TCU Neeley alumna, Jordan Carter, shares her journey from Criminal Justice to a Business Analytics graduate degree at TCU Neeley School of Business. She highlights student life, the influential courses she participated in, and the impact that the program had on her career at Gartner.
Business Analytics (BA) is the process of collecting, processing, and analyzing data to make informed business decisions. This field often attracts detail-oriented individuals who love problem-solving and uncovering patterns.
Jordan Carter’s love of business analytics began unexpectedly during her undergraduate studies in criminal justice at TCU Neeley. “I really fell in love with the process of working with software and understanding the in-depth analysis of providing results,” she recalls. “Thankfully, as I was getting ready to graduate, I was made aware that we had a master’s of business analytics.” (00:45)
After discovering this, she continued her education at TCU with a Master of Science (MS) in Business Analytics. She was able to leverage the skills she had gained from her previous studies, as both fields require strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a passion for uncovering the truth.
“It allowed me to be able to paint the bigger picture of why things were happening,” Jordan says. (01:31)
Jordan credits her master’s program with equipping her with many of the skills needed daily in her role as a Client Success Associate at Gartner.
“In all,” Jordan begins, “I would say that having a well-versed opportunity to understand not only the technical side but the importance of being able to communicate insights and data to stakeholders, whether they have IT experience or no IT experience. The program did a really good job in building several skills that are needed in order to work effectively in the workforce.” (02:45)
The MS in Business Analytics at TCU Neeley is a STEM-designated program that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of technical and soft skills. Jordan names two professors she found particularly helpful in these areas.
“A key professor that stood out to me was Ed Riefenstahl,” she shares. “He has a bright mind and really helped me to strengthen my critical thinking skills, and understand what are the right questions to ask, and how to prioritize once you have those answers.” (06:35)
Another influential professor was David Preston, whose course focused on delivering business outcomes using a software computer program called Alteryx.
“That was a great course where we really had to dive into a data set and find valuable answers that a company could use,” Jordan says. (07:19)
These courses at TCU helped her gain real-time experience, and the ability to build relationships while learning.
Jordan considers the Neeley & Associates program to be the most impactful of all the courses provided by her degree.
She says, “I had the privilege to apply for Neeley & Associates, and that was a fantastic course and experience. We had an opportunity to work with 500 Fortune companies and get real-time experience in understanding what problems within companies really look like.” (02:06)
Jordan found that the Neeley & Associates program provided an invaluable hands-on experience that furthered her classroom learning.
The Neeley & Associates program was pivotal to Jordan’s educational experience. This program allows students to work directly with established companies, solving real-world business problems.
“It really helped me build and strengthen and discover skills that I didn’t know that I had,” Jordan says. “As well as being able to cross-collaborate on team efforts and being able to learn from others while we were given projects that really allowed us to uncover real problems that a company might be facing.” (03:30)
Jordan’s team worked with Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) airport to improve their ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) services. They conducted extensive research, including stakeholder interviews and customer surveys, to gather comprehensive data. The team then used their data science skills to analyze this information to identify key areas for improvement.
“We were able to gather all the needed information and deliver actionable recommendations for DFW airport so they could innovate in key areas for the total customer experience,” Jordan highlights. (04:47)
As one of the busiest airports in the world, working on this project felt both challenging and impactful to Jordan.
Outside of the master’s program itself, Jordan had the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities. She was a graduate assistant in two areas of the campus. As a graduate assistant, her role included working with experiential learning at Neeley and student affairs. Jordan collaborated with the student body on event planning and student affairs, as well as helping with alumni retention.
She notes, “It was a great way to continue to expand on my knowledge and understand business in different avenues.” (05:57)
Jordan shares that her time at TCU Neeley strongly impacted her. In addition to the insightful courses, inspiring professors, and extracurriculars, she enjoyed the central campus location close to downtown Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
She also cherished the dynamic and lively student life and the memorable connections made with her peers. She highlights, “It is a great place to make lifelong, long-term friends.” (05:02)
Reflecting on her student experience at TCU, she says, “Would I do that again? I would. I would do it again. Would I do anything differently? I think I would cherish those moments more. The program really does build all students; no matter what background you come from, whether it’s technical or non-technical, you’re able to thrive.” (08:39)
She graduated from TCU with the confidence, skills, knowledge, and network to successfully launch her career as a young professional. She now works at a large consulting firm.
The skills Jordan acquired during her MS in Business Analytics have been instrumental in her career. She currently works as a Client Success Associate at Gartner. Gartner is a leading research and advisory company. They help organizations make data-driven decisions and drive business growth through market research, technology analysis, and consulting services.
“As a client success associate, I’m having to assist clients in understanding their mission-critical priorities,” she explains. (07:48)
This involves meeting with clients, asking the right questions, and working with internal partners to design comprehensive solutions. Her ability to communicate complex data insights to stakeholders, regardless of their technical background, has been crucial in her role.
Jordan’s experience in the MS in Business Analytics at TCU Neeley equipped her with the tools necessary to excel in her career, and she is confident that it can do the same for others.
To discover more first-hand stories from TCU Neeley students, contact a student ambassador.
