Ensuring Student Success

PC SENIOR TAKES ON BIG DATA AFTER GRADUATION

The addition of new academic programs, like data analytics, is also a part of The Promise of PC.

Today’s markets demand colleges offer more academic programs focused on Big Data. This is the fourth straight year that data scientist jobs have been at the top of Glassdoor’s list of the “50 Best Jobs in America.” In addition, five of Glassdoor’s 50 best jobs include careers related to data analytics.

Here’s more interesting data: PC senior Maleek Catchings already has a job in Big Data lined up, thanks to an internship and to Catchings’ persuasive presentation skills.

Last summer, Catchings interned at the Michelin North America headquarters in Greenville, S.C. He learned how the world’s leading tire manufacturer approaches business-to-consumer sales.

Catchings also was able to work with the Business Intelligence team at Michelin, and this is where he shined.

He knew he would. After all, two of Catchings’ business professors recommended the new data analytics offering to him. Catchings was a business administration major until his professors recognized his strengths in business and math. They thought the concentration in data analytics was a good fit.

“I took a class and loved it,” Catchings said. “The further along I got into the class, the more I enjoyed it.”

Catchings liked data analytics so much he began the Data Analytics Club during his junior year. The club has more than 20 members and meets regularly to talk about topics related to the field, including job opportunities.

During his internship, Catchings used what he learned in his data analytics courses. He analyzed data about Michelin’s current and potential customers for its three tire brands.

Catchings researched which tire wholesalers have contracts with Michelin and which ones don’t but still sell Michelin tires.

“It’s a lot of data, as you can imagine,” Catchings said. “I was able to manipulate this data to find trends and make projections that the sales team could use to find dealers that could be on contract.”

Catchings’ data analysis helped Michelin’s sales team work more strategically.

He presented his findings to his managers at Michelin. After discussing the presentation and his future, Michelin offered Catchings a position with the Business Intelligence team. He begins work less than a month after he graduates.

Catchings continues to learn more about data analytics during the last semester of his senior year. He also stays busy as #22 on the Blue Hose basketball team, but he can’t wait to begin work in Big Data.

“I love that I can help different departments make sense of their data,” he said. “I can help sales, engineers, the supply chain and marketing. I can see how a company operates. It’s what I really want to do.” •