WORK EXPERIENCE
Author. Product Manager. Deep experience scaling/running teams.
Growth, Retention, and Global Payments Expert.
Entrepreneur. Backpacker. Statistician. Thinker.
Scribd
Head of Back-End Product
Product lead for all back-end engineering teams (payments, search, and recommendations).
2018-2020.
A Brown Man in Russia
Author
"A poignant reminder of the need to challenge preconceptions... and of travel’s vital role in bridging the differences between us."
-The Moscow Times2018.
Dropbox
Product Growth
End-to-end customer renewals optimization driving subscriber growth and retention.
2016-2018.
Microsoft
Head of Retention and Engagement, Xbox Live
Managed ~50M Xbox Live subscribers. Dunning optimizations & targeted programs resulted in ~1M incremental paid users.
2013-2016.
Sacramento Kings
Low latency analytics
Worked jointly with the Kings analytics division and Duke Bayesian Statistics to predict NBA playoff qualification odds.
2014-2015.
CollegeCommit
Founder & CEO
Developed a web client with chat and video integration to connect high school seniors with mentors at universities that have accepted them.
2012-2013.
IBM
Battery 500 Project
Conducted research using RC Circuit Analysis to test feasibility of lithium-air cells in commercial electric vehicles.
2010.
WHO AM I?
Vijay Menon
Quick hits
- Currently, I'm the product lead for all back end engineering teams at Scribd. I created and scaled a world-class Payments squad and lead our Search & Recommendations teams.
- Previously, I was a product leader driving teams dedicated to user growth & monetization at Dropbox. I owned user retention for Business and Consumer products, working across user funnels and back-end payments architecture.
- Before that, I worked at Microsoft as a Product Manager for Bing and Xbox. I headed up the online user retention and engagement team for Xbox Live.
- I am a published author with Glagoslav Publications. My first book released in 2018, was featured by the Moscow Times, and is on the curriculum at several universities such as MIT. Check the book out here.
- Double major: Stats & Economics, but I consider myself T-shaped. Case in point: my favorite book.
- My specialty is in data -- specifically upstream and downstream product analytics. Fluent in R and LATEX.
- My passions are public speaking (speaking at TED was a personal highlight), reading, writing, analytics, sports, trivia, and backpacking the world. You will notice these themes throughout.
- In my free time, I'll be traveling, playing pick-up basketball, or taking an online course (I've officially passed three so far).
PROJECTS
Side Projects I've Worked On
Does PROGRESA Work?
Formulating Public Policy to Increase Educational Attainment in Developing Countries: An Analysis Based on Data from Mexico's PROGRESA Initiative
Durham, NC
A logistic regression analysis on the effectiveness of a Mexican government initiative to increase school attendance through conditional cash transfers: Progresa
Does Level of Maternal Education Impact Rates of Childhood Vaccination?
A District Level Analysis of Data from the 1992-93 and 1998-98 Indian DHS Surveys
Durham, NC
In this analysis, we use data from the Indian National Family Health Survey to gauge the impact of fluctuating maternal education levels on the change in measles vaccination coverage for children under the age of five: Maternal Education -> Vaccination
Perspectives on Income Inequality
What do various segments of American society have to say about the rising wealth gap?
Durham, NC
An exploration of what Americans think about income inequality and whether government should intervene to diminish its negative economic effects: Income Inequality
Free Agency Prediction
Can teams use analytics to predict whether superstar talent will re-sign in the offseason?
Charlotte, North Carolina
As part of the Charlotte Hornets case study competition, I built this predictive model to assess the odds of a free agent returning to his home team or signing with another -- in this case, laying out odds for Carmelo Anthony's 2014 free agent decision: Will Melo resign?
NBA Playoff Prediction
How can we create a better system to help teams use player stats to optimize playoff odds?
Sacramento, CA
At the behest of the Kings, I created a playoff prediction model that was more than 95% in accurate in forecasting postseason qualification in the NBA from 2003-2014 (314 out of 330). : Playoff Prediction
Analytical Techniques Toward Protein Glycosylation Analysis
Identifying Unique Biomarkers for Cancer Patients
Davis, California
I identified and characterized the glycosites on two specific glycoproteins: bovine lactoferrin and kappa casein. As more glycoproteins are characterized, early screening tests for cancer will become more effective. If an individual lacks the expected sugars at each glycosite, steps can be taken to prevent onset of disease: Cancer biomarkers
Impedance Measurement and Cathode Electrical Characterization of Lithium Air Batteries using RC Circuit Analysis
Battery 500 Project
IBM Almaden Research Lab, San Jose, CA
Working at the IBM Almaden Research Lab on the Battery 500 project, I came to the conclusion that lithium peroxide buildup would not be sufficient to impede functionality of the battery in commercial EVs: RC Circuit Analysis
INVOLVEMENTS
What I'm Passionate About
TED
Speaker
Durham, NC
Spoke at TED "Building Energy" Conference. The title of my talk was "Lessons Learned on the Trans-Siberian", which ultimately turned into a publishing deal and book.
The Economist
Letter to the Editor
London, England
I submitted a letter to the editor of my favorite magazine in response to an article on entrepreneurship. I found myself alongside the Secretary-General of the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Brussels in the following week's issue.
United Nations National Essay Contest
2nd Place National Winner
New York
As a national winner, The UN forwarded my essay on sustainability to President Barack Obama and I won $1500.
Jeopardy
Final Sixty
Culver City
I was invited as one of the top sixty contestants to audition in Los Angeles for the 2008 and 2009 iterations of the TV show.
McKinsey
Case Competition
Durham, NC
Winner for case on clean energy solutions.
Boston Consulting Group
Case Competition
Durham, NC
Winner for case on agricultural storage techniques.
Youth for Debate
President
Durham, NC
Established partnerships with five Durham Public Schools and organized Duke students to provide free weekly debate and public speaking lessons to disadvantaged local children.
Duke Debate
British Parliamentary and APDA styles
Duke University
Member of traveling team competing against Ivy League and international participants in the parliamentary style. Winner & 1st ranked speaker at William & Mary Invitational (2011).
Duke Compass Fellowship
Inaugural Class
Durham, NC
Drove social entrepreneurship and connected with leaders in the start-up field in collaboration with Bull City Forward.
A VISUAL JOURNEY
Where I've Been Recently...
REACH OUT
Connect with me
E-mail
My preferred means of communication
LinkedIn
Let's link up
Bookshelf
My reading list, ever expanding
