Program: Business Analytics
Email: nicole-coates-1@uiowa.edu

Hometown: Naperville, IL
Undergraduate degree and college: B.S. Neuroscience from University of Iowa

What interested you in Business Analytics: I was most interested in the Business Analytics degree because of Iowa’s Undergrad-to-Grad program. The U2G program allowed me the opportunity to finish my undergraduate college degree normally, while getting a head-start on a master’s degree. The connections you have through Tippie faculty and alumni was another point of interest. In the professional world, your network is so important, and you gain a number of important opportunities and connections from being an Iowa student/grad.

Favorite grad school moment thus far: My favorite grad school moment thus far has been the presentation, by guest speaker Jackie Christopher, on Women in STEM. The graduate college brings in many guest speakers and it’s a great way to learn from professionals in the field and make new connections.

Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy reading, writing, and running.

Advice for potential applicants: Get to know your professors! They are excellent resources and building relationships with them will make your graduate experience that much better. Tippie has some of the best professors on campus and they are always ready to help both academically and professionally.

Program: Master’s in Business Analytics
Email: carrie-cox@uiowa.edu

Hometown: Urbandale, IA
Undergraduate degree and college: B.B.A in Marketing Management, University of Iowa

What interested you in Business Analytics: I was interested in Iowa’s MSBA program because I wanted to develop technical and analytical skills that I was introduced to in my undergraduate degree. While I have always had a passion for marketing, I wanted to gain an analytical skillset that would give me a competitive advantage in the workforce.

Favorite grad school moment thus far: My favorite part of grad school so far has been getting to know my peers and hearing about their backgrounds and experiences. I have also had so much fun attending the specialized master’s social events, such as completing UIowa’s Challenge Course and celebrating the second year MSBA students’ graduation at Big Grove.

Hobbies: I enjoy being outdoors, traveling, listening to music, and spending time with my friends! I also enjoy thrift shopping and finding unique clothes/items that I can repurpose.

Advice for potential applicants: Stay positive and be confident in yourself! Everyone in this program has their own unique background and experiences. Try your best to view your differences in skills and as a person as strengths, rather than weaknesses.

Program: Master’s in Finance
Email: harrison-ersbo@uiowa.edu

Hometown: Waukesha, WI
Undergraduate degree and college: University of Iowa; BBA, Finance

What interested you in Finance: I was interested in the Master of Finance program for a few reasons. First, I lacked the professional experience that others had, so I knew it would be a great way to set myself apart in the job market. Second, I wanted to have the ability to strengthen my knowledge of finance, while pairing it with business analytics electives; something Tippie’s Master of Finance program allows you to do.

Favorite grad school moment thus far: My favorite moments include being a TA, securing a summer internship, or meeting tons of new people!

Hobbies: Attending Hawkeye football games. Now in graduate school, I have attended 25 Hawkeye football games since starting undergrad at the University of Iowa in 2018.

Advice for potential applicants: Have an understanding as to why you want to pursue a master’s degree, realize it comes with a workload, take it seriously, and take advantage of every opportunity the program offers.

Program: Master’s in Business Analytics
Email: arun-ganapathy@uiowa.edu

Hometown: Chennai, India
Undergraduate degree and college: Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering

What interested you in Business Analytics: The descriptive nature of UI’s curriculum and the technical growth achievable through this program.

Favorite grad school moment thus far:  Hands-on group projects & joining the analytics club Tippie Tech.

Hobbies: Music, sports, and cooking

Advice for potential applicants: If you need help in this program, you need only ask. Professors and students in the program are equally friendly and approachable, from various backgrounds, and areas of experience.

Program: Master’s in Finance 
Email: mingxlai@uiowa.edu  

Hometown: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  
Undergraduate degree and college: B.B.A. in Finance and Certificate in Risk Management and Insurance 

What interested you in Finance: At first, I did not know what I enjoy studying but just went with the flow of what I thought I am good at: maths and critical thinking – but after enrolling in more Finance classes, the more interesting the subject appears to be. I like how there is no one right answer for Finance discussions and how everyone can explain the same topic differently. I also love how Finance is demanded in almost every industry so by obtaining a Finance degree, you never know if you will end up working for Apple, Walmart or even the University of Iowa.   

