Jaason L. - Cohort 2025
When did you start the MSBA program?
I started the MSBA program August 25 2025.
Tell us about your experience in the MVS MSBA program. My experience in the MSBA program has been both challenging and rewarding. Coming from a business operations background, I've been able to build strong technical skills in data analysis using tools like Excel, SQL, and Python, while also learning how to apply those insights to real-world business decisions. The program has helped me bridge the gap between data and strategy, which has been especially valuable in both my academic projects and professional experience.
Can you share a memorable project, case study, or other highlight from your time in the program? One of the most memorable projects I worked on was developing an AI-powered "Advisor Twin" model during the joint internship with the SBDC and Google as part of the MSBA 520 course. The goal was to replicate advisor reasoning by structuring and integrating real-world session data into an AI system. It was a unique opportunity to combine data analytics with emerging AI technologies, and it really showed me how powerful data can be when applied to real human decision-making processes.
What surprised you most about the MSBA program once you started? What surprised me most was how quickly the program pushes you to think critically. It's not just about learning how to use tools, it's about learning how to ask better questions, interpret results critically, and communicate insights clearly. That shift in mindset has been one of the most valuable parts of the experience.
What are your plans after graduation? After graduation, I plan to pursue a role in data analytics or business intelligence where I can combine my background in business operations with the technical skills I've developed in the MSBA program.
Favorite Quote “Why not try it all, if you only remember it once?"
Anything else that you would like to share? I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of this inaugural cohort. The MSBA program has helped me grow both professionally and personally, and I'm excited to continue applying what I've learned in my career.
Nicholas B. - Cohort 2025
AI Researcher Spotlight
My title is Graduate Assistant AI Researcher, and I am working with the Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics Lab (AiBAL), directed by Professor Minder Chen. Dr. Chen guides and inspires me to pursue research that both relates to my interests and fulfills the lab’s mandate, under a grant from the M. Scott Funding for Existing Academic Programs initiative. This includes using AI to amplify the knowledge I gained from my Rhetoric and Ecology bachelor’s degrees at U.C. Berkeley, my MBA at CI, and my current studies in CI’s Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program.
Overall, I am thrilled to have so many opportunities to learn about AI and business
analytics, in conjunction with the informative studies I do for my coursework in the
MSBA program. The professors’ expertise, my classmates’ technical and professional
backgrounds, and the collegial environment on campus make for enriching pursuits in
both the classroom and real-world applications. I feel very excited to have found
at CI a
career path that fascinates me and that currently sees high demand in so many
businesses, government settings, academia, and other industries