According to the FinancesOnline, 88% of professionals report networking is crucial in furthering their careers.
A network known as the Data Professionals of Wichita, established by Newman University Dean of the School of Business & Technology David Cochran, is making waves in the local workforce.
It all started in 2018 when Cochran began researching and developing a business data analytics program at Newman.
“I visited with as many of our major regional employers as I could, listening to understand their needs and the kinds of work that would be asked of our students. Then I used those insights to inform the development of the program,” he said.
In the process of meeting with nearly a dozen regional employers, Cochran and other faculty at Newman developed the curriculum for an undergraduate degree in business data analytics. As Cochran circled back to regional employers for brainstorming and networking sessions, planned updates were made to the curriculum and even led to the establishment of a graduate certificate program.
“Those discussions proved fruitful and we began forming friendships,” he said. “At the encouragement of several of this group, we agreed that we should start a regular meeting. So we planned a panel discussion with five regional data leaders, leveraged our contact lists to put out the word and launched the first meeting in March of 2022.”
Establishing opportunities for students
On March 30, Newman hosted a meet-and-greet social hour for the Data Professionals of Wichita with local sponsors. The event featured a data analytics panel discussion with five working professionals, each of whom shared stories on how his or her role helped shape companies into smarter businesses.
One of the panelists, president of Cornerstone Data Joy Eakins, explained that having a network in place such as the Data Professionals of Wichita is an essential way for students to understand who is doing the work, and helps make the most of one’s professional career.
“When the relationships are formed, people are more likely to reach out to each other to ask for help as they build their careers,” Eakins said.
Jennifer Akers, a data scientist at Delta Bravo AI, said the networking opportunity college students receive by participating in the Data Professionals of Wichita events is invaluable.
“Not only does it give them opportunities to network with local professionals, which can lead to internships and employment, but it’s also an opportunity to ask questions about what professionals really do in their day-to-day — how they spend their time, the tools they use and the kinds of problems they work on,” she explained. “Having these kinds of conversations helps students know what skills to focus on in order to shape their careers.”
Cochran said multiple students reported that they value the experience of hearing from professionals in the field.
“It enhances their experience greatly, and other professionals say they wish they had this type of opportunity when they were students,” Cochran said. “Even as an introvert, I draw so much energy from the relationships formed. I look forward to doing more of it.”
Introducing people to industries, industries to people
Outside of the internal benefits for current students and alumni of Newman, the Data Professionals of Wichita builds a connecting bridge to key employers in the region.
In the several months since Data Professionals of Wichita held its first event, Akers said she has learned from several local minds in the data science space about problem-solving that has impacted the solutions she builds.
As a business owner who both leads a data company and serves as a data professional, Eakins believes the Data Professionals of Wichita is “crucial to the success of the region because it breaks down the silos and helps data professionals better understand the data landscape for the region.”
“Those joining the Data Professionals of Wichita events come away with a renewed excitement about the work they are doing and ideas about how to make it better,” Eakins said.
For Akers, meeting as a professional group to share interests, ideas, struggles and solutions proves to be beneficial in many ways.
“I’ve met and learned from several local minds in the data science space and hearing about what they do and how they’ve solved problems in their respective industries has impacted the solutions I build,” Akers said.
Data Professionals of Wichita plans to host two additional meetings in the spring and will meet four to six times each year, Cochran said.
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