Zhitong Chen, SEAS Masters of Computer and Information Technology 2025, Wuhan, China
This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern as a Product Manager at Leiga in Cupertino, California. This role was a transformative experience, both professionally and personally, and I am grateful for the chance to immerse myself in the dynamic world of AI product management and to contribute meaningfully to innovative projects.
As a Product Manager Intern, my primary responsibility was to conduct comprehensive market research to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities within the AI product management industry. This involved staying abreast of the latest developments and technological advancements, understanding market dynamics, and anticipating future industry shifts. The process was not only intellectually stimulating but also provided me with a deep understanding of the competitive landscape in which AI products operate.
One of the key projects I undertook was compiling and analyzing a list of competitors. This included performing a SWOT analysis to evaluate their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. By comparing functionalities, I was able to identify areas for improvement and differentiation for two of Leiga’s AI products. This analysis was critical in shaping our strategic approach and ensuring our products remained competitive and innovative.
Additionally, I designed and distributed a detailed questionnaire aimed at gathering user insights. Analyzing the feedback from this questionnaire was an eye-opening experience. It allowed me to understand user needs and preferences more profoundly and highlighted areas where our products could be enhanced. This user-centric approach is pivotal in product management, and being able to directly influence product features based on user feedback was incredibly rewarding.
Collaborating with the development team to implement these enhancements was another highlight of my internship. It was a hands-on experience that required a blend of technical knowledge, strategic thinking, and effective communication. I learned how to bridge the gap between user needs and technical feasibility, ensuring that our product improvements were both valuable and practical. This collaborative environment fostered a shared purpose, making our achievements even more fulfilling.
Beyond the technical and strategic skills I developed, this internship also taught me the importance of adaptability and resilience. Working in a fast-paced, ever-evolving industry like AI product management required me to be agile and responsive to new information and changing circumstances. These experiences have significantly enhanced my problem-solving skills and ability to thrive under pressure.
Reflecting back on the internship, it was an invaluable experience that provided me with a wealth of knowledge and practical skills in product management. I greatly appreciate Career Services for making this experience possible.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2024 GAPSA Summer Internship Funding Program that is coordinated by Penn Career Services. We’ve asked funding recipients to reflect on their summer experiences and talk about the industries in which they spent their summer. You can read the entire series here.