Favorite grad school moment thus far: My favorite memory in grad school so far is the Challenge Course outing that the school organized for the new students. Through the team challenges, I get to know more about my classmates and build a closer relationship with them; it is also a great ice breaker for students who just met for the second time. Not to mention the games and activities were extremely fun!  

Hobbies: I love cooking and baking! Being away from home, it is kinda (very) hard to find our traditional food here (especially in Iowa), so I learned to make them myself to fulfill my cravings.  

Advice for potential applicants: Be confident and try your best! There are a lot of things that you can learn from your peers and instructors so be open to new opportunities and experiences! Also, networking is important!  

Program: Master’s in Finance
Email:  emily-lopata@uiowa.edu

Hometown: Rockton, IL
Undergraduate degree and college: I received my undergraduate degree in Agriculture Business with a minor in Business Administration from Illinois State University.

What interested you in Finance: I really enjoyed the business classes I took at Illinois State University and wanted to focus specifically on finance. My family has a small farm, and I want to be able to apply what I learn in this program to help manage our farm and to have more doors open for my future job. I would love to have a career that allows me to combine my agriculture background with finance. 

Favorite grad school moment thus far: I had a great time attending my first football game this semester! In a more academic sense, I was thrilled to be accepted as a 2023 analyst for the Henry Fund.

Hobbies: I love trying new coffee shops in Iowa City! I also enjoy spending time outdoors and cooking good meals.

Advice for potential applicants: Everyone has a different path to how they got here - embrace your story! The program is designed to help students from all backgrounds be successful.  Once you are here, it is important to take advantage of all the opportunities offered and to get to know your professors and fellow students!

Program: Dual Master’s in Business Analytics and Master’s in Finance
Email: robin-nilsson@uiowa.edu

Hometown: Deerfield Beach, FL
Undergraduate degree and college: Double Major: Anthropology and Business Analytics at Cornell College

What interested you in the dual degree: Finance, business analytics, and effective communication are three elements which act as the foundation for almost every business. If any one of those elements are not well, everything could come crashing down. With a background in anthropology and business analytics, I knew I wanted to sharpen my skills in analytics and gain an understanding in finance. My hope is that I will be able to make decisions at work with this triad of elements in mind, allowing me to be effective and impactful early on in my career.

Favorite grad school moment thus far: On my first day of class I made friends with someone who was training for a half marathon. After a few weeks of hearing about his training, I decided to sign up for the 10k and be there to congratulate him after the race! I ended up winning first place in my age group and he finished way faster than his goal time. It was a great experience for both of us!

Hobbies: Aerial Silks, balloon animals, drawing, running, and stilt walking

Advice for potential applicants: The more you challenge yourself, the closer you will get to realizing your full potential. Don’t hold back! Pursue every opportunity that Tippie has to offer you.

Program: Dual Master’s in Business Analytics and Master’s in Finance
Email: solatunbosun@uiowa.edu

Hometown: Abuja, Nigeria
Undergraduate degree and college: B. Sc Agricultural Economics, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

What interested you in the dual degree:  As someone who is passionate about process improvement, it was no surprise that after working in the business management space for over 9 years, I became interested in finding ways to use data analytics to improve processes and make them more efficient. I realized the joint master’s degree in finance and Business Analytics will nourish my becoming a business intelligence expert that uses the understanding of data and finance to support management decisions that create value and give best long-term returns. Here I am, loving it every step of the way!

Hobbies: I enjoy watching documentaries and game shows. I find them very entertaining and informative. I love drawing especially digital fashion illustration. I enjoy braiding my own hair. I think that’s my superpower.

Advice for potential applicants: Be open minded and willing to meet new people because the graduate school experience here at the Tippie college of Business presents lots of opportunities to learn and grow your network, which they say is your net worth.

Program: Master’s in Finance
Email: sophie-smith@uiowa.edu

Hometown: Carthage, IL
Undergraduate degree and college: Finance, University of Iowa

What interested you in Finance: I transferred to Iowa after my sophomore year of college and loved it here! I wanted to have more than two years of school here so it was a perfect fit for me to continue my education here, and I’m excited to get my MS in finance so that I can keep learning about a subject I love.

Favorite grad school moment thus far: I’m one semester into my grad school career, and my favorite moment so far was surviving midterm week and being able to do well on my first exams in grad school. It was very reassuring to know that I am doing well and can be successful in higher ed!

