Leveraging AI to Create Impactful Solutions
Jiao Yang, MS’26, information systems-bridge, has been able to transform her career and achieve her professional goals by participating in an incredible co-op experience and completing rigorous, impactful courses in the classroom.
Jiao Yang is currently an MS’26 student in the information systems program at Northeastern University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in product design, building a strong foundation in user experience, design thinking, and product development. After graduating, Yang worked for two years as a product manager, leading cross-functional projects that combined UI/UX design with product strategy, including early explorations of AI-powered product features. These experiences sparked her passion for technology-driven products and made her realize that, to create truly innovative, AI-integrated solutions, she needed to strengthen her technical and analytical skills.
Motivated by this goal, Yang chose Northeastern for its MS in information systems–bridge program, which offers a pathway for students from non-computer science backgrounds to transition into technology. She was especially drawn to courses like “Web Design & User Experience Engineering”, “Application Engineering & Development” and “AI & Data Analytics” classes that combine technical skills, user-centered design, and data-driven thinking, all essential for building innovative products. The program’s mix of AI-focused and business-oriented coursework, along with its emphasis on experiential learning, co-op opportunities, and interdisciplinary collaboration, aligns perfectly with her career aspiration of becoming a more versatile product manager in the tech industry.
Yang shares that the program’s curriculum perfectly aligns with her goal of becoming a technology-driven product manager. “It combines core courses in software development and data analytics with AI-focused and business-oriented electives, allowing me to bridge product strategy with technical implementation,” she explains.
Yang explains that the course “Prompt Engineering for Generative AI”, taught by Adjunct Professor Shirali Patel, has had a particular impact on her. “It gave me hands-on experience in designing and optimizing prompts for real-world AI applications, directly supporting my goal of building innovative AI-powered products,” she explains. This course not only deepened her technical understanding of generative AI but also inspired her to explore how AI can transform user experience and product strategy.
Yang acknowledges that the invaluable support she has received from several mentors has profoundly shaped her academic and professional journey. She credits Maricla Pirozzi, director of multi-disciplinary graduate engineering programs, for providing essential guidance on academic planning and career development, helping her explore long-term career paths. Another key mentor was Haedy Liu, her GLS tutor, who helped Yang improve her English communication and interview skills, boosting her confidence to excel in professional settings. Yang also appreciates the continuous support from her academic and co-op advisors, Colin Dykes and Laura Meyer, who guided her in course selection and career planning. Lastly, Maria Alonso, regional dean and CEO of the Miami campus, fostered a supportive environment that encouraged her to participate in campus initiatives and embrace leadership opportunities. Together, their mentorship and encouragement have helped Yang grow into a more confident, career-ready professional.
Co-op Experience
Yang secured a co-op at PTC as a product manager intern, a leading enterprise software company, where she focused on product management and AI-driven solutions. During her time at PTC, she contributed to two significant projects: an AI-driven recommendation system and an enterprise PLM workflow optimization. In the first project, Yang collaborated with the engineering team to develop a machine learning–based recommendation system that optimizes material selection and reduces costs across the entire Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) lifecycle. During the second project, she participated in enhancing PTC’s PLM processes by analyzing end-to-end workflows and identifying opportunities for automation and efficiency improvements, supporting better decision-making for product development teams.
These projects allowed her to combine her product management experience with the technical and analytical skills she gained at Northeastern, contributing to innovations that enhance enterprise PLM efficiency.
Extracurriculars
Outside of the classroom, Yang participated in Northeastern’s Climate Resiliency Hack: Lightning Strike hackathon, which focused on creating innovative solutions for climate resilience and sustainability. She and her team explored how AI and data analytics could help organizations optimize resources and mitigate environmental risks. Although the challenge was intense, the technical foundation and problem-solving skills she gained from her Northeastern courses gave her the confidence to contribute effectively in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary team environment.
Future Perspectives
Yang’s experience at Northeastern has been truly transformative for her career. She successfully transitioned from a design-focused background to a technology-driven product management role. Through hands-on experience with AI applications and enterprise software development, she gained the skills and confidence to contribute to innovative solutions that deliver real business impact.
Looking ahead, Yang aspires to build intelligent, user-centric products in the technology industry, leveraging AI and data-driven insights to solve complex problems and improve enterprise efficiency. She concludes by expressing gratitude for Northeastern’s supportive and innovative environment, which empowered her to transform her career and achieve her professional goals.