Guest blog by Karla Acosta, Sampada Bhootna, Kriti Ganotra, Fermin Liu, Archita Mishra, and Saloni Mundhra
Every year, the Booth Technology Group (BTG) hosts Tech Trek – a unique opportunity to gain first hand exposure to tech companies shaping the future of the industry. This year, for the first time since COVID, a group of BTG members traveled to the Bay Area to visit several tech companies, connect with Booth Alums, and explore emerging trends in product management, AI, and fintech.
Day 1: Security and Finance with Verkada and Brex
Verkada@1PM: We launched BTG Tech Trek at Verkada’s HQ in San Mateo. We started the visit with an office tour through Verkada’s 4-story building, complete with a wall filled with oil paintings of the company’s most successful sales team members and an all-day bar rooftop! Following lunch, we received a live demo of Verkada’s proprietary solution covering its product lines such as cameras, access control, sensors etc. It was great to hear perspectives from Verkada’s Strategic Finance, Product Management, and Engineering departments.
Brex@3:30PM: Coming back into the heart of San Francisco city, we spoke with a PM, PMM, and Finance Analyst at Brex. In an intimate conference room, we had a rare chance to ask all our questions about the FinTech industry, key drivers of each department, largest challenges they faced today, and more. As it was Brex’s first week back in the office, it was great to connect with numerous alumni and see Brex’s culture in-person!
Day 2: Immersive Technology at Meta, GenAI at Google, and an Alumni Happy Hour
Meta@9:00am: We kicked off Day 2 at Meta’s Menlo Park campus, hosted by Booth Alum, Mrinmoy Hazarika, a PMM at Meta. At the office, we attended a panel featuring Booth alumni, in Product Marketing and Product Management functions across Instagram Stories and User & Brand Creator Monetization. Shortly after, we had the chance to demo Meta’s Ray-Bans and Oculus, a really unique immersive experience showcasing Meta’s VR innovations.
Google@1:30 pm: The BTG Tech Trek offered us a rare peek behind the curtain to see how Google is weaving its new Gemini models into everyday experiences. Satyajeet Salgar, a Booth alum and Director of Product Management at Google, guided us through Google’s groundbreaking GenAI advancements. This was followed by a panel discussion with seven other Booth alumni at Google, working across diverse products and roles, from PM at Waymo to leading strategic sourcing at Google Cloud. Lastly, it wouldn’t have been a visit to Google office without some good food and a stroll through its iconic Mountain View campus.
Alumni@6pm: To wrap up Day 2, we connected with Booth alumni in the Bay Area over drinks in Palo Alto at Scotty’s Bar. Current students and alums were able to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss the exciting trends shaping the future of tech and business.
Day 3: Meeting with Booth Alums at PayPal, including John Kim – CPO of PayPal
We wrapped up our in-person Tech Trek in San Jose, visiting PayPal’s headquarters, hosted by Booth Alum, Rishav Dhar. We attended a panel with MBA alumni at PayPal, learning more about the FinTech space, followed by an in-depth conversation with John Kim, PayPal’s CPO. The discussion on the importance of innovation, experimentation, and using intuition to find the next big idea was incredibly inspiring. It was a reminder to keep pushing boundaries and stay curious in our professional journeys.
Week 2: Virtual Trek
Week 2 of Tech Trek provided BTG members with broad exposure to key functions within top tech companies while emphasizing how Boothies can strategically leverage their MBA experience. Through sessions with Marketing at Spotify, Strategy at Uber, a technical founder at Patronus AI, and cross-functional roles at Amazon, attendees gained insights into workplace culture, career trajectories, and how alumni maximized their time at Booth—whether through coursework, networking, or experiential learning—to position themselves for success in tech.
Spotify: With Spotify, Boothies gained insight into how analytics drive marketing decisions and how the company fosters a culture where data is not just essential but also accessible and engaging. The discussion highlighted the importance of designing for customers—translating insights into user-centric experiences that fuel engagement and retention. Alumni shared how they leveraged Booth’s resources, from data-driven marketing courses to networking events, to develop the skills and connections that ultimately helped them land roles at Spotify, even years after graduating. Their journeys reinforced the value of long-term career planning and continuous learning.
Uber: The Uber session underscored the importance of focusing on one’s own career trajectory rather than benchmarking progress against peers. Alumni emphasized how Booth’s flexible curriculum and extensive network played a pivotal role in facilitating career pivots, particularly for those transitioning into strategy roles. They also highlighted the power of networking during the summer internship—not just within Uber but across the broader tech ecosystem—to open doors and create opportunities for full-time roles. The key takeaway was clear: Boothies who proactively build relationships and leverage school resources position themselves for long-term success.
Patronus AI: With Patronus AI, Booth students engaged in a deep dive into the technical intricacies of AI, gaining a better understanding of both the product and the challenges of building in the AI space. The session also explored the process of raising capital as a founder, with insights on how leveraging existing networks can be a game-changer in securing funding and partnerships. Perhaps most crucially, the founder emphasized the importance of assembling a team you trust—people who can navigate ambiguity alongside you and help execute a vision in an evolving industry. For Boothies interested in entrepreneurship, this was a powerful reminder that business acumen, strong relationships, and resilience are just as critical as technical expertise.
Amazon: The virtual Amazon panel consisted of five Amazonians, all Booth alums, who represented different functions within the company. Moderated by Francisco Fuchslin, Head of Marketing at Amazon Business Canada and Booth ‘19, we got to hear unfiltered opinions about what it was like for each panelist to interview with Amazon and work their way through the company. One common thread was the mobility across the company, in which Amazonians could develop their skills and transfer to new teams, thus ensuring that they continued to stay curious and challenged in their careers.
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on what we’ve been told was a successful Tech Trek, we’ve identified key opportunities to elevate the experience for future BTG members. Our recommendations for 2026 focus on three strategic areas that will strengthen the program’s impact. The trek’s primary purpose needs crystallization: should it serve as a recruiting pipeline or function as an immersive learning experience where students engage directly with industry innovators? This foundational decision will shape everything from timing to company selection, ensuring all activities align with participants’ core goals.
While Silicon Valley remains a tech epicenter, we envision expanding our corporate visits to encompass a more diverse ecosystem. This means engaging with nimble startups, scaling mid-sized companies, and established tech leaders across various sectors. Additionally, we recommend deeper engagement with Chicago’s burgeoning tech scene, particularly as the city makes strategic investments in cutting-edge facilities like the PsiQuantum’s campus.
The Booth network is one of our greatest assets, and we see tremendous potential in deepening alumni engagement beyond the Bay Area. By fostering these relationships, we can create more meaningful mentorship opportunities and career insights for students, while building lasting professional connections that extend well beyond the trek itself. With these initiatives, we hope Tech Trek 2026 can become an even more valuable experience for Booth students pursuing careers in tech.
