The Beginning
I grew up in the suburbs of Minnesota, a place that shaped a lot of who I am today. My life from an early age consisted of moving to different cities, playing sports, and playing video games. Just like any other young kid, I had the dream of playing in the NBA when I was older.
I was a very simple kid. If I was able to do any of those activities then I was happy. My family would describe me as the “chill” child between my sister and me. I loved to spend time at home and be with my family. I was always very quiet and kept to myself and that has been a part of me my whole life. This has been something that has stuck with me my whole life to this point.
Even with being such a laid-back kid, the boy that you see on the right had some of the biggest dreams in the world. My goals were always to help others around me, make a change in the world, and be one that others can go to for anything. These are goals that I still live by to this day.
My Upbringing:
The Spark
For my entire life, I have been a huge sports fan. I played almost every game you can name while growing up. My whole personality revolved around competition, whether it was playing, watching, or even diving into video games. Early on, it was all about the enjoyment, but as I got older, I realized I was drawn to another side of it. I loved the numbers behind the games I grew up with.
In my teenage years, I remember spending hours upon hours looking at ESPN stats of my favorite players and comparing them to other players. I would even try to use players’ stats to determine how much their contracts should be worth. This is my earliest memory of using analytics without even knowing.
With such a huge passion for sports, I always thought I wanted to work in that field when I was older. It was everything I knew. However, at a certain point, I realized that numbers aren't confined to sports, they're everywhere, shaping so many aspects of our world. This realization opened my mind to a wide range of possibilities.
How I Fell In Love With Analytics:
The Journey
My love for sports opened my eyes to the significant role analytics plays in shaping the world, but it never occurred to me that this could be a career path. During my undergrad years, I found marketing intriguing, but I still felt something was missing.
In my second to last semester, I had a realization that I needed to step out of my comfort zone and explore new areas. I enrolled in a few analytics courses, and in my Data-Driven Decision Making class, I discovered just how much I enjoyed working with numbers and extracting meaningful insights from data.
That was the pivotal moment when I realized I had found my true passion for analytics. From then on, I committed myself fully to learning and honing my skills, embracing the challenge of mastering something completely new. I constantly sought ways to improve, and by the time I reached my final year—graduating in just two years—I had no doubt that I wanted to pursue this passion further. And that’s how I ended up where I am today.
Following My Passion With Analytics:
The Growth
As a recent graduate of the Master’s in Business Analytics program from USC Marshall, I can reflect on my journey and areas where I have grown the most. When I arrived at USC, I was a student. I knew how to create projects, take tests, and complete assignments with good results. Over the course of two years, I became a working professional.
I can confidently say that I’ve built skills to build a project from the ground up, cut through unneeded information, meet the needs of stakeholders, and many other qualities that make up a working professional. In multiple internship experiences, I wasn’t perfect at all, but I took every single piece of feedback as a tip that would make me into a better professional.
Not only have I grown in my working skills, but also as a person. The last two years have taught me much beyond the Python code and presentations. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to ask for help. You aren’t expected to know everything when it’s your first time with something. Ask the silly or stupid questions, because they will make you better. Once you learn, don’t be afraid to return the favor. Just like you, other people will not know everything either. Offer help to others, as it’s everyone’s first time going through life.
Where Did I Grow:
The Future
Currently, I’m a Data Science Analyst at Capital Group. As a former intern turned full-time associate, I plan to build upon my passion for data science and innovation. Years ago, I would’ve never expected to step into a finance role, but I can now confidently say I enjoy this line of work.
Throughout my time at USC, I really narrowed my interests into a few industries. I may be in finance now, but I’m always open to learning about different industries and opportunities. As much as I’m comfortable now, I still have a strong passion for entertainment, technology, and consulting.
I don’t know what the next five years looks like. I plan to take everything day by day and continue to try to become the best professional, brother, son, friend, and person that I can be. At the same time, I will look to continue my Data Science journey and would love to connect if you have any roles you believe I would be a good fit for. :)