Tim Salau

"The MSIS program challenged and bred me to be a critical/design thinker. It's important that we ask questions about how the world works and what we can build to solve key problems."

Describe your current role/typical day.

• Leading a team of people to design, develop, and deploy software.
• Usually wake-up, check twitter, check slack, and then go to my first meeting. Entrepreneurship is all about meeting and learning from people aha.
• In my role, lead product strategy and development for our entire company. Huge responsibility, but am appreciative of it.

How did the MSIS/iSchool help prepare you for this role?

• The MSIS program challenged and bred me to be a critical/design thinker. It's important that we ask questions about how the world works and what we can build to solve key problems.
• It allowed me to interface with diverse people from all walks of life with different backgrounds. Working on diverse teams teaches you how to work with people who don't think similar to you, but have their own unique perspective.
• It allowed me to get my feet-wet in a variety of different entrepreneurial projects within the iSchool and beyond the iSchool. 

What activities/organizations did you participate in during the program that positively influenced your employability?

• Was a part of a task force that was brought together to re-design and re-think the iSchool website. We never accomplished the mission, but it taught me a lot about leadership and helped me improve my public speaking.

What advice would you give current iSchoolers or those seeking similar employment?

• Start using Linkedin more often. You need to build your professional/personal brand. You need to be able to tell an employer why you? You need to be able to outline what makes you a unique fit for a role based on your skills, strengths, and character. Employers should be begging you to work for them, not the other way around.

Is there anything else you feel is important to share with current and perspective students?

• It's never too soon to start your own business or freelancing to build out your portfolio. Also, make sure you join communities with practitioners who have the role you're interested in. Network for your job before you even get the job.