Hans Albing in graduation gown.
Hans Albing is a distinguished PSU School of Business alum, adjunct instructor in the Athletic & Outdoor Certificate program, and a Center for Retail Leadership Advisory Board member. Hans talks to us about how he went from being a student without a major to being a working professional with “the coolest job that exists” - an outdoor footwear product line manager at Under Armour.
Tell us about your career path and why you chose Portland State University.
I came to Portland when I was 25 and started attending PSU with my wife, who was pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration. I didn’t know what I wanted to study at first, but I worked with someone who was studying accounting at PSU who encouraged me to take a look at The School of Business.
Before I finished my accounting degree from PSU, I had already started the Master of Science in Financial Analysis (MSFA) degree at Portland State. Having had no success getting into the public accounting world, I worked with a recruiter and got a finance job at a company I had never heard of—an outdoor footwear specialty company called Danner. I began to learn about product management, and the outdoor industry, and found it fascinating. I built my entire career out of what I learned at this place. To me, product management is the best gig in the world. I now work as an outdoor footwear product line manager at Under Armour.
Hans with co-workers.
What do you like about your job at Under Armour?
My job in product management is probably the coolest job that exists. I oversee the different phases of creating products that never existed before. A lot of market and consumer research goes into this. It includes seeking out people to look into the challenges they may be experiencing with current gear and finding opportunities where solutions still need to be created or ways to advance what is already out there. My work is creative and highly collaborative; I work with design, engineering, development, and sales and marketing. I am a part of incredible teams that create best-selling products. Product creation changes frequently, requiring you to innovate continuously.
A snippet of products that Hans has worked on at Under Armour.
Tell us about being an instructor in The School of Business. How does it feel to be teaching at the same place where you were a student?
My experience at PSU has had a lasting positive impact on me. Meeting several faculty and instructors at The School of Business has inspired me. Duncan Kretovich was head of Finance when I went there, and I recently reached out to him because I still quote him all these years later. Now that I’m a teacher myself, I aspire to serve my students in the same way that my instructors showed up for me.
My hope is that new students will continue to learn and be motivated in classes I teach, such as Competitive Dynamics in the Athletics and Outdoor Industry Certificate program. These classes are great opportunities for students to receive a lot of research and presentation practice and learn from the many guest speakers in the athletic and outdoor industry about current industry trends and provide tips for what is coming next. I also make sure to bring in recent PSU grads now working in the A&O industry and can share with students how to get their foot in the door.
The other course I teach is Product Management. I teach my students how to do high-quality consumer research, strategy, and line planning; students learn how to produce a brief as a final project focused on any athletic and outdoor company product line of their choosing. Some assignments involve field trips to athletic and outdoor retailers, and we nerd out on products we see there. Students get real-life experience that is engaging and relevant. Most students who sign up for this class do so at the end of their university education, and I want to ensure that they get a real sense of what they can be working on once they graduate.
What advice do you have for students?
I use my education in so many ways, but not necessarily in the ways I originally anticipated. It is important to take risks and keep an open mind. I say this because when you are just beginning your career, you might not even know what is out there. Paths are seldom linear. Embrace change, stay curious, and you might discover your true passion where you least expect it.
Right now, there is a high industry demand for employees who have an interest in materials and sustainability. My advice to students wanting to work in the athletic and outdoor industry is to take courses and seek out experience in these areas.
Are there any other fun facts that you would like to share about yourself?
A few fun facts about me: I love to sail and have sailed many places: the Sea of Cortez, the Channel Islands, and even all the way from Portland, Oregon to Anacortes, Washington. I am also a huge nerd and love all types of tabletop games and video games. I founded and ran The Portland Game Store for five years before I sold it in 2020. I even spent a few years as the coach of a roller derby team, The Break Neck Betties, with successive championship seasons.
Hans at the helm, sailing into new waters.