Debugged S4 E4: Product by Day, Cosplay by Night with Aya Philemon

Hello! Welcome back to Debugged, the Congressional App Challenge’s alumni-led podcast that connects the country’s youth with technology by debugging the intricate world of computer science.

In this episode, host Medha Gupta has the pleasure of chatting with Aya Philemon, a product manager at Adobe working on innovation projects empowering others to make the most of their creative potential. Aya is an artist at heart, and in her free time, she has a passion for cosplaying and traveling, running TikTok accounts for both. Aya has a BFA in industrial design from RSID, and received an MBA candidate from the NYU Stern School of Business.

To start off, Aya talks about her career’s journey leading up to her current role at Adobe. She discusses discovering her passion for design, overcoming imposter syndrome in an elite academic setting, and insights gained from starring in the PBS documentary Road Trip Nation. Aya also talks about developing an interest in data through various internships, and her transition from product design to the product management side of business.

Working her dream job today, she then goes on to acknowledge some of the amazing opportunities she has received working at Adobe. Namely, she discusses presenting at Adobe MAX, as well as other lessons learned from public speaking—and how that can apply to advice for Debugged listeners.

Beyond her professional life, Aya discusses her independent interests, and how she has worked towards a freedom to pursue those passions without worrying too much about the logistics. She strongly believes that many of the barriers that stand in front of the random things you want to do are really smaller than you might think.

Finally, Aya shares her three key general pieces of career advice for student listeners of the show: to stay flexible, to not be automatically deterred from a passion for a lack of jobs that might exist in the present day, and to actively look for any opportunities that you may want to pivot to! Tune in to this exciting episode of the Debugged podcast to hear more about Aya Philemon’s inspiring and exciting life and career journey!

More about Debugged

Founded in 2021 by the Congressional App Challenge’s Alumni Advisory Board, Debugged is a unique podcast experience that seeks to redefine STEM education, shine a light on diverse voices, and further the narrative around a myriad of computer science topics. By highlighting trends in the industry, breaking down complicated concepts, and interviewing high profile guests, listeners are given the opportunity to delve into the world of technology in an analytical yet engaging way.

Debugged is free to stream on your favorite platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more via Anchor.fm! To be the first to know about new episodes, and to learn more about the team of eleven alumni behind every one, follow @cacdebugged on Instagram and X. Thank you so much for your viewership; we hope you enjoy the episode!