Will Essilfie
Studied at Columbia Business School
Works at Teachers Pay Teachers
Available tomorrow at 11:00 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
About Will
Hi there! I'm Will and I'm a proud Columbia graduate and technologist based in New York. I care about building products and fostering teams that create products and features that customers love, not tolerate. In the age of AI, I believe the role of the Product Manager is changing and think AI will help people move faster and realize ideas faster if paired with the strength of their team. In addition to finishing my Executive MBA at Columbia, I am working on writing my first play and exploring producing Broadway shows.
Why do I coach?
I coach to help people take ideas and convert them into action. Coaching and mentorship offer a sounding board to think through what's on your mind and get structured support to help you make your dreams reality. I've experienced these benefits and want to provide this same service for the next generation of builders, graduates, and leaders.
Work Experience
Lead Product Manager
Teachers Pay Teachers
2024 - Present
Product lead overseeing two of TPT’s most critical teams: SEO and Core Marketplace Experience. Own strategy and execution across discovery, personalization, and conversion, directly shaping how millions of educators interact with the marketplace. Partner closely with the Head of Product, Marketplace and IXL Learning's executive team to define roadmap priorities and long-term product vision and AI strategy. Drive initiatives that strengthen search visibility, improve educator experience, and grow marketplace liquidity at scale. TPT was acquired by IXL Learning, one of the world’s largest education technology companies. Launch Products, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and +3 skills
Contributing Writer
Red Ventures
2023 - Present
Freelance writer for Bankrate on topics including personal finance, credit cards, and frequent flyer programs. Publish guides on airline partners, loyalty programs, and travel benefits, helping readers save money and maximize rewards. Recent work includes deep dives into United Airlines partners, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and Amex’s Hotel Collection. Writing, Aviation and +1 skill
Product Lead
Teachers Pay Teachers
2022 - 2024
Led core experience across onboarding, seller tools, and buyer experience during a pivotal period that included TPT’s acquisition by IXL Learning. Revamped login and sign-up flows, driving a measurable increase in new buyer sign-ups. Spearheaded the redesign of store pages to improve discoverability and conversion, while also leading integration work to align TPT’s marketplace with IXL’s broader ecosystem. Partnered across product and engineering teams to strengthen marketplace health and deliver a more seamless buyer and seller experience. Product Management, Marketplaces and +5 skills
Partnerships Chair
BPM
2021 - 2025
Fostering long-term partnerships between BPM, a global network of 2,000+ PMs and the world's leading companies including OpenAI, Meta, Google, and Netflix. Conceived and executed on a mix of in-person, hybrid, and virtual events about the future of Product Management, building with AI, and product fundamentals. Event Management, Leadership and +3 skills
Senior Product Manager
Teachers Pay Teachers
2021 - 2022
Led product strategy for search ranking, AI re-ranking, personalization, ML prediction tools, and ad platforms powering discovery across TPT’s marketplace. Partnered with engineering and Search Data Science teams to integrate machine learning into ranking and recommendation systems, driving significant improvements in search relevance and engagement. Delivered a redesigned search experience that helped millions of educators more easily find resources while strengthening marketplace growth and liquidity. Product Management, Marketplaces and +5 skills
Product Manager
RangeMe
2019 - 2021
Product Lead for supplier experience + monetization product teams. Built tools and led growth testing to drive new brands onto RangeMe platform and increase marketplace liquidity. Led the development and launch of RangeMe Plus, a subscription offering for SMBs and food entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses. Product Management, Marketplaces and +7 skills
Data Scientist
Meta (Facebook)
2018 - 2019
Data Scientist for Women in Emerging Markets, a growth team, focused on reducing unwanted contact to increase engagement for women in emerging countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Data Analysis, Business Analysis and +5 skills
Will was also given offers to work at
MainStreet
Kiddom
Education
Columbia Business School
Executive MBA
2024 - 2026
Columbia University
Bachelor's Degree, Computer Science
2014 - 2018
Worked with Admissions office and also supported campus tours
Will was also personally admitted to
Columbia Business School
Columbia University