How a passion for problem-solving led this SMU alumna to a career pivot

What inspires a deep-dive into a specific career?

For Aishwarya Prasad, online courses and research papers sparked a deeper curiosity and passion for data-driven technologies.

After completing her undergraduate degree in Information Technology, she worked as a full-stack developer. “While I enjoyed the technical challenges of development, I found myself increasingly drawn to the fields of data analytics and artificial intelligence,” she says.

“Through exposure to academic research, I was particularly fascinated by how these technologies were being applied across industries to solve complex problems. That curiosity, combined with the realization that I wanted to build more scalable, impactful solutions, solidified my decision to shift into data analytics,” Aishwarya says.

In 2021, she took the leap into the sector by enrolling herself in a Master of IT in Business (MITB) course at Singapore Management University (SMU).

One of her biggest challenges was choosing to pivot her career amidst the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. “As an international student in Singapore, I had to weigh the risks of making a major transition in a volatile job market. Additionally, moving from full-stack development to data analytics required building an entirely new skill set—from statistical modeling to big data engineering,” she says.

However, the support from the MITB community, including career counsellors and program managers, helped her navigate this transition.

Up close and personal

Prasad chose SMU’s MITB program due to its established track record. The program was launched in 2007, making it one of the earliest of its kind in Singapore.

She was particularly drawn to SMU’s pedagogical approach, which prioritized seminars and classroom interactions.

“Despite hybrid learning constraints due to COVID-19, the class environment remained collaborative and engaging,” she recounts.

Learning through case-based courses and projects that mirrored real-world business problems was also a focus of her experience at MITB. “One of the highlights of the course was our final project—Time-Series Data Analysis of Flight Delays at US Airports (January–June 2020)—which was selected for presentation at the JMP Summit Americas 2021, a conference focused on data exploration and statistical analysis,” she says.

For Aishwarya, the balance between technical proficiency and business relevance has been key to her growth as a data professional.

Learning by doing

Under the MITB program, students can choose between four tracks – analytics, AI, digital transformation, and financial technology and analytics – to specialize in.

As part of the program, Aishwarya did a six-month internship at United Parcel Service, where she worked on two projects: a Customer Churn Analytics project and a Sentiment Analytics project. “This internship gave me hands-on exposure to the complete data science lifecycle—from data collection and pre-processing to feature engineering, model training, evaluation, and ultimately automation,” she recounts.

“I was able to apply what I learned in class to real business challenges,” Aishwarya says. “I wasn’t just working in isolation; I collaborated closely with cross-functional teams to understand business requirements and translate them into actionable data solutions. This taught me that beyond technical proficiency, strong communication and stakeholder engagement are critical to ensuring that data projects deliver real value.”

Evolution and growth

The MITB program set Aishwarya up for the next phase of her career. After graduating from SMU in 2022, she secured a role as a data scientist at Pace Enterprise, a buy-now-pay-later startup.

She is currently a senior data engineer at Singapore Airlines, where her responsibilities span big data processing, model deployment, and infrastructure design.

“MITB prepared me not just to enter the field of data analytics, but to grow within it,” she says. “What excites me most is the potential to create real impact—whether it's through improving operational efficiency or enhancing customer experiences—by harnessing the power of data.”

The landscape of data, tools, and techniques is constantly evolving, driven by rapid advancements in technology, machine learning, and data infrastructure. To stay relevant and deliver meaningful insights, data professionals must commit to continuous learning and adaptability.

Lifelong learning is crucial in data analytics, Aishwarya points out. “I follow industry blogs, research papers, and thought leaders on platforms like Medium, Towards Data Science, and LinkedIn to understand emerging trends and real-world applications,” she says. Aishwarya also frequently attends webinars, conferences, and local meetups to connect with peers and gain exposure to practical innovations and challenges in the field.

Ready for the future

In the next five years, Aishwarya envisions herself continuing to grow as a technical leader in the data space—leading initiatives that involve building scalable data platforms and applying AI-driven solutions to solve high-impact business problems.

Advising professionals looking to transition into data analytics, she says, “Embrace the learning curve and stay curious, even when faced with concepts that initially feel overwhelming. Some of the most meaningful growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself with unfamiliar topics like statistics, programming, or machine learning.”

In today’s data-driven world, where analytics capabilities are more valuable than ever, staying abreast of technological advancements is essential. SMU offers MITB students a unique vantage point to observe and participate in the digital revolution.