Adam Byrnes
Sr. Manager, Product Management
Amazon Care
Seattle, WA USA
“Learn! Be curious! And stay calm.”
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Graduated CSUF with a double major
Worked in politics in the Bay Area
Pivoted to Clean Tech by working as a program manager at a start-up
Got my MBA at the University of Michigan
Worked at a number of start-ups, including an off grid solar company in India
Joined Amazon as a Product Manager
Became a founding member of Amazon Go (the stores where you can just walk out)
Joined Amazon Care and lead the consumer product management team
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Etiwanda High School
Etiwanda High School
Bachelor
Political Science and American Studies with minor in Psychology
California State University, Fullerton
Political Science and American Studies with minor in Psychology
California State University, Fullerton
Graduate
MBA
University of Michigan
MBA
University of Michigan
Career
Sr. Manager, Product Management
I lead the consumer product team for Amazon Care, a telehealth app.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Entrepreneurship
Technology
Helping People
Day to Day
No day is the same, which is what I like. I juggle a lot of different projects at one time in various stages. Some days I'm working with designers on developing a design, my tech partners to unblock an issue, collecting feedback from customers, setting the vision with our leaders, and on and on.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for everyone
There is no one way to start. You can join a start-up (or start your own) and learn how to build a better business, which is the core function of a product manager. Or you can go deep in a specific industry in some other role (as designer, developer, sales rep, etc.) and pivot to a product role later on. You can use the knowledge from your prior role to solve problems and build a business. Or, like me, they can start in one career and then change it up completely later on.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Bachelor
Political Science and American Studies with minor in Psychology
Political Science and American Studies with minor in Psychology
Graduate
MBA
MBA
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I'm not good enough. What do I know about technology?"
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Q&A
Why did you choose to attend CSUF?
Asked by aleca at CSUFAdams counselor talked a lot about Fullerton, and he also mentions seeing it in a book they kept at his high school, it was also close enough for him to come home.
What are your fondest memories ate CSUF?
Asked by aleca at CSUFAdam mentioned many memories over his years at CSUF including being involved, making friends, being in student government, organizing protests, theater shows, and interning in both DC and Sacramento.
How did you choose your major?
Asked by aleca at CSUFOriginally Adam was a communications major because he was interested in photography and writing, One semester in he switched to Political Science and American Studies with a minor in psychology.
What did you do immediately after graduating CSUF?
Asked by aleca at CSUFAdam applied for grad school but ultimately ended up doing a fellowship.
What was your first job after graduating CSUF?
Asked by aleca at CSUFAdam first job was a Legislative aid for the Vice mayor of SanJose, he worked in both his council office and running his campaign.
Interviewed By
aleca
at CSUF
