This fall, I had the chance to build on something we started last year, a podcast network designed and launched entirely by students in our Product Management course (MGMT 4002). What began in Fall 2024 as a bold experiment in experiential learning became, this year, an even deeper dive into what it means to develop and manage a product that has both meaning and market relevance.
The DigiPod Podcast Network returned, but this time with new layers: a new industry partner (Sue Lantz of Collaborative Aging), a new theme (Aging Out Loud), and new course design features:
- Showcase Jobs: While every student contributed as part of a podcast team, they also took on an individual class role to help produce our final launch event. From photography and content creation to guest experience and logistics, students collaborated behind the scenes to bring the public showcase to life.
- DigiPod Coach: This year introduced our own CustomGPT, an AI thinking partner designed to support students with ideation, planning, feedback analysis, and strategic reflection throughout the course.
- Notebook: Intended as a tangible tool for tracking project progress, documenting key decisions, and staying aligned with product management concepts and project milestones. Although student adoption was uneven and the tool’s potential wasn’t fully realized, this experience offered insights into how today’s learners engage with workflow documentation. I will be exploring more accessible digital formats for future cohorts.
The project unfolded over 14 weeks. What the public saw at the end, a vibrant launch event featuring 11 student-created podcasts, was only the tip of the iceberg. Behind the scenes were weeks of ideation, prototyping, field trips, interviews, peer and industry feedback, and continuous iteration. The process was messy, meaningful, and remarkably real, with real users in mind.
As an educator, it is very rewarding to witness a learning model mature, especially one that allows students to produce work that is professional and relevant. Each semester brings new energy, fresh insights, and lessons for me, too. I’m grateful to my students for embracing this journey and for allowing us to explore what it truly means to build something together.
Hanadi Alnawab 