Jared Leach

Name: Jared Leach

Program (Full-Time, Part-Time): DSBA (Full-time)

Concentration/Area of Emphasis: Data Science and Business Analytics

Current Employer: Darden (Olive Garden), Data Science Office (UNC Charlotte)

Position: Certified Trainer, Graduate Research Assistant

Anticipated Graduation (Month & Year): Summer 2020

Undergraduate Institution and Degree: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Favorite Place in Charlotte: NoDa

Hometown: Charlotte, NC    

Dream Job: Lead Data Scientist with Wells Fargo or comparable company

LinkedIn Profile

Alumnus
2020
Master of Science in Data Science and Business Analytics

What degree are you pursuing and why?

I am pursuing a Professional Science Master’s in Data Science and Business Analytics in order to help further my professional career. I have always found data analysis to be an intriguing topic and field of study and I hope to make a career in this interesting and expanding field.

Why did you choose the Belk College of Business over others?

The Belk College offered a comprehensive program to create and polish skills that I would need as a Data Scientist and Business Analyst. In addition to a well-rounded program, the Belk College offered me an amazing early entry opportunity through the Belk Scholars program.

Tell us about your job. What lessons have you learned in your courses that you were able to apply to the job?

I currently work as a Graduate Research Assistant within the Data Science Office at UNC Charlotte. Although I have only been working in the office for a short while, I have been able to utilize some data cleaning techniques as well as visual design techniques while working on admission and alumni demographic reports.

What activities are you involved in when not working/studying?

When not working or studying, I enjoy staying active by playing ping pong or riding my bike. When relaxing, I enjoy reading a good book or possibly watching a comedian.

What has been the best part of your academic experience so far? 

The best part of my academic experience so far has been the helpfulness and care from the business college professors. Arriving at college, I was worried that the professors would be cold or simply uncaring of the student’s plight. I soon found that this worry was unwarranted and even found some faculty that still I contact for advice years later.

How would you describe the Belk College of Business to someone considering a master’s program?

The Belk College of Business offers comprehensive master’s programs that will more than prepare you for a career in your chosen business discipline. The professors are all truly in love with their given fields and will not hesitate to help you understand a topic or learn more about their fields. The courses are not necessarily easy, but you will come out of them ready to launch or continue your professional career.

How valuable do you feel this degree will be to your career?

I personally feel that this degree will be invaluable to my career and that the courses I have taken thus far have provided me with a more than sufficient basis of data science knowledge. Were it currently offered, I would quite likely enter into a doctoral program for data science at UNC Charlotte

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