When she started the Master of Management Analytics program, Denisa Bani (MMA ’20) did not have a clear picture of what she wanted to do after graduation — but she knew she wanted to make an impact.
Denisa Bani (MMA ’20)
Now, just a few months after graduating from the program, she’s doing just that. Currently based in Silicon Valley, Bani is a data scientist at Alpha Net working with their client Facebook, and her days are devoted to tackling complex data projects.
“Every day is interesting: I’m using new tools and exploring different areas of data science,” she explains. “Beyond that, I've found so much more than I expected. I found a role where I’m surrounded by passionate people who inspire me to make a difference.”
She’s just one of several early success stories. While they’ve only been out of school for a short time, the MMA class of 2020 has landed in some very interesting places. The program essentially gives them a passport to work across a range of roles and industries. Previous grads have landed roles in banking, healthcare, insurance, retail and telecommunications, among other areas.
Recently, three new grads reflected on their time in the MMA program, how their Rotman experience helped them forge exciting career paths and where they’re headed next.
The journey to Silicon Valley: leveraging the Rotman network
Early on in the program, Bani had her sights set on moving to Silicon Valley — but making the leap there seemed intimidating.
When her initial attempts at landing interviews proved unsuccessful, Bani reached out to her Rotman career consultant, who quickly connected her with Rotman alumni based in the Bay area. They gave her an overview of the landscape and guidance on how to approach and pursue opportunities there.
“They helped me understand that I was about to enter this foreign market that might not have understood my experience or education. I needed to work on communicating those points.”
She retooled her resume and changed her approach to pursuing opportunities, and in her second semester, she secured a role with Alpha Net.
Today, she’s using the knowledge she acquired through the MMA program — machine learning algorithms, data wrangling and cleaning — to advance major projects.
For her, the MMA was crucial in helping her get a handle on her professional goals.
“The program instilled the importance of developing a strong network,” she says. “What’s amazing about Rotman is that there are so many alumni who want to help you.”
“I found a role where I’m surrounded by passionate people who inspire me to make a difference.”
— Denisa Bani, MMA ‘20
Finding community at Rotman and launching an exciting career in healthcare
A few students, like Adam Resnick (MMA ’20), came into the program with a specific goal.
Adam Resnick (MMA ’20)
Resnick was eager to find a role leveraging data analytics to solve problems in healthcare. A few weeks ago, he started a one-year management engineering fellowship with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. During this fellowship, he’ll be working on operations management projects, such as those focused on patient flow and facilities design.
The MMA has set him up well for the opportunity.
“Not only did it offer a nice blend of technical expertise and opportunities to develop strong communications skills, it gave me the chance to work on a real data problem,” explains Resnick.
During the MMA, as part of his eight-month practicum project, he worked with North York General Hospital on a project to optimize patient flow in one the hospital's clinics.
“We really felt like we made a difference,” he explains. “We had the opportunity to engage frontline workers, collect data on site and come up with meaningful recommendations.”
“My favourite aspect of the MMA was being part of the Rotman community,” he says. “The program has students from different academic backgrounds, who all want different things. Everyone is interested in helping their classmates achieve their goals.”
“The program has students from different academic backgrounds, who all want different things. Everyone is interested in helping their classmates achieve their goals.”
— Adam Resnick, MMA ’20
Gaining hands-on experience and pursuing interesting opportunities in banking
For Dominic (MMA ’20), the best part of the program was gaining real-world experience tackling a data problem.
Dominic (MMA ’20)
“It gave me the chance to leverage the skills I picked up in the MMA,” explains , who completed his practicum project with TD Bank’s marketing department. “Knowledge of key concepts in data science is in demand across all fields. Having the chance to work on a real project gives you perspective on what you can accomplish and where you might thrive.”
More than that, working in the offices at TD gave him a chance to meet people in the industry, including a few members of the MMA class of 2019. Through informal networking and coffee chats, he was able to develop a clearer idea of the types of opportunities he might want to pursue after graduation.
He remained focused on his job search and career planning throughout his final semester, even when the global pandemic threatened to interrupt the recruitment process. Luckily, he completed his final in-person interview days before the city shut down, and he accepted a role with TD Bank a few weeks later.
Earlier this summer, started his new role as an analytics and data science associate with TD’s risk management team. He’s excited for the projects ahead.
“With the forthcoming recession, risk management will be very pertinent part of banking and business,” he says. “It will be interesting to be able to contribute and help manage the uncertainty.”
“Having the chance to work on a real project gives you perspective on what you can accomplish and where you might thrive.”
— Dominic, MMA ’20
Written by Rebecca Cheung | More Student Stories »