Most Important Skills for an Analytics Executive at Nationwide Financial
Nationwide Financial's Analytics Executive, Nick, emphasizes that while technical skills like Python and SQL are crucial, "what separates folks...from those that move into leadership roles is your ability to communicate and really effectively tell the story" of the work. A strong business acumen and the capacity to translate technical findings into compelling narratives are equally vital for career advancement in analytics.
Business Acumen, Data Analytics, Communication, Technical Skills, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
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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. Strong business acumen and understanding of organizational goals are crucial.
2. Technical skills in Python, SQL, and data visualization are essential but not sufficient for advancement.
3. Effective communication and storytelling abilities are key differentiators for leadership roles in analytics.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
I'd say there are obvious things like having strong business acumen. This means understanding what your organization is trying to achieve and being able to quickly digest and communicate that.
Then there are technical skills. Once I started going towards analytics, I went back to school and got my master's in business intelligence and analytics. I learned Python, SQL, and data visualization principles. You need those technical things, but they only get you so far.
What separates technically talented folks from those who move into leadership roles is your ability to communicate. It's about effectively telling the story of what your team is doing, what they're achieving, and the benefits of that.
So, if you're a communications major going back to get an MBA or another technical graduate degree, I think you're set up for success. This is especially true if you can really effectively communicate what it is you're achieving.