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I am Valentina Chinnici: a passionate, value-driven Product Manager with experience leading the development of complex digital and physical products & kits for STEAM Education, Maker Education, and SaaS. Since 2013 I’ve worked at STEAM, Education technology companies.
I am currently Product Owner at Arduino. In my current role, I am responsible for defining the roadmap, and product milestones, as well as managing the backlog on JIRA. I do also work on the product lifecycle as well as the go-to-market strategy in collaboration with the marketing team (I have a strong background in marketing). Although I believe the most exciting part of my job is to identify the Jobs to be done, and listening to the customers’ needs.
I contributed to open-up a new market segment (middle school) expanding the product portfolio with the Arduino Science Kit Physics Lab: an educational kit which combines custom-made hardware, and firmware, based on the Arduino WiFi 1010 board, a dedicated CMS to host content (available in 6 languages) as well as additional learning/teaching materials, a BLE integration for the Google’s Science Journal App. I managed everything from competitors’ analysis, to the concept up until the deployment to the market by the announced deadline.
To make the development possible I work across different internal teams (from Hardware to Firmware, and Software, to supply chain, etc.).
- Oct 2019 - Feb 2020 UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business Product Management Program Certificate
- Nov 2015 University of California, San Diego
- Course in Human Centered Design: an Introduction Certificate
- Oct 2010 - Dec 2013 Università degli Studi di Roma Tre, Rome BS Education
- Graduated with distinct honours (110 cum Laude)
- Awarded Erasmus Placement Bursary at London Metropolitan University
- Awarded IT, A/V support, Moodle (e-learning) support bursaries
| Research | Plan | Test & Iterate | Deploy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Understand the Job to be done. Explore competitors. Identify strategic opportunities. Outline requirements. | Work cross-teams to build products that consistently combine compelling design, smooth interactions, functional code, streamlined production. | Test prototypes with final users. Iterate and improve. | Communicate. Create a compelling narrative for the customers. Create visuals for launch campaign. |
Developed in partnership with Google, the Arduino Science Kit Physics Lab is an Arduino-based physics lab, fully compatible with Google Science Journal available on Android.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4-U3JcdMoe0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Create a simple, affordable, out-of-the-box experience for Science teachers, teaching Physics. Open up a new Education Segment (middle school).
Opening up a new segment market provided a series of challenges, starting from the curriculum requirements, to the health and safety compliance, as well as online privacy for kids (COPPA COMPLIANCE).
We used a Kanban/Waterfall approach to manage the development of the hardware. Then an agile approach for content, design, and the software integration for Android. We came up with an integrated approach which is combining: custom-made hardware and assembly pieces, content for the teachers and students alike, and a custom integration for the open-source mobile platform to check the progress of the data stream (Google Science Journal). We setup rapid prototype sessions in conjunction with the activities content outlines. Hardware was following according to the iterative findings as we developed the product.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>From Prototype to product: a - very short - visual history of the Science Carrier board included in the #ArduinoPhysicsLab pic.twitter.com/gWkLtMeRJT
— Valentina 瓦伦蒂娜 (@sorciererouge) September 20, 2019
I started researching on the way teachers were using Arduino in the classroom, in order to figure out if there were new ways of promoting Arduino in a classroom setting. Arduino was already largely used in high-schools and universities as datalogger tool, or cheaper alternative to expensive lab equipment. One of the best example to this was the workshop led by Professor Organtini, University La Sapienza in Rome, with his "Arduino and the smartphone" lab. We decided to allow younger kids to experiment sciences with a more affordable approach, simple to integrate in the curriculum with guidelines to map lessons to regular curriculum, and easy for the teacher to setup. The kit was mapped with NGSS and UK National Science Curriculum.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>With the Arduino Science Kit Physics Lab, students can conduct nine exciting projects inspired by popular fairground rides like the Gravitron and Pirate Ship! https://t.co/FprfbnbqWv #Bett2019 pic.twitter.com/jFOC0o6ced
— Arduino (@arduino) January 26, 2019
The Arduino Science Kit had some pretty clear software specifications: the Android integration worked over BLE therefore we had to build a protocol and a Firmware that could communicate easily and reliably. We used a custom approach for the firmware, using a protocol similar to Firmata.
The delivery of the Arduino Science Kit was coordinated between Arduino & Google. We worked closely with Google's engineers, as well as our development team to deploy the Android integration on time, and review the codebase to be integrated seamlessly in the official Google Science Journal app available on the store.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>@GScienceJournal is now live on the Play store with the brand new @Arduino integration for the #Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 board.
— Valentina 瓦伦蒂娜 (@sorciererouge) May 20, 2019
Available for you to download on Android and Chromebook (supporting Android) devices 📲
I cannot be more excited than today!!! 🌈🤩 Enjoy folks pic.twitter.com/yAuD1VnRI6
I worked with the Marketing Team to build a communication plan, and be ready to feature the kit in the most important Educational trade shows events, thanks to the support of Google and our reseller partners.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Last week, @GScienceJournal x @GoogleforEdu showcased the new #ArduinoPhysicsLab inside their booth at #NSTA19 in St. Louis: https://t.co/aHs8HKtjj9 pic.twitter.com/WC19OdlQfo
— Arduino (@arduino) April 16, 2019
Take a look at the preview lesson we published online: Arduino Science Kit Physics Lab -- The Pirate Ship
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough
Gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move.
Alfred Tennyson
I love traveling and knowing local people.
I have recently discovered a passion for hiking and I do that with my tiny dog Aldi (yes, the same name as the supermarket).
From time to time I do some hand modelling for some of our products.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>A #blooper from the @arduino Science Kit's content photo shooting by @al_morici.
— Valentina 瓦伦蒂娜 (@sorciererouge) May 6, 2019
After a few hours hand modelling, I gave up and started laughing. Alberto caught that moment perfectly (BTW I love this pic)! #ArduinoPhysicsLab #ProductManagementLife #HandModel💁♀️ #GScienceJournal pic.twitter.com/1Zf0PdX48C
I instituted a safe space for mental health in the workplace as a response to the current Covid-19 pandemic, providing colleagues with selected personal and mental wellbeing articles, healthy check-ins reminders, and promoting the importance of a positive workplace culture. I have also started an Instagram account in Italian to support people who struggle with mental health.