College Experiences That Helped an Analytics Executive at Nationwide Succeed
Nick, an Analytics Executive at Nationwide, advises against choosing a college major based solely on market demand, stating, "Don't go into school...thinking about what other people want." Instead, the interviewee emphasizes pursuing passions and talents, as "somebody will pay you for that talent," a lesson learned through their own winding career path from chemical engineering aspirations to a successful career in financial services.
Career Exploration, Passion and Talent, Overcoming Challenges, Hard Truths, Actionable Tips
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nick Perri
Analytics Executive
Nationwide Financial Services Company
Arizona State University
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey MBA, St Joseph's University MS Business Intelligence & Analytics
Spanish & Other Languages, Political Science, American Studies
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing), Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Data and Analytics
Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Explore your talents and passions rather than solely focusing on market demands.
2. Don't be afraid to change your career path; many successful professionals find their way unexpectedly.
3. Opportunities exist in various fields; your undergraduate studies should prioritize enjoyment and passion, making you a more competitive candidate later on when you specialize in graduate school.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
Not a lot, I would say. I think I had to learn the hard way for a lot of things.
I initially thought I'd be a chemical engineer, then I considered being a foreign service officer. I ended up kind of falling into the financial services space and learned from there what I wanted to do.
The big lesson I learned is don't go into school or your studies thinking about what other people want or what you think the market is looking for. Do what you enjoy or where you've shown some talent, and somebody will pay you for that talent.
If you love communications, but you're afraid of who will pay you for it, there are always opportunities in graduate school to focus on something that's going to make money. But for your undergrad, it's most important to enjoy what you're studying, be passionate about it, and have fun. If you're talented at something, somebody will pay you for it.