Field Notes · Issue 01

What I Learned About MIT LGO from an Alum

從 LGO 校友身上學到的事

Small-group session with an LGO alum · October 8, 2026 · Notes by Bo-Wei (Allen) Tsai
LGO 校友小組分享 · 2026 年 10 月 8 日 · 筆記整理:蔡柏惟

An hour-long conversation about what LGO is really looking for, how the program works, and what someone early in their career should be doing now. The takeaway I keep coming back to: operations first, the story second.

一小時的對談,談 LGO 真正在找什麼樣的人、課程怎麼運作,以及職涯初期現在該做什麼。我最常回想的一句話:先做營運,故事其次。

Read me first. These are my personal notes, cleaned up afterwards and cross-checked against the official LGO website where possible. Items marked unverified are my best reading of what was said. Treat lgo.mit.edu as the source of truth.

這是我的個人筆記,會後整理並盡量對照 LGO 官網。標註 unverified 的部分是我對現場內容的理解,未經證實。一切以 lgo.mit.edu 為準。

01The alum’s path 校友的經歷

  • Before LGO: test engineer, focused on hands-on engineering and problem solving.

    進 LGO 前是測試工程師,工作重心是實作工程與解決問題。

  • LGO internship in the U.S., in energy systems and electric power.

    LGO 實習在美國,做能源系統與電力相關。

  • Built an AI center from scratch. unverified Unclear whether during the internship or after.

    從零建立 AI 中心。不確定是在實習期間還是畢業後。

  • His current role is not PM, but on the product side, between business and engineering.

    現在的角色不是 PM,而是偏產品端,橫跨商業與工程兩邊。

02How LGO works LGO 怎麼運作

The internship 實習

Six months, embedded at a partner company, working on a real operations problem that becomes the basis of the master’s thesis. The alum’s point: most of the work is talking to people.

為期六個月,進駐合作企業處理真實的營運問題,成果就是碩士論文的基礎。校友強調:大部分工作其實是跟人溝通。

Partner companies 合作企業

Caterpillar came up repeatedly. It has been an LGO partner since 2009, offering projects in supply chain, operations, and technical areas like welding, and it runs a leadership program specifically for LGO graduates. More broadly, partner companies fund most of the program and every student is guaranteed a partner internship.

Caterpillar(開拓重工)被反覆提到。它從 2009 年起就是 LGO 合作企業,提供供應鏈、營運,以及焊接等技術領域的題目,也有專門給 LGO 畢業生的領導人才計畫。整體來說,LGO 大部分經費來自合作企業,每位學生都保證能拿到合作企業的實習。

Beyond class 課外

  • Energy Club: exposure to many domains and the wider ecosystem, plus visiting speakers.

    能源社:接觸各種領域與產業生態系,也會邀請講者分享。

  • Plant Trek: the class visits partner sites to discuss operations challenges with leadership. unverified China and Thailand were mentioned; international trips aren’t confirmed on the official site.

    工廠參訪:全班到合作企業現場,與高層討論營運挑戰。現場提到中國、泰國,但官網上沒有確認海外行程。

  • Classmates: very different backgrounds, which is itself a big part of the learning.

    同學背景差異很大,這本身就是重要的學習來源。

03What LGO looks for LGO 看重什麼

“Operation is key.”

「營運是關鍵。」整場反覆出現的是對營運的熱情(passion for operation)。

Many people in LGO are strong engineers with no commercial experience who suddenly find themselves thinking about strategy. What makes someone stand out is a genuine passion for operations, and the ability to tie product development back to it.

LGO 裡很多人是很強的工程師,沒有任何商業經驗,卻開始思考策略。能脫穎而出的,是對營運有真正熱情,並能把產品開發和營運連在一起的人。

  • Academics emphasize working in teams. These points came from LGO’s Director of Academics, Research, and Careers.

    學術面強調團隊合作。這部分來自 LGO 學術、研究與職涯主任。

  • Supply chain is a core area. Classmates will be excited to learn from your experience, so what you bring matters.

    供應鏈是核心領域。同學會很期待向你學習,所以你帶進去的經驗很重要。

  • Be someone who helps bridge the LGO community.

    成為連結 LGO 社群的人。

04Advice for the early stage 給職涯初期的建議

  • Learn operations first. Get close to where the work happens: go out to the field, take the hard jobs.

    先學營運。靠近工作現場:到現場去,接下困難的工作。

  • Build technical muscle. Aim to solve 3–4 problems people consider unsolvable. After that, people start seeking you out.

    練技術肌肉。目標是解決 3 到 4 個被認為無解的問題,之後別人會主動來找你。

  • It’s okay not to be crystal clear at first, but have a vision, an idea, and a narrative.

    一開始方向不清楚沒關係,但要有願景、想法和一條敘事主線。

  • Know what you want to do after LGO. The application will ask.

    想清楚 LGO 畢業後想做什麼,申請時會被問到。

  • Ask yourself what you hope to accomplish in LGO, and stay open to the experience.

    問自己希望在 LGO 完成什麼,並對這段經歷保持開放。

05The Pre-LGO Pipeline LGO 預備計畫

The most useful thing I learned about. It’s built for people who aren’t ready to apply yet.

這是我覺得最有用的資訊,專為還沒準備好申請的人設計。

Who it’s for對象Recent STEM graduates, or early-career STEM professionals with about 1–2 years of experienceSTEM 應屆畢業生,或工作約 1 到 2 年的 STEM 新鮮人
Format形式Keep your job; join yearly online seminars for up to 3 years, with coaching and an LGO alum mentor保留工作,參加每年的線上研討課,最多三年,有教練與 LGO 校友 mentor
Application申請文件Resume, transcript, statement of interest, a short-answer question, and two recommendations (one work/leadership, one technical)履歷、成績單、動機陳述、一題簡答,加兩封推薦信(一封職場或領導、一封技術)
This cycle本屆時程Deadline April 16, 2027; interviews in May; decisions in June; first seminar October 20272027 年 4 月 16 日截止,5 月面試,6 月放榜,10 月第一次研討課
Important注意It is not deferred admission to LGO. It’s preparation, not a guaranteed seat.這不是 LGO 的延後入學,是培訓,不保證錄取。

Questions about the pipeline go to the LGO staff who oversee strategic initiatives (see Contacts below). Details are from the official page as of October 2026 and may change.

預備計畫的問題可以找負責 LGO 策略計畫的職員(見下方聯絡方式)。以上資訊來自 2026 年 10 月的官網,之後可能變動。

06Contacts 聯絡方式