Visiting Lecturers: Career Foundations and Engagement (IND ENG 298)
This fall, UC Berkeley’s Master of Analytics program welcomes two distinguished Visiting Lecturers to lead the Career Foundations and Engagement (IND ENG 298) course. Each instructor will teach a three-week module designed to bridge classroom learning with the real-world skills and insights that shape successful analytics and technology careers.
Nagui Yassa
Nagui Yassa
Teaching beginning the week of November 3
Visiting Lecturer, Career Foundations and Engagement (IND ENG 298)
Advisor, Global Treehouse | Product School
Bio:
Nagui Yassa is a technology and product marketing executive with more than 15 years of experience leading go-to-market strategy, corporate growth, and cross-functional operations. He currently advises at Global Treehouse and Product School, where he supports startup leaders and emerging product marketers on positioning, messaging, and scaling strategies.
Previously, Nagui served as Global Product Marketing Lead at Meta, where he guided monetization and go-to-market initiatives across Generative AI, Reels, and Meta Verified. He played a key role in launching Meta’s first subscription product and expanding its adoption globally. His earlier roles include leadership positions at Pledge 1% and Pandora Radio, where he led strategy and operations during Pandora’s acquisition by SiriusXM.
Nagui holds a Master’s in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research from UC Berkeley, a Bachelor’s in Management Sciences from the London School of Economics, and a Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Music Studies from Berklee College of Music.
Why I’m teaching this course:
“Throughout my career, I’ve learned that the difference between good and great often lies in soft skills — how we communicate, collaborate, and connect. My goal is to help students build the non-technical toolkit that complements their technical expertise: clear communication, emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and authentic networking. I want students to walk away prepared not just to land a job, but to thrive as thoughtful, confident professionals in the real world.”
Jiaxi Zhu
Jiaxi Zhu
Teaching beginning the week of December 3
Visiting Lecturer, Career Foundations and Engagement (IND ENG 298)
Head of Analytics, Google (SMB)
Bio:
Jiaxi Zhu brings over a decade of experience in business analytics and currently serves as Head of Analytics for Google’s Small and Medium Business (SMB) division. He leads global teams in applying advanced analytics and AI-driven models to inform go-to-market strategy, forecasting, and customer experience for millions of businesses.
Before joining Google, Jiaxi was a business technology consultant at McKinsey & Company and PwC, advising Fortune 500 executives on enterprise data strategy and digital transformation. He is also deeply engaged in mentorship, supporting startups through the Google for Startups Accelerator and serving as a judge for analytics and AI competitions.
Jiaxi holds an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with dual majors in Business Analytics and Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research (IEOR) from UC Berkeley.
Why I’m teaching this course:
“My career has focused on translating complex data into clear decisions and impactful action. I’m teaching this course to help students gain a practitioner’s understanding of the full analytics lifecycle—from designing frameworks and building models to communicating data-driven insights effectively. My goal is to equip students with both the technical and strategic skills needed to lead high-impact analytics initiatives in their careers.”
These modules reflect the program’s commitment to integrating academic learning with professional growth, giving students a first-hand look at how data and leadership intersect in today’s analytics-driven industries.