My goal was to pursue a course that bridged technology and business
Having worked in the data field for a few years, I realized that data is a powerful resource that can transform businesses and society and solve real-world problems. However, data alone is not sufficient to make a difference. Data needs to be interpreted, processed, analyzed and communicated in a way that supports the objectives and vision of an organization. Hence, It was important for me to learn this technical course informed by business principles.
I believe that a business school can offer me the best of both worlds: technical skills and business acumen. It creates a new perspective that guides you in acquiring the knowledge and expertise to use cutting-edge tools and techniques to collect, manage, explore and model data, as well as the ability to use data for strategic decision making, innovation and value creation. It helps you understand the context and implications of data in various domains.
Every week you learn a new way of using data to solve business problem
This course starts from learning the basic concepts of data structures such as arrays, lists, dictionaries, etc. Then you learn how to clean, crunch, and visualize data using tools such as Python pandas , R tidyverse , or Tableau, all from a business perspective allowing you to truly understand the potential and benefit of data visualization for those who aim to become a data analyst.
It teaches you the challenges of data and the importance of maintaing customer privacy in this world of Big Data. You learn how to value the laws surrounding data such as GDPR.
For those keen on pursuing roles such as Data Engineer, Data Scientist or Machine Learning Engineer, you get to learn how to apply various machine learning algorithms such as regression , classification , clustering , or recommendation systems to different types of problems. You even get to explore advanced topics such as natural language processing or neural networks using the latest frameworks.
While you learn the various ways of using data to solve business problems, you also get the chance to earn certifications, including Python and Tableau.
Learning and working with like minded people
It is fun and inspiring learning and working with like-minded people from various disciplines and backgrounds. While each one is different, the common amongst all students is the passion of learning on the world of data and data science, as well as to develop one’s skills, knowledge, and career prospects.
Studying in a diverse classroom can also help one to develop cross-cultural competence, communication skills, and adaptability that are essential for working in a globalized world where data science is increasingly relevant.
You also get to learn from students' past experiences as well. Collective projects help you strengthen your weaknesses but most importantly work on complex projects that require multiple minds.
Importantly, learning from professors, whose courses are updated and adapted every year to the current business trends, on the various and complex data topics in this collective learning environment is truly fun.
Don't stop walking the path of your dreams
If you believe that data powers everything we do today, and that information (data) is the oil of the 21st century, there's nothing that should stop you from pursuing this course. This course truly encapsulates and gives you great insights on the world of data and data science. It walks you from the basics to the most complex data solutions. You learn these various data solutions by working on both individual and group projects.
Achieved my goal of getting the job I wanted in the field I preferred
I have always been fascinated by data science and how it can help businesses make better decisions. That’s why I decided to pursue a master’s degree in data science, which is an interdisciplinary program that covers topics such as statistics, programming, machine learning, data visualization, etc. This course truly helped me learn lots and provided valuable skills that prepared me for my dream job.
My dream job was to become a data scientist in the retail industry, especially in the field of e-commerce. I wanted to apply data science tools and techniques to help e-commerce retailers with their strategic objectives such as customer acquisition, customer retention, product recommendation, pricing optimization, inventory management, fraud detection, etc. I knew that this was a challenging but rewarding career path that required both technical and business acumen.
Fortunately, I was able to land my dream job after completing my master’s degree. I applied for a position at France's leading retailer that was looking for a data scientist with experience and passion in retail analytics. I impressed them with my portfolio of projects that I had done during my course work and with my knowledge of the latest trends and technologies in data science.
