Find a Role in Data: Four Career Paths in Business Analytics

Drexel LeBow offers a customizable MBA and specialized master’s programs, available in full-time and part-time plan of study options, including a Master’s in Business Analytics. Learn more about our graduate programs today.

As more organizations adopt data-driven and technology-focused approaches to business, the need for analytics expertise continues to grow. Career opportunities in analytics are around every corner, and identifying analytics talent has become a priority for companies in nearly every industry, from healthcare, finance and telecommunications to retail, energy and sports.

Once you’ve completed an MS Business Analytics program, there are many professional paths to explore. You know all about using data to interpret and solve problems, and you’re ready to incorporate your analytics know-how to help an organization make better, faster decisions. With your graduate degree in tow, what’s your next step?

For those who are eager to apply their analytics expertise to decision making, business-oriented roles such as strategists, consultants, and consumer insights researchers have the responsibility of influencing directional change for business improvement. For graduates interested in more tech-heavy roles, positions such as solutions architect, analytics modeler, and business intelligence developer are particularly prominent within the fast-growing finance, technology and healthcare industries.

Consider four levels of professional analytics roles:

Level 1: The Business Analyst

• Analyzes information for patterns and trends
• Applies analytics to solve business problems
• Identifies processes and business areas in need of improvement

Level 2: The Data Scientist

• Builds analytics models and algorithms
• Implements technical solutions to solve business problems
• Extracts meaning from and interprets data

Level 3: The Analytics Decision Maker

• Leverages data to influence decision-making, strategy and operations
• Explores and integrates the use of data to gain competitive advantages
• Uses analytics to drive growth and create better organizational outcomes

Level 4: The Analytics Leader

• Leads advanced analytics projects
• Aligns business and analytics within the organization
• Oversees data management and data governance

During your graduate degree program, maximize your exposure to these potential analytics careers through experiential learning opportunities, internship experiences, and university resources such as program staff, faculty, and career advising, to identify a trajectory that aligns with your specific professional interests and skill set. Regardless of the path you choose, your acquired skills in business analytics will undoubtedly make a big impact within any organization.