A thirst for innovation and a penchant for learning new things has been a central motif in my life. My undergraduate project topic in Engineering was rather conventional, but we decided to use Lab View, a tool we had been exposed to only recently. While it was an exhilarating and learning experience to work on cutting-edge technology, the hiccups we had faced in its implementation were due to the lack of time spent on design and management of responsibilities within the team. I took the lead at that time to revisit and refine the design and assigned clear tasks to my teammates. The project ran like clockwork from then on and this experience taught an important lesson: successful implementation hinges on project management. My six years as a senior analyst have only concretized this belief. As I moved into lead roles and became involved in design, I understood how clients want the latest technologies and how much they appreciate a well-managed project. Thus, I believe that an MS in Business Analytics and Information Systems from your university will be the ideal platform to equip me with the expertise in tools of Information Technology and Management.

My passion for the STEM domain, especially Physics, saw me opting for Science in high school, which I completed with honours and took admission in Bachelor of Engineering, Electronics and Communication at SJB Institute of Technology, Bangalore. This immersive four-year program has laid a sound foundation in engineering and given me insights into working of Integrated circuits, Embedded systems, Power Electronics, Computer Networking Systems, Virtual Instrumentation, VLSI and Communication (please add what you have studied). My project work in college provided unique learning opportunities to hone and test my engineering skills. However, it was the unparalleled sense of achievement of working on live projects, which captivated my interest. My project on Vehicle Tracking Surveillance System using Lab View to design a real-time Multi-vehicle detection and tracking approach for Driver Assistance System (DAS) was a revelation as it introduced me to innovative technology and instilled confidence, team spirit and time management skills.

After completion of my BE, I joined Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd. as an analyst working as a Devops Engineer for Developing Continuous Integration and Deployment framework across RxDOD and Java Applications. While the work was new and challenging, I thrived in the environment, adapting and learning on the job. These six years have been a truly transformational experience as I worked on Scrum for agile development and configuration management, creating and administrating a CICD platform coordinating code builds and successful deployments using tools like Jenkins, GIT, Bit Bucket, and Web Based UI (Django Framework). I have been fortunate to not only work on the latest technologies at Accenture, but have also been promoted to the role of Senior Analyst, winning a ‘Pat on the Back’ award for outstanding performance.

My experience in the industry has been quite challenging with various learning opportunities to grow as a person and a professional. From a rank novice to a senior analyst, I have learned on the job, always adapting, thinking on my feet while honing my communication, interpersonal and managerial skills. I also take this opportunity to add that co-curricular activities have always been important to me apart from academics. I was an active member of the school council as well as the cultural committee in college organizing various cultural events and fests in college. I have continued this well into my work sphere where I have been involved in Accenture’s cultural events and activities.

Armed with these first-hand insights, I have been taking stock of my academic and professional progression to date. As a fresh graduate, I assumed that new technologies in the field could be imbibed in the industry. However, upon exposure and experience to the vast and challenging spectrum of Information technology, I realize that I still have a lot to learn. As my career path now treads towards Project Management, I feel it is imperative to polish my skills in Management and Information Systems. The plethora of technological innovations and the race to be relevant are the biggest challenges faced by professionals today. A Master’s Program in BAIS with a leading International edge will empower me with the necessary skills to take on a more challenging role in future. My short-term career goals comprise a managerial role working on leading-edge technologies to deliver solutions. My long-term vision encompasses a consulting role where I can interact closely with the customers to understand their business processes and position strategic usage of software applications by driving change management process.

A search for the best courses in MIS led me to the Mecca of Information Technology, the US. I zeroed in on the University of South Florida, as it is one of the foremost American Universities offering cutting-edge technological studies especially in Information Systems. As a vestibule for learning and innovation, the university is definitely a trailblazer, recognized globally for its excellence in IT education and applied research. I am confident that the erudite faculty at the University, who are industry experts and encourage hands-on learning in the classroom, will help me accelerate and consolidate my knowledge. Further, I wish to explore the immense possibilities in big data systems, analytics and machine learning, - Crypto currencies and IoT Based Applications through the unique blend of technology and business skills offered by the BAIS Program. USF’s state-of-the-art learning and research facilities, professional development boot camps, and hackathons will help me to sharpen my skills in Business Analytics, Information assurance, Distributed Information Systems, Project Management, compliance, risk and anti-money laundering. The Information Systems Decision Sciences Department’s strong industry network and industry sponsored practice projects are testimony to its commitment to grooming students into market-ready professionals by introducing state-of-the-market technologies into local companies. The sunshine state of Florida is a modern cosmopolitan city famous for its tourist attractions and friendly culture. I would love to be a part of the USF community and enrich myself with the vast diversity of student experiences on offer. I find that I have much to contribute to the Program by working with a multidisciplinary approach towards the university’s cultural and technological ethos.

I am confident that the profound knowledge and guidance at the University of South Florida will chisel out the global professional in me, empowering me with technical and managerial skills to flourish in the international marketplace. The immersive MS program will surely empower me with critical management skills and ability to work at the forefront of innovation and technology. I would regard my admission to USF as not only a great honor, but also a responsibility and obligation for perseverance and hard work.