Derek Liu

Defining early product direction and MVP execution on a small, exploratory team. Setting product strategy, shaping core user flows, and designing economies... all while iterating quickly (yep, lots of vibe coding).

Ran large-scale LLM training operations across SFT and RLHF (over 10k tasks/wk). Owned delivery for multiple pipelines, led multi-disciplinary teams, and built forecasting and reporting systems to keep execution predictable under constant change. Spent most of my time turning messy inputs into scalable, repeatable processes.

As the Founding Product Manager, my role was a lesson in the agility of early-stage startups. Led by Mark Pincus (founder of Zynga), I was entrusted with the responsibility of turning our vision into actionable strategies. While we navigated through numerous pivots, each turn brought new insights and opportunities. My role spanned product strategy, roadmap development, and design with a focus on web3, creator tools, games, and AI.

My time at Zynga straddled both product management and corporate strategy. I developed versatile revenue models that not only supported M&A activities, but also aided in demand planning and game team P&Ls. My efforts during due diligence contributed to several successful acquisitions, including the $1.8B acquisition of Peak and the $560M acquisition of SGG. I also provided product management support during key operational milestones, including quarterly reviews (QBRs) and emergency situations (Code Reds). Additionally, I took on a leadership role in community-building initiatives; I moderated panels, planned annual PM offsites, and managed the interview process for new grad rotational programs.

I transitioned into the role of Product Manager for myVegas Slots, the flagship product of Playstudios. I was responsible for all aspects of the game's lifecycle, including crafting P&Ls, roadmaps, and revenue forecasts. My day-to-day responsibilities extended to prioritizing a robust backlog for a 40+ member team, covering new features, A/B testing, experiments, and technical debt management. I also pioneered and tested novel monetization and liveops strategies.

In this role, I was responsible for the end-to-end user acquisition strategy across four core products, managing a lifetime budget of $50M. My daily responsibilities included the oversight of network, affiliate, and Facebook campaigns, backed by customized dashboards for real-time optimizations. I was deeply involved in campaign performance tuning, leveraging a sophisticated understanding of ROI, ROAS, and LTV models. When existing KPIs fell short, I constructed new metrics that better aligned with our business objectives.

At PlayNext, I was responsible for data-driven decision-making in game development. I spearheaded the launch of a revenue-driving card battler game featuring Marvel IP. My contributions extended to overhauling the analytical infrastructure and iterating across multiple projects. Working collaboratively with management, designers, engineers, and GMs, I executed monthly event cycles and developed targeted promotion plans aimed at enhancing player retention and monetization.

I managed a substantial database of nationwide healthcare data and conducted detailed analyses using Stata. My work involved manipulating and summarizing California-specific data based on the Herfindahl Index, ensuring the data's usability and accuracy for ongoing research.

I focused on reviving the won/loss project, successfully managing over 100 opportunities for follow-up interviews and summarizing the findings for sales and direct response teams. My expertise in rapid data extraction and curation was a significant asset, as was my creation of a competitive analysis of rivals' social media strategies and impact.

At Vyew, I focused on digital marketing and research, gaining hands-on experience with Google AdWords and Google Analytics. I assessed website content, conducted SEO analyses, and hosted weekly webinars to introduce the software to diverse clientele (from teachers to SBOs)