Choosing a Program to Invest in Experiential Learning

Before choosing to embark on my Master’s program, I had completed various self-learning and part time courses. This includes a certification with Coursera and a 12-week part time course with General Assembly in Data Science. I had R and Python added to my tool box, and knew at least how to utilize machine learning libraries. Coupled with my analytics position at an advertising agency (lots of data), I was well exposed to the data world and could hack solutions together. Yet, I did not feel like a professional in the field. I was also interested to see how other industries and companies were progressing with the data revolution. When considering which Master’s program to enroll in, I decided that experiential learning would be a key focus for me as the greatest value I could get out of a program would be something that the online and part time courses cannot provide. If I was wrong about this, then I suppose it would have been an expensive sabbatical year!

7 months into the program now, here’s a check in on how the practicum project has supplemented my learning.

(I am currently enrolled in UC Davis Masters in Business Analytics (MSBA) program which includes a 10-month long practicum project with a corporate company)

Framing the Business Problem for a New Industry

7 years of work experience is neither long nor short. Within this time, I have gained familiarity with the hospitality and digital advertising space but there are many more industries out there. My practicum project today is with an apparel company who specializes in selling jeans. While I have worked with fashion brands previously from an advertising standpoint, there are so many more different types of business challenges to consider. Retail companies may be similar to hotels in that they have to consider supply and demand factors, the role of promotions and customer segmentation. However, the retail industry also has a production and allocation problem to consider.

Learning outside of Kaggle Data Sets

Active Learning: Working with a corporate partner, we are handed a set of data. To solve the defined problem however, we first need to evaluate if the data we have on hand can help us solve the problem. Data cleaning process is not just about feature extraction from existing columns of data. It is about understanding the underlying reasons for data inconsistencies to ensure that our recommended model accounts for it. Once sorted, we then need to decide which tools and what analytical methods should be used based on the data available and constraints we have. More importantly, the output of the models must be usable by the business.

Taking on a New Role in a Team

Group work has also been highly associated with simulating a work setting where you do not get to choose your co-workers. It means being able to adapt to different personalities and styles of working to produce a high performing team. One area that I was keen to learn more about in this program however was about collaborating as a team effectively in the data field. How can we create a shared goal, build upon each other’s work (or code) and ensure that continuity in the project even when it is being handed over to the business?

Active Learning: What I did not anticipate going into the program was the ability to take on a new role and develop a different set of skills. As a team in our practicum project, we develop different roles and responsibilities such as project management, research, data management to scrum master. While one may not be proficient yet in these roles, we can step up and seek growth. Having the most experience on my team, I functioned as a team leader to facilitate whiteboard sessions, provide guidance on using data tools provided the framework for which we could build our project from. Having worked only as an individual contributor in my past work places, this has been a valuable experience for me as it allowed me to learn more about my leadership style. I now see the benefits of having people with varying levels of expertise in the program. While the less experienced students strive to pick up more technical skills and business acumen, it also provides the opportunity for more experienced professionals to practice mentorship and leadership.

In all, the practicum experience has been a positive journey. Just as I believe in spending money on experiences over material goods, we should also be mindful of what experiences we are choosing to invest in and this includes what type of education you are seeking.

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