{"673586":{"#nid":"673586","#data":{"type":"news","title":"MSA Women\u2019s Event Offers Support for Students","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBy Shelley Wunder-Smith\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ELast October, about 25 students gathered virtually to discuss the unique challenges of working in data analytics as a female-identifying person. These students, all in Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.analytics.gatech.edu\/node\/1\u0022\u003EMaster of Science in Analytics \u003C\/a\u003E(MSA) program, heard a panel presentation from three Tech alumnae employed by Equifax as data analysts: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vickey-chang-b96a1414\/\u0022\u003EVickey Chang\u003C\/a\u003E, vice president of USIS data and analytics; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/xinxin-zhai-01b77a89?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAABLNHpcBByKc3V9Mv3jwZpDSM7lMolWtZlw\u0026amp;lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_all%3BjGYkVzMTR2ip57s4okjizA%3D%3D\u0022\u003EXinxin Zhai\u003C\/a\u003E, senior statistical analyst; and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kcheng9?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAZ5zWoBuGIXWMSO9hoNIBADzcfYUVFbOSA\u0026amp;lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_all%3B5uqblKhSThmb8v3ZgbZRuw%3D%3D\u0022\u003EKelly Cheng\u003C\/a\u003E, USIS attributes and score quality leader.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EChang opened the conversation by describing how Equifax uses data analytics throughout the business \u2014 in the U.S. alone, the company has about 200 data scientists who work in midtown Atlanta. Chang then briefly mentioned how Equifax supports its female employees, before asking Cheng to share a little of her personal story.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn terms of imposter syndrome, I recommend practicing what you\u2019re feeling insecure about. When I was younger, I was shy about speaking in class,\u201d Cheng shared. \u201cNow I can talk in front of groups because my managers worked with me on it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEveryone has a learning curve when they start a new job,\u201d Zhai said. \u201cDon\u2019t try to hide that from your managers or coworkers \u2014 and don\u2019t be afraid to ask them lots of questions. Asking questions has helped accelerate my knowledge and development in every new role.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOther information Chang, Zhai, and Cheng provided for the attendees included:\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;Find a company that supports your growth. One way to do this is through the job-search process: If you\u2019re interviewing with a company, interview the company back by asking your own questions about workplace culture, employee growth, and professional development.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cp\u003EDon\u2019t be afraid to seek out multiple mentors who will help you develop the skills you are working on.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cp\u003EBe curious and remain open to learning. Look for ways to add new skills and knowledge through new projects, classes, and internal company roles.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\t\u003Cp\u003EAfter the panel presentation, the attendees broke into small groups for further discussion. These conversations centered on topics including managing the job search, navigating a bad manager or toxic work environment, being a self-advocate, and specific interview questions that can help assess a company\u2019s culture.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Women\u2019s Event was created three years ago by MSA Corporate Relations Manager \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rachaelesmith3061\u0022\u003ERachael Smith\u003C\/a\u003E and MSA alumna \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/shannonkehoegt?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAjZVj8BsgHcLgNDTZLhQkUQ2VNtmpG3xCc\u0026amp;lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_all%3BzTsej4EWSseiUR7BUaJSxQ%3D%3D\u0022\u003EShannon Kehoe\u003C\/a\u003E (MSA 19), director of artificial intelligence at Cleverbridge, a German software development company. Smith and Kehoe recognized a need for support and resources among the program\u2019s female and female-identifying students in the male-dominated analytics industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe were passionate about giving female students an opportunity to connect with mentors, so they can have vulnerable conversations about challenges women encounter in the workplace,\u201d Smith explained. \u201cThe point is to help them network and establish a support system for when \u2014 not if \u2014 they run into an issue.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESmith has found that while the students are often quiet to start as the event begins, once the panelists share their own stories, the students feel more comfortable detailing their experiences and fears and asking for advice about specific situations.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want our female students to know that they are not alone in what they feel and experience, and \u2014 perhaps most importantly \u2014 that they do not have to navigate these situations by themselves,\u201d Smith added.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe annual meeting featured a panel presentation from women in the data analytics industry, as well as small-group discussions.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":" The annual meeting featured a panel presentation from women in the data analytics industry, as well as small-group discussions."}],"uid":"36359","created_gmt":"2024-03-18 17:48:14","changed_gmt":"2024-03-18 17:48:13","author":"ecalhoun8","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2023-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"660346","name":"Master of Science in Analytics"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"117311","name":"MSA"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}