Speakers

Image of LEAP 2024: Crossroads of Finance & Data Analytics - Abstracts

LEAP 2024: Crossroads of Finance & Data Analytics - Abstracts

Panel 26: Crossroads of Finance & Data Analytics

Our panel will explore the intersection of finance, advisory, and data analytics, highlighting the ways data is leveraged across business functions. Each of us has utilized tools like excel and coding languages to conduct financial forecasting, build machine learning models, and perform cost-effectiveness analysis. We’ve worked in industries ranging from professional services and finance to business analytics and data science, employing methods such as risk management and financial modeling to solve complex business challenges. Our panel will also touch on the balance between independent work and teamwork, emphasizing the importance of self-learning and open communication. Spanning three countries—USA, Pakistan, and Japan—we will showcase how data analytics and financial acumen drive growth across different regions and industries.

Moderator: Rick Feldman, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Entrepreneurship, Organizations, and Society (EOS)
Nexus Track Chair for Global Business Nexus & Co-Director of Fimbel Maker & Innovation Lab

Mergers & Acquisitions Analysis in Private Equity
Flora Shi ’25, Economics & Statistics double major, Global Business Nexus

Applying Data Analysis to Marketing
Moe Ito ’26, Computer Science major, Mathematics minor

Breaking into Advisory & Consulting
Mariam Fatima ’25, Mathematics major, Computer Science/Global business minor

From Research to Reporting: A Summer in Business Analytics
Ellie Ngoc Do ’25, Economics & Computer Science double major, Data Analytic and Society minor

Speaker name: Flora Shi
Title: Mergers & Acquisitions Analysis in Private Equity
This summer, I interned at a private equity firm where I focused on organizing company data across three financial sheets and conducting comprehensive analyses. My role includes forecasting company growth, discounting future share values to the present, and performing comparative analysis on various firms in the new energy sector. By collaborating with my team, I deepened my understanding of the financial markets. This experience allowed me to apply and solidify the financial concepts I had learned from textbooks, while gaining a top-down view of industry dynamics. It provided me with greater clarity on my future career path in finance, which I look forward to further exploring.

Speaker name: Moe Ito
Title: Applying Data Analysis to Marketing
During my internship, I primarily worked on a data analysis project as part of a team of interns. The goal of this project was to optimize an e-commerce company’s coupon marketing strategy to improve cost-effectiveness. Our team employed the T-learner method from uplift modeling, which is effective for revealing causal relationships, to better target users. Using this approach, we identified a specific user segment with a predicted positive response to coupons, leading to the proposal of a new strategy that increased cost-effectiveness by approximately 1.25 times. This experience was my first in-depth, hands-on exposure to data science, and it showed me the immense potential of data, not only in marketing but also in other fields. In my presentation, I will delve into the machine learning models and analytical methods I applied, as well as how to translate the insights gained into actionable value.

Speaker name: Mariam Fatima
Title: Breaking into Advisory & Consulting
During my junior year of college, my interest in professional services and client-focused roles deepened, leading me to pursue an internship at KPMG in Deal Advisory. This internship gave me an invaluable understanding of the financial services industry and the fast-paced world of deal advisory. I was actively involved in building and evaluating financial models, performing valuations, and conducting market research. These experiences polished my skills in Excel and challenged me to develop new ones, particularly in financial analysis and data-driven decision-making. Working alongside senior consultants, I also gained exposure to the importance of clear communication and client engagement. This opportunity allowed me to immerse myself in the industry’s complexities, reinforcing my passion for client-centric problem-solving and my desire to continue growing within the field.

Speaker name: Ellie Ngoc Do
Title: From Research to Reporting: A Summer in Business Analytics
This summer, I interned as a Business Analytics Intern at Sands Capital Management, where I developed foundational skills in data analytics and business research within the investment field. Through hands-on projects, I gained experience in transforming complex data into clear, actionable insights and learned the importance of data quality and efficiency for effective decision-making. My work on automation and visualization tools enhanced my technical abilities while also providing a deeper understanding of how data supports strategic initiatives. This experience solidified my interest in using analytics to drive business value in the investment industry.