Megan Gordon, based in Washington, DC, US, is currently a Strategic Operations Program Manager at Apple, and a member of OSU’s Economics Advisory Board! Megan Gordon brings experience from previous roles at Apple, The Ohio State University and General Motors. Megan holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) @ Kellogg School of Management, and has a robust skill set that includes Analysis, Product Management, Data Analysis, Analytics, Business Analysis and more.
1. Why did you choose to study economics at Ohio State?
I chose economics because I wasn’t entirely sure what career path I wanted to pursue, and I liked that economics teaches you how to think critically and solve problems rather than preparing you for only one specific job. It gave me a strong analytical foundation while keeping my options open across different industries and functions. I also appreciated that economics could serve as a bridge to graduate school or other specialties later on if I decided to pivot.
2. What has been your career path following your graduation from Ohio State?
After graduating from Ohio State, I began my career at GEICO in Product Management, where I used analytics to help the company grow profitably. I worked at the intersection of actuarial science and marketing, helping connect pricing strategy with customer acquisition. It was an excellent foundation for learning how data can drive business decisions.
After seven years at GEICO, I decided to pursue an MBA to broaden my skill set and pivot into a new area of business. Following business school, I joined General Motors through its marketing rotational development program. During my time there, I worked across several marketing functions, including product marketing, global marketing experiences, and brand marketing. I also had the opportunity to live and work in Shanghai with GM China on the global Buick brand, which was one of the most formative experiences of my career.
I was later promoted into a Product Strategy role as Global Buick Strategy Manager, where I combined my analytics background with customer and product strategy experience. After more than four years at GM, I relocated to the Bay Area to be closer to family and joined Apple.
At Apple, I initially moved into operations, focusing on global launch readiness for new products and helping coordinate go-to-market execution across complex supply chain and operational functions. More recently, I transitioned to a new operations-focused role within Apple’s legal organization, where I oversee programs and process improvements that help the team scale effectively and operate more efficiently.
3. What did you feel least prepared for when you began your first job post-graduation?
One thing I felt least prepared for was learning how to communicate effectively in a corporate environment. In school, success is often measured individually, but in the workplace, collaboration, influencing others, and communicating clearly across teams are just as important as technical skills. It took time to learn how to present ideas confidently, navigate ambiguity, and work with stakeholders from different backgrounds and priorities.
4. In your current position, what do you do on a day-to-day basis?
In my current role at Apple, I oversee programs and operational initiatives within Apple’s legal organization. My work focuses on improving processes, enabling teams to scale effectively, and driving operational efficiency across the Discovery function.
On a day-to-day basis, I work on program strategy, process improvement, metrics and reporting, vendor management, and cross-functional coordination. Much of my role involves identifying operational challenges, building scalable solutions, and partnering with legal, technical, and business teams to improve workflows and support the organization’s long-term goals.
5. How has the economics you studied at Ohio State helped you in your career?
Studying economics at Ohio State taught me how to think analytically, evaluate problems from multiple perspectives, and make decisions using data. Those skills have been valuable throughout my career and have allowed me to successfully pivot across very different functions, including analytics, marketing, strategy, and operations. More than anything, economics gave me a flexible way of thinking that has remained relevant regardless of the industry or role.
6. What is the most challenging work experience you've encountered so far?
One of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in my career was living and working in China with GM China. Although I worked primarily in English, adapting to a different culture and learning new ways of communicating and collaborating pushed me outside of my comfort zone. It taught me the importance of flexibility, listening, and understanding different perspectives in a global business environment.
Another major challenge has been successfully transitioning across very different business functions throughout my career, from analytics to marketing to operations. Each move required learning new skill sets and proving myself in unfamiliar environments, but those experiences ultimately helped me grow professionally.
7. What is your next biggest career goal?
My goal is to continue growing my career at Apple and make a meaningful long-term impact on the organization. I’m particularly interested in how responsible AI and emerging technologies can improve operational efficiency, streamline workflows, and help teams make better decisions at scale.
8. Do you have any regrets from your time at OSU?
No regrets — Ohio State gave me a strong academic foundation, lifelong friendships, and experiences that helped shape both my personal and professional growth.
9. Do you have any parting thoughts and/or advice for current economics students?
Don’t limit yourself to what you think an economics major is supposed to do. Economics teaches you how to think critically, solve problems, and understand how decisions are made — those skills are valuable in almost any field.
I’d also encourage students to think intentionally about their personal story. Career paths are rarely linear, and it’s okay if your interests evolve over time. What matters is being able to explain your “why” and connect the dots between your experiences in a way that makes sense to others.