Trent McKenzie’s journey into product innovation wasn’t planned, but it was something he had been building toward all along.
After earning his Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering from the University of Arkansas in 2015, McKenzie spent nearly a decade solving problems and creating tools to improve how people worked—often outside the scope of his formal roles. What began as a natural inclination to build solutions eventually evolved into a clear career direction, leading him to pursue the Master of Science in Product Innovation (MSPI). Heading into graduation, McKenzie was selected as MSPI’s 2026 Graduate Outstanding Program Scholar.
Below, Trent shares more about his journey, his experience in the program, and his advice for others considering a future in product innovation.
Did you always plan on a career in product development or product management?
No, not at all — but looking back, I realize I'd been doing a version of product management for years without calling it that. I kept noticing pain points around me and building solutions for them. A plant area manager's ingredient usage didn't match his product recipe, so we built a tracking system that caught the issue & a dashboard to monitor future usage. A plant warehouse manager kept losing Saturdays keying inventory counts, so I built him a tool to automate the process and finish by Friday. None of that was in my job description. I was a safety director focused on programs and policies, but I'd stay after hours building things for coworkers because I genuinely enjoyed it. The MSPI program gave me the language and the framework to recognize that as product work, and now I plan on doing it full-time.
What made you choose the Master of Science in Product Innovation program?
I was originally looking at MBA programs around the country, including Arkansas. While browsing the U of A's graduate program page, I came across MSPI and got immediately excited. The description read like someone had written it specifically for what I wanted to do next. I sent it to my family and they had the same reaction. Before committing, I had candid conversations with Phil Shellhammer and, separately, Eva Fast. Their honest, thoughtful feedback sealed it for me. Leaving a stable, ten-year career to become a full-time student again wasn't an easy decision, but I'm grateful every day for how it's turned out.
What is your current job? How are you applying what you’re learning in the program?
I'm self-employed, running a consulting practice that helps small and mid-sized businesses leverage AI to improve their operations. Almost every class in the program has worked its way into my client work — Zach Steelman's course on AI tools especially. But the biggest throughline is human-centered design, which is a core focus of MSPI and the framework I lean on in every engagement. It keeps me anchored to the customer and helps me build the right tool, not just a clever one.
What are your favorite moments or memories from the program?
The Ivey Business Pitch Competition in London, Ontario. We decided to make a major pivot to our business the week before the competition, a strategy I would not recommend to anyone. On top of that, Ontario chose that exact weekend to become the coldest place on Earth, bottoming out around -50. We were exhausted, freezing, and rebuilding our entire deck on the fly. Despite all that, when we finally got on stage, we delivered our best pitch yet and got genuinely encouraging feedback from the judges. We didn't win, but I walked away with a lot of confidence. Seeing all that scrambling actually pay off was one of the most satisfying moments of the whole program.
As you approach graduation, what advice would you give to prospective or current students?
Over the long run, your network becomes just as valuable as your expertise. But networking for networking's sake is overrated — it usually produces shallow, transactional relationships. Instead, get to know people that you genuinely find interesting. Not because you want something from them, but because you think they're worth knowing or what they're working on is cool. You'll learn something new almost every time, and you'll end up building far more meaningful relationships than you ever would at a networking event.
How has the program prepared you for future success?
Two things stand out. First, the coursework is incredibly practical. It forces you to apply what you're learning before you fully understand it. It's one thing to sit through lectures on understanding a customer problem; it's another to go conduct 50+ in-depth customer interviews and feel the difference yourself. Second, the program goes out of its way to connect students with mentors and business leaders in the region who volunteer their time to give feedback and advice. I was constantly amazed at how willing these incredibly accomplished people were to take a meeting with a student and actually engage. Those two things, more than anything, are what make me feel ready for what's next.
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Are you interested in building a career in product development? Click here for more information about the program, including admission information, application deadlines, and how to schedule a time to talk to an enrollment advisor.
