and find new opportunities, but also to learn about the industry, the company, and the role I am aspiring to get into. 

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

A huge thank you to Rubrik and the Master of Engineering Management program at Northwestern that made it possible for me to attend this event!