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By Jess Clarke
When Jenkins MBA student Jessica Rozera worked in finance in the health care field, determining the best way to gather so much data was a challenge.
And one of her first speeches in her new role as director of finance at George Mason University? The data will not be lost.
Nor is her goal to gain a solid understanding of data analysis. She is working in the Jenkins MBA Business Analytics Certificate Program. “It’s good to know how to talk to people who have more of a data analysis background than I do, and how to interpret how to connect finance and data,” says Rosera.
The program offers classes in the core analytics concepts of using and modeling big data, so that students can help improve processes and profitability for their organizations.
The certification addresses a growing, wide-ranging workplace demand.
“Senior executives say they need people who understand analytics and can create models to solve problems. They need people who know how to manage a business and use data to make more informed decisions,” said Poole Professor Donnie Hale, who leads the certification.
Rosera will use what she learns in the program to make informed decisions at George Mason. “Being in the certificate program gave me a better understanding of how to use data and streamline our processes,” says Rosera, a student in Jenkins’ Professional Online MBA program.
One of the unique features of the certificate program is the practice in which students use data to solve questions that real businesses face.
Jamila’s practice team is working with a large company to strategically leverage data-driven decision making. That includes analyzing new positions and trying to figure out if there are companies that can be successfully spun off or acquired, she said.
Applying their classroom skills in the real world, certificate students work with a variety of businesses to study product demand, identify sales and marketing opportunities, create dashboards to highlight performance, size and evaluate markets, and more.
A financial analyst at Duke University, Belk said the certificate program helps her strategize when her department merges with another campus. “We have to predict and decide how to hit the future,” says Belk, an online student at Jenkins MBA. “Being in this program and working with a team to collect and analyze data was very eye-opening.”
Certificate students cite particularly useful JMP, Tableau, Excel, and other tools that they gain proficiency in the program and use in their work.
We often hear from employers that employees who take our graduate certificate are ready to hit the ground running.
“We often hear from employers that employees who take our graduate certificate are ready to advance their careers. Our program and our students are imbued with NC State’s think-and-do attitude, applying the skills they learn to solve complex problems,” said Bill Rand, McLauchlan Distinguished Professor of Marketing and executive director of the Business Analytics Initiative at Poole College. .
Some students pursue the graduate business analysis certificate as an independent credential.
Matt Mallard is Area Director of Supply Chain and Logistics for Volvo Group in Greensboro. “There are so many new technologies and tools that I needed to have more technical skills to help me see the future a little better from a leadership perspective,” he said.
There are so many new technologies and tools that I need to have more technical skills to help me see the future a little better from a leadership perspective.
The future is now. What Mallard learned in the program is useful on the job. “There were two projects I helped with that helped me understand what they were doing,” he said.
Mallard chose the business analytics certificate because the time commitment fits the program. “It’s not a full master’s program, but it’s more in-depth if you do something for a week,” he said.
And for some managers like him, the certificate may give them the ultimate graduate job preparation to get started. “I think for people who have the same role as me, this is what will allow us to be successful in the rest of our work.”
This may include Rosera.
She credits the certificate and MBA programs with helping her land a position at George Mason last year. As for the certification, she says, “My current boss was very excited about my background because that’s what George Mason needs to focus on, provide information and improve our systems.”
And when Rosera wants to one day move into an executive position, her analytical skills can help her get there. “I want to not be completely focused on finances when I go up,” she said. “You have to have a broader background and be more versatile in those roles.”
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