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Academic Director – Chair Professor Lancelot F. James
Lancelot F. James | LinkedIn

A primary goal of the HKUST MSc in Business Analytics program is to empower our graduates to bridge the gap between data analytics technical teams and their business counterparts, all while focusing on creating value for all stakeholders involved. It is essential for us to instill this message of "value" in our students from the very beginning of their studies.

I am delighted to share that we recently organized an engaging panel discussion titled "The Business of Data: Monetizing Analytics for Success," which took place on Thursday night. The event brought together our students and esteemed guests for an insightful conversation. We were honored to have two distinguished members of our corporate advisory board, Mr. Rafael Frias from HSBC and Mr. Jovan Trajceski from the H&M Group, as panelists. The discussion was skillfully moderated by our very own Professor Carlos Fernández-Loría.

During the panel, the speakers shared their invaluable real-life experiences and offered practical tips, emphasizing that being a successful data professional goes well beyond technical skills like Python coding or statistical knowledge. Our students gained valuable insights from these discussions. Additionally, Carlos deftly incorporated technology, including Slido, to facilitate audience questions and receive real-time responses. I would like to extend my gratitude to our board member, Mr. Mike Mastroyiannis, and Ms. Cristiane Ross from our Design Thinking team for attending this event. Special thanks also go to Matthew Fok and Marcela Barrios León for their hard work in making this activity possible.

Overall, the panel discussion was a tremendous success, and I am confident that it has further enriched our students' understanding of the business aspects of data analytics. We remain committed to delivering valuable experiences like these throughout their MSBA journey.