Post Grad Spotlight: Tyler Rountree, Paradox

Eller undergraduate Tyler Rountree '24 (BSBA Management Information Systems and Accounting) is going to be a Product Development Rotational Associate at Paradox in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Tell us about the company you’ll be working with.

Paradox is a mid-sized HR Tech company founded in Scottsdale, Arizona and known for its flagship product–AI recruiting assistant Olivia. Olivia helps to transform talent acquisition by reducing the time to hire through chat to apply, candidate Q&A, interview scheduling, and status updates all through text message.

What part of your new role are you looking forward to?

I'm excited to be part of the Product Development Rotational program because it will allow me to spend 6 months working in Software Integrations, Technical Support Engineering, and Product Management. I spent last summer on the Product Management team, and I had an incredible time learning how to be an effective product manager while also getting to know the team better. In my job search, I didn't come across roles in integrations or engineering that were available to MIS majors, so I'm extremely excited to get to learn more about each of these technical functions.

Why did you choose to work for your company?

I selected Paradox because I felt that my work mattered from day one. In product management, one of the key deliverables is called a "deck" which includes the logic and design mockups for a product enhancement. In just three months as an intern, I successfully presented a deck review for a product enhancement under the supervision of my mentor and with design support from one of our product designers. It was an experience that helped me to more deeply understand the role of a product manager, and it also helped me to see the level of trust that Paradox put into me, even as an intern.

Please share what led you to your upcoming job/company.

I first discovered Paradox through a virtual information session hosted by Lauren Kordalski, Director of Talent, for Eller's Career EXPO during my sophomore year. At Eller Career Showcase that spring, I met Rebecca Moser, the recruiter for the Product Management Internship at the time. I remained in touch and engaged until it was finally time for me to apply for the internship during the fall of my junior year. After three interviews, I received an offer for the Product Management Internship, and I joined the team that summer.

What advice do you have for Eller students seeking a similar career path?

For my peers who are interested in a career in product management or development, I highly recommend pursuing a major or double major in MIS; the coursework I've completed proved to be relevant throughout my internship. I also recommend exploring product management tools like Jira and Confluence and familiarizing yourself with product wireframing and design tools like Balsamiq and Figma. If you do land an interview for a product-related role, take some time to dive deep into what the current offerings are for that product so that you can be better prepared to speak to relevant experience and even ask questions.