Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech Leaders - The Railsware Way – How an MBA Helps (or doesn’t) Product Mgmt, with Julia Starun

Today, we are another episode in our series, sponsored by our good friends at Railsware. Railsware is a leading product studio with two main focuses - services and products. They have created amazing products like Mailtrap, Coupler and TitanApps, while also partnering with teams like Calendly and Bright Bytes. They deliver amazing products, and have happy customers to prove it.

In this series, we are digging into the company's methods around product engineering and development. In particular, we will cover relevant topics to not only highlight their expertise, but to educate you on industry trends alongside their experience.

In today's episode, we are chatting with Julia Starun, Product Director at Railsware with over 17 years of experience in product management, business process automation and optimization. Julia will share her insights into where an MBA helps you manage a product team - and where it doesn't.

Questions:

  • What was your story before MBA, and what motivated your decision to pursue it?
  • What real-world gaps between MBA theory and product management practices did you discover at Railsware?
  • Does MBA training help with the "people management" side of leading product teams?
  • How can the tools and frameworks you learned during your MBA help with uncertainty – or overcomplicate things – when creating products?
  • How does understanding "business stuff" – like P&L, unit economics, financial modeling, etc. – change how you approach product decisions?
  • Does MBA business strategy training help product managers think beyond features to market positioning?
  • For someone already managing product teams, when does pursuing an MBA make sense versus other learning paths?
  • What's your biggest surprise about how MBA education did (or didn't) change the way you approach the realities of product team leadership?

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Big Technology Podcast - Can We Trust Silicon Valley With Superintelligence? — With Nick Clegg

Nick Clegg is the former president of Global Affairs at Meta and deputy prime minister of the UK. Clegg joins Big Technology Podcast for a discussion about whether Silicon Valley should be trusted with superintelligence and the risks it will navigate on the way there. In the second half, we also talk about how Silicon Valley uses money to buy influence and wield power in Washington. Tune in for a frank discussion about the economic, business, and political realities facing the tech industry as it pursues its most expensive and ambitious project.




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Headlines From The Times - House Votes to Release Epstein Files, U.N. Approves Trump’s Gaza Plan, Saudi Crown Prince Visits White House, O.J. Simpson Estate Claim, Dodgers Free Agency Rumors

The House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to pass a bill ordering the Justice Department to publicly release the files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The push comes after a major shift from President Trump, who now says he will sign the measure if it reaches his desk. Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council approved the Trump administration’s plan to secure and govern Gaza. The 13 to 0 vote allows the U.S. to move forward with an international stabilization force in the territory and approves a transitional authority that will be overseen by President Trump. Read more at LATimes.com.

Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - Interview: The Devil You Know, with Sarah Marshall

We've all heard the phrase: "Satanic Panic." Not too long ago, the United States -- and, later, the world -- was gripped with fear. According to the story, powerful devil worshippers conspired to kidnap, abuse, torture and even murder innocent children all in the service of Satan. So, what actually happened here? How did Patrick Swayze get mixed up in all this? In tonight's interview segment, Ben, Matt and Noel welcome Sarah Marshall, the creator of the new hit podcast The Devil You Know, to learn more about the Satanic Panic.

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Marketplace All-in-One - This school trains the workforce behind China’s automated factories

China recently came out with its latest five-year plan for growth, which will guide the world’s second largest economy through 2030. In it, top Communist Party leaders have pushed to boost the country's strength in manufacturing to the next level by upgrading older factories with advanced technologies for automation.


The challenge, according to the Chinese ministry of education, is that the sector has tens of millions of open jobs because there aren't enough skilled workers in the labor force to fill them.


One school is trying to bridge that gap. Marketplace China correspondent Jennifer Pak visited it in Nanjing city.

WSJ What’s News - Why Nvidia’s Results Could Jolt the Market

A.M. Edition for Nov. 19. After dropping for four straight sessions, markets are now bracing for today’s earnings report from AI-bellweather Nvidia. Plus, WSJ’s Anne Tergesen explains why millions of Americans are leaving behind old 401(k) accounts - costing savers billions in missed investment gains. And a rare Gustav Klimt portrait has shattered records, becoming the most expensive modern artwork ever sold at auction. Caitlin McCabe hosts.


Sign up for the WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.

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Up First from NPR - Trump Defends Saudi Prince, Epstein Bill Passes, Trump Low Approval Rating

President Trump defends Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a White House visit, even as the two leaders unveil sweeping military, nuclear, and investment agreements.
Congress overwhelmingly passes a bill compelling the Justice Department to release its Epstein files, setting up a 30-day countdown that could spark new political fights over redactions.
And a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows Trump at his lowest approval rating of his second term, with voters demanding that he focus on lowering prices as Democrats gain a significant edge heading into 2026.

Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Kelsey Snell, Megan Pratz, Rebecca Rossman, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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The Daily - Congress Orders Trump to Release the Epstein Files

Congressional Republicans on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to release all of the files related to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a bill that President Trump spent months trying to kill.

The Times correspondents Anni Karni and Carl Hulse explain how a rebellion started by a handful of Republican lawmakers became a partywide mutiny, and Representative Thomas Massie talks about his role in bringing about the vote.

Guest:

  • Annie Karni, a congressional correspondent at The New York Times.
  • Carl Hulse, the chief Washington correspondent for The Times.
  • Representative Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky.

Background reading: 

Photo: Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.