Alok Sharma, an IT Professional Shares his Thoughts on Analytics and Big Data and why he Decided to Upskill

Sometime back, I read an article on data analytics that talked about how the quantity of data is growing exponentially, and how businesses and organizations could leverage this tremendous volume of data by using data mining and analytics. This article really piqued my curiosity, and I began to further explore analytics and its various interesting applications. I began engaging with the community and others interested in data analytics and the more I learnt, the more excited I got about data. I was specifically impressed by its applications to the healthcare sector. It was fascinating to see, how Big Data can be synthesized and analyzed to reveal patterns and trends that could be used in preventive healthcare; how healthcare systems could use these insights to develop more thorough and insightful diagnoses and treatments, and how by analyzing costs and outcomes, they could identify the most cost effective treatments. All this got me thinking, and I just had to second all the experts, that the potential of analytics was indeed limitless. Analytics will increasingly find its applications in newer and previously never thought of businesses and domain areas. I also began to believe that analytics skills are crucial not only for all those who delve in data, but for managers throughout the organization. In my work, though I have not actively done any data analytics per se, I have been working with large datasets in business intelligence operations and development and so I can say that I have played with data. This exposure as well, I think, further encouraged me to begin thinking about upskilling and investing in getting some formal business analytics training. I started researching various data analytics programs. That’s when I came across the MISB Bocconi - Jigsaw Academy Executive Program in Business Analytics (EPBA), a ten-month executive program that blends general management with Big Data and business analytics. I was aware that Jigsaw Academy’s reputation was really strong in the analytics education space and I had also heard of their previous tie up with the Great Lakes Management Institute. So, it didn’t take much time for me to narrow in on this program. I also looked at the ISB CPBA program, but it is conducted in Hyderabad and requires a full five weeks of campus stay. The MISB Bocconi EPBA, on the other hand, is in Mumbai and requires only six in person weekend sessions. As I am based in Pune this was definitely more feasible. However what really helped me decide was the international certification. SDA Bocconi is a highly recognized university in Europe and it definitely gives great confidence to hold a globally renowned certificate. So, yes, I am soon going to begin my foray into analytics and I am excited about engaging with world class faculty members and equally enthusiastic peers. I look forward to, not only learning about the technical aspects of data analytics and Big Data, but also about how it can be practically implemented in different business functions. I am positive that this will improve my understanding in the domain area and definitely help upgrade my skill set and give me an edge. So as I set out on this new path, my focus will always remain on learning, and I am very confident that the MISB Bocconi EPBA will give me the right platform, the right faculty and the right set of tools, to learn what I want and need, and the rest… well everything else will follow. So for those of you like me who are fascinated with data, my advice would be to look at how you can upskill yourself and give yourself the edge in tomorrow’s business environment, where data skills will be almost mandatory. Do your homework and find out which are the skills that are most relevant and in demand (and the best way to do that is by interacting with those in the industry and by joining analytics forums and discussions). Find a program that suits your budget and schedule, but look closely at the curriculum and ensure that the program you choose focuses on teaching practical skills and not just technical knowledge.   I’ll keep you posted on how things go…so check back in. But until then, all the best to all of you who set out on a similar journey!

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About the author: Alok has a B.E. in Computer Science from Jawaharlal Institute of Technology, Borawan (MP) and has over 4 years of experience in the IT industry, with organizations like Tech Mahindra and Bitwise Solutions. Currently he works with Vodafone Shared Services as a Senior Executive. He loves reading; non-fictions, biographies and really, all kind of articles that help him keep up with current trends. He also love playing computer games, and Basketball.