HEC Alumni West Coast Stories — Irina Pozdnyakova, Product Line Manager at Amphenol Advanced Sensors
The Bay Area is definitely the place to be if you want to work in innovation!
What led you from a Ph.D. in physics to business studies at HEC Paris?
In 2004, I moved from Russia to France after my Ph.D. in physics at Rostov State University. France had an attractive and well-funded research scene. I joined the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) as a research engineer. This was a temporary position and I wanted to secure a permanent one. Despite my scientific skills, I did not manage to get this permanent role. The reason that was given to me was that I was lacking people skills.
A colleague of mine mentioned someone she knew had studied at HEC Paris to build these people skills and ended up very successful. So I investigated this route. I went on campus tours both at INSEAD and HEC Paris. I fell in love with the campus in Jouy-en-Josas and was warmly welcomed by friendly students. So I started the application process, asked for a scholarship that I obtained, and started my studies there.
That was the best decision I made in my life! After graduating from HEC, I got my first “real” permanent job.
What was your professional journey after graduating from HEC Paris?
The foundation of my career can actually be traced back to when I was still a student at HEC: to my internship at Imerys. In 2012, this internship landed me on a permanent role at Imerys… in California!
I joined the company as a New Product Development Manager. It was a very exciting job: I was part of a team of 4 and we were developing new ideas for industrial applications of minerals. Every month we had to come up with a business plan for a new product and present it to the top management. It was a very entrepreneurial role. I learned a lot and it was a great working environment.
Since then I have been working in Product Development. I am currently Product Line Manager at Amphenol Advanced Sensors, a leading player in industrial sensing technologies. I am in charge of the pricing strategy and the overall company strategy for new product development.
What do you love about Product Development?
Product development is very stimulating!
It involves critical decision-making and has a real impact on the business. There is room for experimenting with new ideas in new areas for the company.
And it is a role in which I keep learning: I often have to go over my skillset to keep projects going. I love this start-up and trailblazer mindset.
What makes the Bay Area a special place for Product Development?
The ecosystem is absolutely unique: it mixes start-ups and big companies across various industries including software, biotech, and chemistry.
The entrepreneurial culture is strong and it meets the funding capabilities of VCs.
The Bay Area is definitely the place to be if you want to work in innovation!
What advice can you share with readers who would like to work in Product Development?
First, build a clear picture of what you want to do and of the value you will bring.
Then, don’t wait! Start as early as you can because career growth takes time!
Finally, use mentoring, especially to get ready for interviews.
