Garaudy Etienne, a product manager at MongoDB, leverages his aerospace engineering and business background to advance the company's products and foster inclusivity in the tech industry. During his tenure, Etienne has focused on the sharding team, ensuring efficient data processing for expanding applications, and has championed the removal of offensive database terminologies like "master/slave." His journey from aerospace to product management was driven by a desire to blend business with technology, leading to his role at MongoDB, where he emphasizes strategy, customer engagement, and inclusivity. Etienne's role differs from typical product management positions as it allows him significant autonomy over product strategy without the burden of project timeline management. Additionally, MongoDB has made strides in inclusivity, such as implementing the parity pledge and making Juneteenth a company holiday, with Etienne contributing as an advocate and advisor on various projects. Concurrently, MongoDB is preparing for a leadership transition, with current CEO Dev Ittycheria announcing his retirement by November 2025 and appointing Chirantan “CJ” Desai as his successor, highlighting the company’s strategic focus on growth and innovation in data-intensive applications.