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Christopher, Analytics Manager at Top Publishing Company: Advize Career Interview
A UCLA journalism graduate's unexpected journey from the *Daily Bruin* to Analytics Manager at the *LA Times* offers a compelling narrative.
This career path, shaped by an internship at Abernathy McGregor Group, demonstrates the evolving landscape of media and analytics.
The interview reveals a daily routine balancing data monitoring, project management (like migrating to Google Cloud), and collaborative efforts with engineering and newsroom teams.
Success in this role hinges on critical data analysis, proactively questioning validity, and effectively communicating findings to both technical and business audiences.
The interviewee's passion for the media industry, fueled by personal interest and impactful work, is evident, along with advice for aspiring professionals to prioritize skill development, build a portfolio showcasing technical abilities, and consider rotational programs for entry-level exploration.
A key takeaway emphasizes pursuing personally fulfilling careers and focusing on impacting company performance over immediate financial gain.
The journey underscores the value of developing discipline, grit, and a relentless pursuit of improvement.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Christopher Chen
Analytics Manager
Top Publishing Company
UCLA
UCLA MBA (in progress)
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Communications, Economics
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Data and Analytics
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans
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Career Path of an Analytics Manager at a Top Publishing Company
Christopher's career path, starting with journalism aspirations at UCLA and a stint at the *Daily Bruin*, unexpectedly shifted towards analytics after an internship at Abernathy McGregor Group exposed him to the field. This led to roles at agencies like Edelman, ultimately culminating in Christopher's current position as Analytics Manager at the *LA Times*, where they focus on "driving subscriber growth" and collaborating with engineering teams.
Main Responsibilities of an Analytics Manager at Top Publishing Company
Christopher's main responsibilities as Analytics Manager are equally split between supporting The Newsroom team by analyzing story performance and "presenting those findings," and collaborating with engineers to ensure data readiness for analysis. This role showcases a blend of client-facing responsibilities and technical data management, crucial for a successful analytics function within Top Publishing Company.
A Day in the Life of an Analytics Manager at a Top Publishing Company
Christopher's typical day involves monitoring data performance, using "dashboards...to monitor polls and alerts," and proactively addressing issues. A significant portion of the Analytics Manager's time is dedicated to projects like "migrating everything to the Google cloud," requiring collaboration with engineering and executive leadership to ensure successful implementation.
Most Important Skills For An Analytics Manager At A Top Publishing Company
Christopher, an Analytics Manager, emphasizes the crucial, often overlooked skill of questioning data's validity, stating "it's not Being a jerk...it's more or less. Let's prevent something from something terrible from happening later on." This proactive approach to data analysis, combining skepticism with a strong understanding of available resources, is key to success in the analytics field and preventing costly mistakes.
Favorite Parts Of Being An Analytics Manager At Top Publishing Company
Christopher's enjoyment stems from a blend of personal interests—a "lifelong consumer of Daily Times" and a passion for analytics—and the role's impact; the ability to "affect The Newsroom directly" and "build dashboards" to drive business decisions is key to their satisfaction.
Biggest Challenges Faced By an Analytics Manager at a Top Publishing Company
Christopher's biggest challenge as Analytics Manager at Top Publishing Company is bridging the communication gap between the business and newsroom sides, specifically in adopting new analytics tools like Power BI and migrating to UTMs. This requires extensive education and overcoming resistance to legacy systems, a hurdle Christopher anticipates needing to continuously address.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Publishing Industry As An Analytics Manager
Christopher enjoys the media industry's reach and brand recognition, illustrated by the "LA Times Food Bowl," an event that allows fusing "all the things" Christopher likes outside of work with professional responsibilities. This highlights a fulfilling career path where personal interests and professional life intertwine.
What Type of Person Thrives in the Publishing Industry According to an Analytics Manager at Top Publishing Company
Christopher, an Analytics Manager, identifies "gritty" individuals like journalists who relentlessly seek the truth as thriving in the industry. This drive for improvement, exemplified by the constant search for "something that's better" in data processing, is crucial for success in both newsroom and business analytics roles, where innovation in technology and reporting are paramount.
What an Analytics Manager at Top Publishing Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Analytics Industry
Christopher, an Analytics Manager, advises aspiring analytics professionals to build a portfolio showcasing skills in tools like Python and SQL on platforms such as GitLab or GitHub, emphasizing that a portfolio is a significant advantage in the job search; "having something in Git would be very beneficial" and can help avoid the extensive job applications they experienced early in their career.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Analytics Managers
Christopher, an Analytics Manager, suggests exploring entry-level positions with "rotating programs" to discover the best fit within analytics' diverse subfields, advising that "as an undergrad you might think you know what you want, but you likely don't just yet." The programs allow new hires to explore different areas before committing to a specialization, making them especially valuable for entry-level candidates.
Significant Career Lesson From an Analytics Manager at Top Publishing
Christopher's most significant career lesson, learned across six jobs, is "to not chase after the money," instead focusing on impacting company performance and skill development within each role to showcase a growth trajectory on their resume. The Analytics Manager advises prioritizing learning and skill acquisition over solely salary increases when considering job changes.
College Experiences That Helped an Analytics Manager at Top Publishing Company Succeed
Christopher's undergraduate experience working long nights in the Daily Bread News Room, conducting many interviews and developing "a lot of discipline," shaped their approach to their career. This rigorous process of producing "one thing every day," through editorial review, instilled a structured approach to work mirrored in their current Analytics Manager role at Top Publishing Company.
How Identity Has Influenced an Analytics Manager at Top Publishing Company's Career
Christopher's career path diverged from the "traditional footsteps" of their family's engineering and legal backgrounds, with Christopher instead forging a path as a journalist. This non-conformity, a self-identified characteristic, led to greater happiness and success, demonstrating the positive impact of pursuing a personally fulfilling career path.
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