A Stellar First Cohort: Meet the Inaugural Michigan Ross Master of Business Analytics Class
After seeing a competitive application cycle that exceeded expectations, the Ross School of Business is welcoming its first cohort of 52 talented students into its new Master of Business Analytics Program.
The Michigan Ross MBAn Class of 2023 hails from seven countries and 29 different undergraduate institutions, including 18 students from the University of Michigan. The class also has strong academic records, with an average GPA of 3.64.
Now into the first semester of the 10-month program, the MBAn students are immersing themselves in the comprehensive action-based learning curriculum and starting to gain the skills and knowledge needed to solve business challenges with complex data. They are also experiencing what it is like to be a student at Michigan Ross and engaging with others in the community.
Below, hear from four MBAn students on their motivations for joining the Michigan Ross program, what they are most looking forward to, how they plan to use their Ross learnings in their future careers, and more.
Meet four members of the Michigan Ross MBAn Class of 2023
Natalie Lobo
Hometown: Pebble Beach, California
Undergraduate school/major: University of Wisconsin, Bachelor of Science in life sciences communication, with certificates in business and digital studies
Post-graduation career interest: Following graduation, I hope to work as a marketing analyst for a large medical device or biotech company in the Twin Cities area. In the long term, I seek to leverage my corporate marketing experience, technical knowledge in business analytics, and natural leadership skills to excel in a senior management position.
Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross MBAn Program?
I decided to pursue a Master of Business Analytics at Michigan Ross because I wanted to integrate my undergraduate degree with a master's degree that would allow me to grow my business skills while also advancing my technical skills with analytics. Additionally, Michigan Ross is world-renowned and has an incredible alumni network, which I look to proudly join.
What made the Ross MBAn program stand out to you versus other programs?
The Ross MBAn program stood out to me because I felt it would support me in achieving my short- and long-term career goals by providing me with a cross-functional education and strong networking abilities. Additionally, the program allows students to take a variety of specialized electives.
What are you most looking forward to in the program and at Ross?
I am most looking forward to learning from the extremely accomplished faculty at Ross, as well as my classmates, and then utilizing that knowledge during our final semester when we work on the Master of Business Analytics Consulting Studio project. I also look forward to bonding with the class during football games at the Big House and different social events that the social chairs organize.
How do you believe pursuing this degree at Ross will help you in your career?
I believe that pursuing this MBAn degree at Ross will provide me with strong networking, technical, and soft skills that will enable me to exceed expectations in the corporate world.
Lida Zhang
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Undergraduate school/major: Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Bachelor of Economics in mathematical economics
Post-graduation career interest: I'd like to kick off my career as a junior business analyst in the tech industry, where I can fully apply my knowledge of business analytics to support the company’s product development strategies.
Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross MBAn Program?
During my internship experiences, I was exposed to many kinds of company data. I found that I really love to tackle complex data, seek its inner logic, and help solve business problems. Also, I was sometimes able to process data, but did not know how to use it properly because I lacked the business knowhow. So, I want to pursue MBAn degree to sharpen my skills both in tech and business, and to get ready to be a leader in this data-driven world.
What made the Ross MBAn program stand out to you versus other programs?
First, Michigan Ross is a top business school that I've always been longing to attend. Second, the curriculum is very appealing: Half data-oriented and half business-oriented, which is exactly what I want. Third, I think the quality career services and powerful Ross alumni resources are going to be really helpful to me.
What are you most looking forward to in the program and at Ross?
To meet with classmates from a diverse background and make friends.
How do you believe pursuing this degree at Ross will help you in your career?
I believe that through making the most out of this one-year immersion in Michigan Ross, I can improve myself well-roundedly to get an ideal job with the help of Ross Career Development Office and alumni.
John Oraa
Hometown: Fenton, Michigan
Undergraduate school/major: University of Michigan, bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in multidisciplinary design
Post-graduation career interest: Sales and business analytics
Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross MBAn Program?
I decided to enroll in the Ross MBAn Program because I wanted to learn how to harness the power of data. Although my undergraduate engineering degree best prepared me to innovate and solve problems, this won’t mean anything if I can’t properly communicate findings in a credible and quantifiable manner.
What made the Ross MBAn program stand out to you versus other programs?
The MBAn program is an engaging and nurturing program for people from any background. By immediately throwing you into business immersion and exposing you to software team development, someone with minimal business experience can quickly immerse themselves and have a sense of belonging in the Michigan Ross community while learning to work with data in Python, R, and Excel.
What are you most looking forward to in the program and at Ross?
I am most looking forward to the consulting studio opportunity in the winter term, where I get to apply the skills and learnings I have accumulated throughout the year to a real-life work environment, which will prepare me for my full-time career.
How do you believe pursuing this degree at Ross will help you in your career?
Michigan Ross is one of the most distinguished and renowned schools in the world. By pursuing this degree at Ross, I will be able to learn from experienced professors and surround myself with high-achieving individuals to help me perform my best.
Yuqi Shi
Hometown: Qingdao, China
Undergraduate school/major: University of Wisconsin, Bachelor of Business Administration in supply chain management and operations and technology management
Post-graduation career interest: Maritime logistics analyst
Why did you decide to enroll in the Michigan Ross MBAn Program? What made this program stand out to you versus other programs?
Due to the success of the Michigan Ross Master of Supply Chain Management Program and the achievements of the Tauber Institute for Global Operations, I am very confident in Ross resources in business practices related to manufacturing, operations, and technology. I believe the real economy is still an essential factor for developing society, and Ross happens to be a leader in that area.
In the spring of 2020, I took a road trip across the Great Lakes region and visited almost all universities from Minnesota to Pennsylvania. Among all campuses, the University of Michigan is the only one that fascinated me, especially when I was standing in front of the Ross buildings. Walking on the flyover of the Winter Garden, I couldn't help but start to imagine my future and all the possibilities. This is also why I yearned for and eventually chose Ross.
What are you most looking forward to in the program and at Ross?
A new program launched by my dream school in the field I hope to study is exciting in itself, and I look forward to any unexpected gains and surprises.
How do you believe pursuing this degree at Ross will help you in your career?
My current education and experiences only allow me to optimize supply chains at the micro- and operational- levels. However, by utilizing big data, modeling, and simulation, I would be able to forecast potential impacts more precisely and be better prepared for challenges. Completing the MBAn degree at Ross would provide me with the skill set I’m looking for to take the next steps in my career.
Learn more about the Michigan Ross Master of Business Analytics Program
