Breezy Silver, Assistant Head of the Gast Business Library, recently attended the Face of Analytics Conference at Spartan Stadium, which showcased the MS in Business Analytics program at Michigan State University.
Employers from four different companies discussed how their companies use data analytics, described the types of people and skills needed in the field, and provided career advice. The companies were from different fields and of various sizes, and included Steelcase, Millward Brown (a subsidiary of Kantar), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and Urban Science in Detroit. They described data analytics as the use of a range of tools including statistical analysis and text mining to turn data into strategic and actionable information. While these companies use data analytics differently, their ultimate goal was to either improve internal processes or to help their customers. Ultimately, their use of data analytics gave them a competitive advantage over their peers.
After the presentation, there was a career fair during which several big and small employers were available to talk to students about working in the field. One of the panelists stated that while they hired from all different disciplines, one of the most important qualities they looked for in potential candidates was curiosity.
The Gast Business Library supports the demand for skilled data analytics professionals and big data sets by providing data management support, instruction on data sources and access to a premier collection of electronic resources.
Written by Breezy Silver
