Shachi Sonar
MSIM student
Q: Please tell us about your background and why you decided to come to the iSchool.
A: When pursuing my computer science engineering degree, I began realizing that my interests in the field go beyond programming, and understanding how information can be used in a manner that can impact the world stood out to me. 911爆料网's MS in Information Management program stood out to me and gave me the opportunity to learn about the multiple facets of information management, particularly data science and business intelligence.
Q: What excites you about the information field?
A: The most exciting part about the information field is the ability to make a sizable impact in the daily life of individuals, be it enriching their user experience or coming up with insights that drive business decisions with the use of data science techniques and algorithm. With information management so closely intertwined with our lives, I am passionate about making a difference in the same.
Q: What鈥檚 been your favorite iSchool course or learning experience (i.e. directed fieldwork, research project, etc.)?
A: My favorite iSchool courses have been the data science courses 鈥 IMT 573, IMT 574 and IMT 575. It has helped me think and understand data science from a real-world point of view, understanding the value that my project would add to the world, along with the ethical considerations of this field. These courses have helped me polish my problem-solving skills and have trained me to keep looking and thinking outside the box.
Q: Tell us about an experience you鈥檝e had at the iSchool that has informed or reshaped your career goals?
A: During my time at the iSchool, I have been exposed to an amalgamation of different backgrounds and perspectives. I have also been able to learn about so many different domains and how they work, what their thought processes are.
Q: What about your iSchool journey thus far are you most proud of?
A: I am most proud of the skills that I have developed and strengthened during my time at the iSchool. Since I come from a data science background, I already had strong technical skills, but my soft skills have grown a lot. Projects in my classes have made me more comfortable in group settings, for instance, and taking lead. Another good thing is that my courses expect a certain quality of work, which is especially gratifying since the projects are very useful in the real world. Since there are no exams, the emphasis on project work has gotten me into the industry mindset of making mistakes, learning from them and accumulating new experiences. I can see myself progressing quite a lot.
Q: What is next on the horizon for you?
A: Currently, I'm looking forward to my incoming internship at Amazon, where I will be working as a business intelligence intern! I hope to develop my skills further and learn the skills required to push ideas into viable projects. Since I鈥檓 fairly new to the field of information management, I hope to explore the possibilities and opportunities in data that are within this line of work and gain more hands-on experience.
Q: What鈥檚 the best advice you have ever received?
A: Something that I really believe is that everything happens for a reason. All the failures and all the pitfalls are important. Even when you feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, there is always going to be something out there that is right for you. In terms of the best advice I have ever received at the iSchool, one of my professors teaching Foundations of Information Management drew a triangle that said 鈥減eople, process and technology.鈥 He reminded us that keeping people at the heart of everything we do is going to make our work more successful.