Rocío González
When I was finishing high school, I had no idea what to do next. All I knew was that I loved two things—dancing and technology. When browsing different options for technology degrees in Spain, I found that most of them were very technical, whereas I also wanted to do something more closely related to business. After looking at programs offered by different universities, I found the Bachelor in Data and Business Analytics, a new degree at IE University.
"What I most like about IE University, and especially in my degree, is the number of different opportunities you are given. All the skills you are acquiring can help to bring almost any business project to the next level, by adding the power of data."
With mixed interests and plenty of enthusiasm, Rocio was sure to be thorough in her search for the ideal degree program. When the Bachelor in Data and Business Analytics (BDBA) at IE University captured her attention, she immediately signed up for an on-campus open-door event to find out more. Despite there being no BDBA students at the event, Rocio remembers returning home feeling happy—despite still having doubts, she liked what she’d seen. By gaining an advanced knowledge of data, she realized she’d be able to use skills from the program in any sector she wanted—even in the field of dance. With the endless opportunities and possible career paths considered, Rocio’s decision was made.
Now preparing to begin her third year of the BDBA in September, the program is certainly living up to Rocio’s expectations. By developing a transferable skill set, she’s confident she’ll be able to apply her skills to any business project she wants to work on by enhancing strategy through the power of data.
Rocio’s IE University journey has also opened up a world of academic opportunities. A recent example was the chance to present a project on advanced statistics and time series forecasting to top HST faculty, as well as to students and professors. Presenting in front of an external audience pushed Rocio and her peers to give extra commitment and effort, boosting their work to an even higher quality. In a different class called “The Mind Challenge,” working on predictive modeling for a well-known Spanish publisher provided another valuable learning experience. Rocio explains how the chance to work with real-world companies offered useful industry insights, shining a light on the workings of real businesses and the right approaches to take.
Currently, Rocio is also working on an extracurricular Women in Tech initiative alongside one of her classmates and closest friends, Camila Barbagallo. Their objective is to give voice to the rising number of women working in technology, creating a platform for their achievements to inspire the next generation of female tech professionals. On this project, Rocio is particularly pleased to have received such a remarkable level of support from her professors and program staff. With their help with orientation, networking, and developing the initiative, the project is making good progress. On a personal level, Rocio says it has really helped to enrich her university experience.
With so many options, Rocio is still not entirely sure which path she’ll take following her degree. Having been passionate about dance since her early childhood, she says her dream career scenario would involve applying data analytics to the dance sector. In the meantime, she is looking forward to building upon her knowledge, progressing her Women in Tech initiative, and continuing to live her IE University experience to the fullest.