Startups vs. Corporate: Understanding Product Management in Startups
An MLT Startup Careers Panel Discussion
📅 Date: Tuesday, July 9th
⏰ Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
📍 Location: Virtual Event
🎟️ Registration: Open to MLT Alumni and Startup Careers Participants
Join us for an exclusive conversation with two exceptional MLT alumni who have successfully navigated product leadership roles across both startup and enterprise environments.
Featured Panelists
CEO, Materialize | Former Chief Product Officer, Cockroach Labs | ex-Microsoft PM
Nate brings a wealth of experience from both scrappy startups and tech giants. Currently leading Materialize, a real-time data transformation company, Nate previously spent 7 years at Cockroach Labs—joining in its pre-revenue stage and scaling the product organization as CPO while serving on the board. His journey includes product management roles at Percolate (acquired by Seismic) and Microsoft, where he contributed during the company’s cloud transformation. With an MBA from MIT Sloan and a BS in Computer Science from the University of Michigan, Nate has mastered the art of building products and organizations that scale.
Director of Product Management, Box | Former PM Lead at Google DeepMind & Meta
Matt brings a powerhouse combination of big tech and startup experience to this discussion. Currently leading AI Agent initiatives at Box, Matt previously served as PM Lead for the Gemini for Workspace product at Google DeepMind, where he helped launch one of the most advanced generative AI products for enterprise customers. His journey also includes significant product leadership roles at Meta, where he worked on core platform products. With an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management, Matt has built a reputation for rapidly delivering value across diverse teams and contexts, making him a sought-after advisor for startups navigating the complex intersection of AI and enterprise needs.
Moderated By
MLT Startup Ecosystem Advisor
Damien advises the MLT Startup Careers initiative with Pivotal Ventures, focusing on placing talented professionals in early-stage startups. An MIT MBA and former Meta ML Product Manager, he brings expertise from both sides of the startup ecosystem—as a founder who successfully exited Wealth Noir and as an advisor helping Series A+ startups integrate AI. His work centers on building connections among MLT alumni founders, investors, and startup employees to expand opportunities in tech. In his spare time, he is an Adjunct Professor of Product Management.
What You'll Learn
🚀 The Real Differences: Uncover the practical day-to-day differences between PM roles in startups vs enterprises—from decision-making speed to resource allocation
📊 Metrics That Matter: How success is measured differently and what KPIs actually drive your career forward in each environment
💡 Innovation Approaches: Compare how new ideas go from concept to launch in a 50-person startup vs a 5,000-person company
🎯 Career Transitions: Get insider tips on successfully moving between startup and enterprise roles—what skills transfer and what you need to learn
🛠️ Tools & Processes: Understand how product development processes, tools, and team structures differ dramatically between environments
Who Should Attend
MLT alumni currently in product roles interested in joining a startup
Professionals curious about the trade-offs between startup and enterprise PM careers
Anyone interested in understanding about the life of a startup.
Why This Matters Now
The startup ecosystem is experiencing a powerful resurgence at a time when traditional big tech opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. With major tech companies implementing hiring freezes and layoffs, talented professionals are rediscovering the startup path as a viable—and often more rewarding—career option. This shift represents both a challenge and an opportunity for MLT alumni.
Our panelists will share candid insights about their journeys, including:
The unexpected challenges they faced transitioning between environments
How they leveraged their network in both contexts
Specific examples of projects that succeeded (or failed) due to environmental factors
Actionable advice for your own career decisions
About MLT Startup Careers
This event is part of the MLT Startup Careers initiative, designed to accelerate the placement and success of MLT alumni in high-growth startup roles. By connecting our community with leaders who have successfully navigated these transitions, we're building a stronger ecosystem for underrepresented professionals in tech. Reach out to jroussel@mlt.org or dpeters@mlt.org for more information.