Allison Cao — Product Manager, NYC

Allison Cao

Product Manager · New York City

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— About —

Hi, I'm Allison Cao

I'm a product manager based in New York City, working on global digital products at Mastercard. I'm endlessly curious about human behavior and how people experience the products they use. I try to bring that curiosity into everything I work on.

— My Story —

My story.

Education

I went to New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business, where I studied Finance and Data Science while playing on the NCAA Women's Soccer team. The Business Analytics Club is where I discovered the world of business tech and the career of product. I also studied abroad in Florence, Italy, where I immersed myself in the culture and taught English to high school students.

Senior Award Ceremony - Academic Excellence in Technology, Operations & Statistics

Professional

During college, I worked at a few startups and a startup accelerator, where I discovered my interest in product strategy and building things that actually make a difference in people's lives. That path led me to Mastercard, where I work on the Consumer Acquisition and Engagement team building digital products for our issuers and cardholders.

— Personal —

Off the clock.

01 · Soccer

A ball at my feet since age 3.

I started playing soccer when I was 3 or 4 and never really stopped. I tried other sports growing up but soccer always pulled me back. I played competitively with Skills Unlimited Soccer Academy (SUSA) before being recruited to play NCAA Division III at NYU, where I played for all three and a half years (first year was during COVID-19).

These days I play in adult leagues and I coach! I started with co-ed 6 and 7 year olds at South Bronx United and now coach U9 and U10 girls at Manhattan Kickers. It's one of my favorite things I do.

Manhattan Kickers

South Bronx United

SUSA

02 · Dance

My favorite form of creativity.

Dance has been part of my life since I was 5. I grew up doing ballet, tap, and jazz but hip hop was always the one I loved most. Soccer took over for a while and dance took a back seat, but toward the end of college I made a promise to get back to it. I've been taking hip hop classes in NYC ever since and recently picked up tango too, which is a completely different world. Movement has always been how I express myself and dance is the purest version of that.

Me in a hip hop class dancing to Justin Bieber

03 · Fun Facts

A few things about me.

Favorite book

Station Eleven

Emily St. John Mandel made me think about what we hold onto when everything falls apart. I've recommended it to everyone I know.

Favorite movie (at the moment)

Project Hail Mary

Read the book, loved the movie even more. Funnier than I expected and Ryan Gosling was perfect. Science fiction at its best.

Favorite team

Arsenal

I grew up watching matches with my dad, who has been an Arsenal fan his whole life. It was never really a choice — just what we did on weekends.

Favorite food

Chinese

Grew up eating it. Nothing else comes close. Always my first choice and never a bad decision.

Favorite product (at the moment)

Partiful

I love hosting and planning events. Partiful makes it easier and more fun for everyone involved, both the host and the attendee. That's what good product design should do.

Favorite creative project

My High School Parking Spot

Every senior officer gets to paint their spot. Mine was Spotify inspired. One of my favorite things I've ever made.