Leading in Digital Transformation
The Master of Digital Product Management (MDPM), the first degree program of its kind in Canada, welcomed its inaugural class in October 2022. The program received an enthusiastic market response and fills a key gap for digital transformation expertise in business.
The latest offering in Smith’s suite of specialized graduate programs and the first offered in partnership with the School of Computing in the Faculty of Arts & Science at Queen’s University, the MDPM well-exceeded enrollment targets for the first class.
Products and services, operations and innovations are being transformed by digital capabilities. Skilled leaders are needed to manage these critical initiatives. The cross-disciplinary approach of the MDPM program ensures that students get a robust mix of both business and technology best practices.
“We recognized the growing digital skills gap that exists in Canada across many industries and roles and designed a program to equip leaders with the skills needed to bridge the gap between education and industry. We’re pleased that the marketplace agreed so enthusiastically,” said program director Kathryn Brohman.
The first class of students came from a wide array of backgrounds and sectors, from the military to Fortune 500 companies. Women comprised 51 per cent of the class.
The 12-month program kicked off with a residential session in Kingston. Regular classes were delivered virtually using Smith’s dedicated, interactive teaching studio and trusted virtual learning platform, with courses taught by instructors from both faculties.
“I am most excited to learn industry best practices from insiders that have in-depth experience in this space, increase my knowledge in the concepts and approaches to managing digital products as well as build a robust network of peers,” Kris Hayward, MDPM’23, said as classes began.
As part of their learning, students were to participate in a nine-month experiential learning practicum to develop a digital product prototype that solves a problem for a sponsoring organization.
“We are confident that students of the inaugural MDPM class, with roles in financial services, tech education, retail, energy, health care, government, consumers goods, consulting, insurance and real estate, will go on to become impactful leaders across the Canadian digital transformation landscape,” Brohman says.
Learn more about the MDPM program and the role of a digital product manager at smithqueens.com/mdpm.