To Janay Williams, business analytics is the sweet spot where her background in statistics comes to life.

Williams was drawn to the Haslam MSBA program because she felt it would provide a foundation in business while building on the analytical skills she had already worked to develop as an undergraduate.

“This program seemed like the perfect mix of statistics, computer science, and business within the context of a business school, and that was attractive to me,” Williams says. “I wanted direct application for analytics, and I’ve found it here.”

Set to graduate in December, Williams says the program has deepened her knowledge of business language and concepts. The courses and projects have given her a way to think creatively about problems.

“It has changed my problem-solving framework and how I approach a situation,” she says. “I’ve been able to differentiate myself in the job market with a unique skillset that’s versatile and can be used in almost any aspect of business.”

The ability to talk about analytics in a non-technical context is one of the most valuable skills she will take from the MSBA program, says Williams.

“Being able to think about it from the backend is crucial,” she says. “We’ve learned how to ask questions that are really coding questions, but in a way that business partners can easily understand. The program trains us to communicate with people from a variety of professional backgrounds.”

This summer, Williams interned at Eastman Chemical Company after connecting with the company through a campus event.

“I’ve received a verbal full-time offer from them, and I’m also continuing to interview and explore other opportunities on the market,” Williams says. “Ultimately, my goal is to work in a business-facing position that allows me to think creatively with my analytics background.”