Business Analytics alumna Jenna O’Jea ’21 translates “Big Data” into corporate insights

The first generation of SUNY New Paltz students to complete the University’s new undergraduate program in  a Business Analytics are finding their skillsets in high demand.  

Jenna O’Jea ’21 (Business Analytics) enrolled in the program in its very first semester after it launched. She had always been interested in business programs, and thought the addition of a data-focused major would position her well for success in an era of ever-increasing reliance on digital technologies. 

“I liked how cross-functional the program was,” she said. “The curriculum gives you an understanding of all the problems businesses deal with, from marketing to operational issues. Having this well-rounded understanding of all that goes into a business helps you empathize with other departments.”  

She didn’t have to wait long at all after graduation before establishing herself in the field. O’Jea is currently working as a consultant for Analytics8, a North Carolina-based firm that provides solutions to businesses nationwide through data analytics.  

The work has her rubbing elbows with corporate leaders across the U.S., who look to her and her colleagues to help them break down “Big Data” in ways that help them make informed decisions for their organizations.  

“The work I do basically entails making it as simple as possible for business leaders to understand data in a way that’s quick and impactful,” she said.  

The challenge of “Big Data” in business is more than just collecting and storing it all. Increasingly, firms are in search of individuals with the expertise to draw the right interpretations from all that data – finding the signal in the noise, and gleaning insights that can make the difference between success and failure in highly competitive fields such as  finance, marketing, retail, government and healthcare.

“CEOs and vice presidents may not always have the time in their schedules to draw insights from all this data, so that’s where I come in,” she said. “I make it easy so that they can take whatever they’re learning to justify company decisions on their own terms.”  

New Paltz’s offerings in Business Analytics – the existing undergraduate program, and a new Master of Science in Business Analytics launching in fall 2024 – are designed to meet this moment and prepare graduates like O’Jea to fill these needs.  

For her part, O’Jea is looking ahead to new opportunities coming down the road, especially as the rise of artificial intelligence further expands the capabilities and imperatives associated with data management and analysis.  

“I want to learn more about data governance to help companies navigate this transition into AI,” she said. “With the rise of these technologies, privacy is becoming more and more of a concern, so I want to build more skills in this area to strategize ways companies can ensure protection of their data sets.”