James Liu (2006), is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. After working for Google as Product Marketing Manager for a couple years, he has now taken the position of Product Manager for an India-based startup called Babajob.com.
Sword & Shield: What was your major in college and how did your time at UHS influence your decision?
James Liu: My degree ultimately came from Penn’s business school (Wharton), but I pursued a liberal arts curriculum covering business, political science, classical studies, religion, etc. My broad schedule was inspired by the breadth of inspiring teachers at Uni—I had fantastic teachers in every department, and that really made me curious about studying as many areas as possible.
S&S: Do you feel the skills you learned at UHS prepared you for college and your current job?
JL: Definitely – in particular the lessons I learned from teachers who pushed me to think critically and be passionate about learning, from Mr. Kessler’s dynamic U.S. history discussions to bird walks with Mr. Knight.
S&S: How did you obtain your job?
JL: I went to Google after college to work as a Product Marketing Manager. At Google, I created marketing campaigns to help small businesses use the internet to grow their businesses and to launch a new type of computer, the Chromebook. I was fortunate enough to have mentors who had worked in technology who guided me through the interview process. Google got me excited about the potential of technology in improving peoples’ lives, and after three years I moved to India to work at a startup in Bangalore, India. The startup I work at, Babajob.com, is involved with creating web and mobile technologies that help people find better jobs.
S&S: What did you enjoy the most about your time at UHS?
JL: I fondly remember the passion of UHS community – from student government, to the performing arts, to the activities and leadership of student clubs. I didn’t quite appreciate many of these things until college, where I realized many students don’t have an opportunity to engage in so many activities in one place.