Bringing My Data Analytics Insights to MSBA Class to Inspire Students

When I first joined the UC Davis MSBA program, I had no idea the impact the program would have on me and how it would completely change the direction of my life.

Why did I join the MSBA program?

I was always interested in numbers and data but had no idea how I could get paid for it. After earning my undergraduate degree in India, I got a job at Accenture India working in the backend production support team. I quickly realized that this was not for me. I would jump at the opportunity to work with tables, write SQL queries, and try to make sense of the data given. However, that was not enough.

When I came across the UC Davis MSBA program and went through the curriculum, I realized this degree would exponentially improve my chances of having a career in the analytics domain.

The UC Davis program armed me with a healthy mix of technical, communications, and business skills I needed to pursue my dream job. In addition, the program has a unique, year-long practicum project where student teams partner with client companies and organizations to deliver data analytics solutions.

This was the most enticing aspect of the program for me (this and getting to stay in San Francisco). The advantage of having a year-long practicum is that everything you learn in class can be directly applied to a real-world problem.

This is a very different approach than the capstone projects that other universities offer.

The UC Davis MSBA practicum project happens in parallel with your courses, allowing every new concept taught in the classroom to be immediately tested in the field.

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The practicum allowed me to more fully understand and appreciate concepts that would have otherwise seemed just theoretical. The practicum forced me to become an active versus passive learner.

Thanks to the MSBA program, SQL has become like a second language to me. I have a better understanding of machine learning algorithms and I’ve learned how to become a storyteller supported by data. These are all skills that are essential and in high demand in today’s workplace.

My Post-MSBA Journey: Home Depot and Google

After graduating from the MSBA program, I was fortunate to land a role on the online analytics team at Home Depot headquarters in Atlanta. The MSBA program truly opened doors that were previously shut for me.

I worked at Home Depot for three years, partnering with various verticals of the business from pricing and promotions to assortment growth and supply chain. Working at Home Depot was truly an exceptional time as I interacted with many business departments and grasped a better sense of how an e-commerce business is run.

Then, I landed a job offer at Google as a marketing analyst where I have been ever since. A typical day involves a lot of SQL, analyzing data, creating dashboards, and providing recommendations. All of which were skills I learned and sharpened at UC Davis.

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Returning to UC Davis: Sharing Real-World Insights and Gratitude

When I moved back to the Bay Area to work at Google, I reached out to Professor Prasad Naik to catch up and see how I could be more involved as an alumnus of the MSBA program.

He invited me to be a guest lecturer to share my experiences at Home Depot and Google. I jumped at the opportunity to show students how I applied classroom concepts to two very different corporate leaders. I discussed causal inference, demonstrated the Causal Impact package, and demonstrated how students can apply it in the real world. 

Thinking back to when I was a student in the program, I remember how excited, nervous, and enthusiastic I was. The program is designed to push you, expand your horizons, and give you opportunities to learn and grow.

The program is designed to push you, expand your horizons, and give you opportunities to learn and grow.

The MSBA program helped me break into the analytics world. I still use the concepts and skills I learned, including robust analysis, frameworks for problem-solving, and the confidence to voice my opinion and effectively present my work.

The program introduced me to ideas that I was blind to earlier and helped me jumpstart the rewarding professional career I enjoy today.