Useful Courses to Take for Your Career

Question: what university courses can I take to better prepare for a PM career?

Let me answer it this way.

I can tell you 7 courses I took during my higher studies that helped me personally:

1. Statistics

From linear regression (for forecasting) to statistical confidence (for A/B testing), I still use a lot of my stats concepts while navigating product analytics.

2. Human Behaviour

Especially those modules related to habit-forming, social behavior and perception. I use that knowledge to understand base motivations behind human decisions.

3. Algorithms

Super useful when developing logical workflows. With practice, you become better at pseudo-coding against any challenging problem.

4. Databases

Learnt SQL here which was a great superpower to bypass developers and make friends with raw data.

5. Data Structures

Got understanding of code structures & time-complexity. Hashmaps changed my life :)

6. Intro to Marketing

Identifying target audiences, market sizing and segmentation - 3 things I still use in product development.

7. Engineering Entrepreneurship

The lessons derived from the several case studies (e.g. HP, Airbus, Microsoft etc.) helped avoid common mistakes. Learnt to create a business plan and a PnL here too that came in very handy.