Dive Into the Data, See the Big Picture
A Master’s of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program delivers technical skills. But those seeking leadership roles also need to be able to see the larger picture, to ensure data-driven decisions have a strategic impact. Amina Shahzad found she could learn both at the Tepper School of Business. Based at Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper has the top-ranked Business Analytics program in the United States.
The Tepper School part-time online MSBA is “especially very powerful for those aiming to bridge the technical know-how with strategic impact,” she says. “You’re not only learning about the most trendy and helpful tools out there…you also get hands-on and learn how to use them.” (3:22)
If you’re looking for “real business outcomes through analytics, then Tepper Business School will give you that, she says.
A Balanced Curriculum for Future Leaders
How does the Tepper School part-time online MSBA offer a balance of hard and soft skills? The program delves into machine learning, optimization, data engineering, and artificial intelligence. Then, crucially, it also emphasizes leadership, storytelling, and ethics. Electives offer opportunities to specialize.
“You want to stay ahead in your industry. You want to make sure that your leadership marks a difference,” Amina says. With this program, “you bring impact and value using analytic skills, using the right storytelling skills.” (2:34)
The Tepper School part-time online MSBA prepares you as a well-rounded business-savvy analytics leader.
An Online Program That Supports Working Parents
Amina is a full-time working professional and mother of three. That’s why she sought an online master’s program, and she was determined to find one that enabled her to manage it all.
“I was looking for something that would work around my life, not the other way around. I looked for a program that would allow me to be flexible and juggle my responsibilities,” she says. (3:56)
The Tepper School part-time online MSBA offered that flexibility.
“The timings worked really right for me as a working professional,” she says. (4:47) We were connecting almost every week, multiple hours. That allowed me to learn and exchange, and get support when needed.” (5:03)
Amina enjoyed the combination of live online classes, recorded video material, office hours for support, and intensive in-person sessions.
An Engaging Experience, Online and In-Person
Tepper School students prepared well for each class, and the professors ensured a high level of energy, Amina says. That made online classes both engaging and challenging.
“A virtual classroom sounds like a very passive environment, but no, it’s quite dynamic when it comes to Tepper.” (5:25)
Students did readings, analyzed data sets, watched videos, and quizzed each other before class, in order to meet high expectations from faculty.
“The professors did not just lecture; they challenged us to apply the concepts in real time,” says Amina with enthusiasm. Students contributed knowledge from their own work experience as well. They joined from around the world, from Hong Kong to Mexico. “Nobody wanted to miss it,” she adds. (6:00)
Optional, But Worthwhile Weekends
Carnegie Mellon Tepper School also provides the opportunity to attend immersive weekends, held on campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the U.S.. The program kicks off with Base Camp. Students get to know each other as well as the faculty, and get an overview of the curriculum and what resources are available.
The second is Analytics Immersion, an exploration of various applications for analytics skills and tools. The third is Capstone Experience, where students gear up for the semester-long project addressing a real-world business challenge.
The in-person weekends are optional, but Amina feels lucky to have been able to participate in all three.
They “elevated our experience altogether by adding that in-person energy, deep relationship-building, and a real sense of teamwork and accomplishment.” (9:26)
Not only did the cohort have the opportunity to “gel,” but they also visited companies such as Amazon, Deloitte, and FedEx, gaining a head start on their capstone projects.
Sound, Ethical Analytics With Real-World Applications
The analytics skills and tools in the Tepper School part-time online MSBA help frame complex issues logically and ethically. That enables better decision-making, without bias, Amina says.
She learned to ensure the integrity of data sets and determine the right volume and categories to use for a particular task. She could then identify the correct model to use and apply ethical principles. That’s how the data can tell a story, she says.
“That is really the beauty of this program that has enhanced me and developed me enough to find the loopholes and gaps in my analysis. I started applying the learnings almost immediately.” (13:00)
Her new knowledge enabled her to challenge the status quo in meetings. “Now I lead those conversations and challenge with much more confidence.” (13:33)
For her capstone project, her group aimed to find the best tool to enable a security company to help prevent mass shootings in schools. “That made it very meaningful as well.” The group conducted research, benchmarked, and tested available models, using agile project management tools throughout. (14:12)
The Tepper School Part-time Online MSBA: A Meaningful Experience
Amina’s team presented their capstone project to both the client and the university community.
“That was a true test of not only our technical training but also our ability to lead and collaborate and deliver with impact,” she says. (16:06)
The project “gets you ready for the next level” of your professional career, she says. (21:46) Putting her new skills and knowledge to work and presenting the project using storytelling skills was gratifying, personally and professionally. It was a rewarding end to a meaningful study experience at Tepper School of Business.
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