Industry and Career Engagement Event Brings Together Eller Graduate Programs Community

The Eller College of Management HSLopez School of Business Analytics hosted a dynamic industry and career engagement event on November 15 in Chandler, Arizona, bringing together Eller graduate students and alumni.

The event, organized in collaboration with the Eller Graduate Professional Development Center and the University of Arizona Distance Education in Maricopa County, featured Ravi Gupta, managing director of EY, as well as three Eller alumni—Fernanda Bueno, web strategy and conversion rate optimization manager at Peacock; Brett Farmiloe, founder of Featured.com; and Cody Sellers, senior analytics engineer at Oyster—who shared their expertise on analytics and career development.

“The Eller College of advances business education in Greater Phoenix through Business Analytics and MBA programs. By actively collaborating with regional industry and business communities in Phoenix, we create meaningful learning opportunities that benefit students and amplify the university’s economic impact,” says Karthik Kannan, dean and Halle Chair in Leadership of the Eller College. “This strategic engagement exemplifies our commitment to bridging academic expertise with real-world professional development.” 

Each of the speakers delivered engaging presentations that detailed their professional journeys and offered unique perspectives on the role of analytics within their industries. Their diverse backgrounds and experiences gave participants different views of the various career paths in the analytics field.

Following the presentations, attendees took part in an interactive question and answer session with the speakers, allowing for deeper exploration of key topics and practical insights. The event then transitioned into focused career workshops, where participants broke into smaller groups for more specialized discussions and networking opportunities.

"The speaker panel provided our students with invaluable industry insights, showcasing the real-world applications of analytics across diverse fields," says Tara Burke, director of professional development, Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) in Chandler. "Events like this not only enhance our students' understanding of career pathways but also inspire them to think strategically about their own professional growth."

The event serves as an opportunity for Eller students to expand their professional networks, connecting with peers, mentors and community members while gaining practical insights into the evolving landscape of analytics.

In a summary of the event, Yong Liu, director of HSLopez School of Business Analytics and HSLopez Family endowed Chair, stated, “This event successfully brought together Eller students from multiple programs, including MSBA Tucson, MSBA Chandler, MS Marketing, MS MIS and MBA. We aim to provide more opportunities like this to engage with the business and industry communities, and to connect Eller students, alumni and supporters in Greater Phoenix.”