Barnard Radio (WBAR)
Led the full redesign of Barnard College's radio station web platform, managing a 5-person agile team to deliver a responsive React interface that increased student engagement by 25%.
01Overview
WBAR is Barnard College's student-run radio station. The existing website was outdated, non-responsive, and failed to reflect the energy of the station's programming. I led the product vision and frontend engineering for a complete platform overhaul.
02Problem
The legacy site was built on aging infrastructure with no mobile support, poor discoverability of show schedules, and zero engagement analytics. Students couldn't easily find when their favorite DJs were on air or discover new shows.
Before -- the old WBAR site, broken and under construction
03Solution
A responsive React-based platform with an integrated show schedule, live-now indicators, DJ profiles, and an embedded audio player. The redesign focused on discoverability and community: making it easy for students to find, follow, and share shows.
After -- the redesigned WBAR platform, live and fully functional
04Process
Ran user interviews with 15+ student listeners and DJs to map pain points. Defined the product roadmap and ran 2-week agile sprints with a team of 5 (2 engineers, 1 designer, 1 content lead, myself as PM + frontend dev).
Built the frontend in React with a focus on performance and accessibility. Implemented analytics tracking to measure engagement and iterate on feature priorities.
05Outcomes
25% increase in student engagement (measured by unique weekly visitors and session duration). The redesigned platform became the official face of WBAR and is actively maintained by the current e-board.
06Reflection
Leading a student team taught me that motivation and clarity matter more than process. When people understand why they're building something and who it's for, they ship faster and with more care.
This project also solidified my belief that product management and engineering aren't separate disciplines for me. I'm most effective when I can move fluidly between defining the 'what' and building the 'how.'