From Classroom to Managing Director: Leveraging MIS and RIT’s Network to Lead in Data Innovation

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Why did you decide to attend Saunders College of Business at RIT?

I was on the fence before I initially visited RIT. When I came to visit, everything changed. I distinctively remember meeting the professors and the leaders at Saunders - then I knew it was the perfect fit. The focus on multi-disciplinary tracks that combine the business with the sciences, engineering, etc made this difficult to beat.

In what ways has Saunders/RIT prepared you for the job market?

RIT's sharp focus on jobs is a mindset. The opportunities are there on day one to grow, it's up to the students to take them. As a freshman, I attended both the career fairs - this put me right into the fire to learn the interviewing skills, networking, etc. Saunders is a smaller school with the resources of the major university - so I was able to take top-notch classes in engineering or software that I can pair with my business expertise.

Employers have shifted their mindset over the last few years - for business, they are now requiring new graduates to come in with hard skills (coding, data engineering, etc) or learn them on the job.

I worked for Bank of America for nearly half a decade - starting from my co-op in 2019, to leading data engineering and business intelligence initiatives until the end of 2024. I would of never gotten in front of those hiring managers if RIT wasn't a target school for their recruiters.

What do you feel is the most distinctive advantage gained from your Saunders experience?

The extensive network of fantastic other alumni! Since graduating, I've kept in contact with alot of my classmates (many of whom I do business with!) and I've met many other alums who are leading their respective fields. Even when I was a student, there was a great amount of engagement from the alumni who were passionate about sharing their expertise with the next generation of leaders. Just the simple mentorship from alumni is the competitive advantage.

What do you do?

I serve as the U.S Managing Director for MPP Insights, a data engineering and business intelligence firm based in Richmond, VA with an R&D Center in Yerevan, Armenia.

We help organizations modernize their data ecosystems - building data warehouses, analytics dashboards, and engines that take untapped raw data and make it into real business value.

Imagine you’re on a flight and by the time the meal cart reaches your row, they’ve run out of your meal choice. That’s not just bad luck - it’s a data problem. Somewhere in the chain - the inventory, timing, and forecasting weren’t aligned. We fix these kinds of issues for companies every day.

My role is to oversee U.S operations, business development, and work directly with clients to design their data strategies.

What should current students know about Saunders?

Make genuine friends while you're here. They're not going to be from a business fraternity or sorority, but they're the people who you meet who share the same values and interests. They could be the person who lived on your floor, or you met in a class, or randomly walking on the quarter mile. These are the longest lasting relationships - and they'll be the most valuable thing you take away from your time at RIT.