Student Perspectives: Managing More Than Data

MS Business Analytics ‘25 student, Bijisha Shrestha, shared with the GCMC how she learned to resolve workplace conflict, networked with professionals in the industry, and improved HCK Recreation’s database management system.

What has been one of the most important things you’ve learned at your internship? 

An essential part of my internship experience has been learning professional conflict resolution techniques. Working in a fast-paced workplace, I've run into instances when miscommunication or conflicting viewpoints have emerged. This has helped me become more adept at handling disagreements in a cool, collected manner, and at looking for solutions that would benefit the team. Active listening, comprehending many points of view, and using skillful communication techniques to resolve conflicts were all part of this learning process. In addition to improving my dispute resolution abilities, the experience has made me realize how crucial it is to encourage open lines of communication within a team to promote a more cooperative work environment.

How have you approached networking at your internship? Share any one specific example that has been impactful for you. 

At HCK Recreation, I approached networking by actively interacting with coworkers and professionals from other departments. One particular event I recall was during a staff gathering for the organization, I got to talk to people from various departments. I made the effort to introduce myself, show interest in their work, and find out about their prior experiences before they joined the company. This sparked insightful discussions, deepened my comprehension of the business's operations, and created relationships that have been helpful for future mentoring as well as career insights.

What has been your biggest contribution to your team at your internship? Why? 

Throughout my internship, the biggest impact I have made on the team is in database management. I took the initiative to improve our data management procedures' effectiveness and streamline them. I made sure that important data was correct and easily accessible by putting in place methodical changes and by structuring the data. This helped our team members retrieve data more quickly and decreased the margin of error in our administrative activities. The team was able to make data-driven decisions quickly thanks to a more efficient workflow made possible by the upgraded database management system.

After this experience, what would you like to learn next? 

After this experience, I am eager to deepen my understanding of data management and analysis within the context of the business world. I want to explore how data-driven insights can be utilized to enhance customer experiences, optimize facility usage, and contribute to informed decision-making. This aligns with the broader industry trends toward leveraging data for strategic planning and improving overall customer satisfaction.

For students having a difficult time finding an internship, what is one piece of advice you would give them? 

One piece of advice for students facing challenges in finding an internship is to proactively network and seek informational interviews. Reach out to professionals in your industry through social media platforms like LinkedIn, show genuine interest in their work and ask about opportunities. Not only does networking give you valuable industry insights, but it can also open unexpected internship opportunities or introduce you to other professionals who may be able to provide guidance or referrals. Plus, being persistent and open to exploring different paths can uncover even more opportunities.