Hobbies: I really enjoy going to Hawkeye football and basketball games, and I love visiting the Iowa Athletic Club on Tuesday nights to play bingo with my friends!

Advice for potential applicants: My advice for anyone considering grad school is that you should just go for it! If it’s something you think you want to pursue, you’ll never regret just giving it a shot. The faculty here is great about providing help through any challenges you will face, and you’ll learn so much during your time here.

Program: Master’s in Finance
Email: julia-tomczyk@uiowa.edu

Hometown: Harwood Heights, IL
Undergraduate degree and college: B.B.A. in Finance from The University of Iowa

What interested you in Finance: Both of my parents emigrated to the United States without knowing any English and had to work hard to support themselves and our family. They taught me from a young age how getting an education is important. I was very interested in the M.S. Finance program specifically at The University of Iowa because of its great reputation in academics, which will lead me to great career opportunities, the ones my parents have wished for since coming to the United States. Also, I am already in the Hawkeye family, so why would I want to leave!

Favorite grad school moment thus far: I do enjoy going to class and learning with my friends. Projects and homework assignments make me stimulated and push me to do the best I can. It’s not to get the best grade but to understand the curriculum the best I can.

Hobbies: I really like being active and doing things with friends and family to keep me busy. My favorite activities are walking my dog, dancing, and Pilates. I enjoy traveling too! I have been to Europe multiple times, specifically Poland and Italy. I am making a goal to visit at least 50% of the countries in Europe.

Advice for potential applicants: Do not worry and be confident! Ask yourself why you truly want to continue your education. Once you know your why, take small steps every single day to achieve that goal.

Program: Dual Master’s in Business Analytics and Master’s in Finance    
Email: van-tran@uiowa.edu

Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam
Undergraduate degree and college: Business Analytics, University of Northern Iowa

What interested you in the dual degree: In the age of big data and technology, business analytics has a crucial role in almost every business industry. I am very fascinated by the integration of analytics with finance, and the joint degree is the perfect opportunity for me to see how the two work together.

Favorite grad school moment thus far: Definitely orientation! I was able to meet a lot of new people and learn more about my program. I encourage everyone to make the most out of your orientation because it provides you with a lot of critical resources that can help you survive and thrive in grad school.

Hobbies: I love spending time with friends and family. I also enjoy travelling, watching movies, reading, and trying new foods.

Program: Master’s in Business Analytics
Email: grace-trane@uiowa.edu

Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
Undergraduate degree and college: B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa

What interested you in Business Analytics: Business Analytics interested me as I am gaining a valuable, specialized skillset in analytics and am able to make sense out of data and tell a story with it. I am interested in multiple areas, including biotechnology and healthcare industries, so a degree in Business Analytics will allow me to combine my undergraduate education with analytics to help make meaningful insights.

Favorite grad school moment thus far:  I’ve really enjoyed getting to know my peers throughout the semester. It’s always fun to study and hang out in The Exchange room. You always see a familiar face on the fourth floor and it’s a great environment to be surrounded in. I also liked the Low Ropes Course event earlier this fall to foster early connections and work on team-building activities!

Hobbies: I like to stay active, from working out at the gym, practicing yoga, or getting outside to hike. I also love travelling and going to music concerts to see my favorite artists. I’m a Trader Joes enthusiast and a foodie at heart.

Advice for potential applicants: Finding the right fit for you can be a daunting process and I’m here to help. If you enjoy working with numbers and using your creative side to turn data into something more, then this is the place for you.

Program: Master’s in Business Analytics
Email: vikas-yadav@uiowa.edu

Hometown: Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, India
Undergraduate degree and college: B.Tech in Electronics & Instrumentation from Laxmi Narain College of Technology, Bhopal, India

What interested you in Business Analytics: When I was working with my Previous Organization, I was working mainly from Business but from last 3 years, I started to work with the Analytics Department and came to know about the insights we came across after analyzing the Business, so having a Business Knowledge with Analytics Domain can be a deadly combination in this era.

Favorite grad school moment thus far: Other than hanging out friends in the campus, I enjoyed meeting new friends who come from different demography, age and have different traits and trying to take the positive out of them.

Hobbies: My hobbies include playing Badminton and I am a stock Market enthusiast.

Advice for potential applicants: Be prepared and do your best. I want to say Study Hard, Play hard.