According to Sanjana Varanasi (’24SPS), the field of applied analytics is made up of two main elements: solving problems and communicating solutions.
With a multidisciplinary background in sectors such as banking and marketing, Varanasi has always been guided by her passion for understanding people through data. She now works as the people analytics and insights manager at T-Mobile, and she credits her time in the M.S. in Applied Analytics (APAN) program with preparing her to engage in analytical decision-making and communicate insights effectively.
Tell us a bit about your journey to this field and to Columbia.
My path to analytics has been shaped by a series of pivots. I began with an interest in behavioral economics and statistics, which sparked my curiosity about how people make decisions and how data can help us understand those patterns. That curiosity eventually led me to marketing, where I started exploring how data could be used to understand customer behavior and inform strategy. As I gained more exposure to these areas, I realized I wanted to strengthen my analytical foundation and build the technical skills needed to work more directly with data. That’s what led me to the APAN program at Columbia.
The program offered the perfect balance of technical analytics training and real-world problem solving, and studying in New York City made the experience even more exciting. Collaborating with classmates from diverse backgrounds showed me how powerful analytics can be when different perspectives come together to solve complex problems.
What was your favorite experience or memory from the APAN program?
One of my favorite memories from the program was the in-person Data Science Consulting course. Its immersive format simulated what it feels like to work as a data scientist in a consulting environment, where you are constantly tackling various types of business problems across industries. It guided us through the entire problem-solving process: understanding the organization’s challenge, evaluating the available data, exploring different analytical approaches, and ultimately presenting our findings in a way that stakeholders could act on.
I especially enjoyed how the course pushed us to learn new frameworks quickly while balancing technical rigor with business priorities. It brought together many of the skills we were developing throughout the program and demonstrated how applied analytics works in real-world decision-making contexts.
How have you applied what you learned during your time at Columbia to your career?
The Research Design course had the greatest impact on my career and ultimately led me to my current role. The course emphasized that analytics begins with asking the right questions. Before applying statistical techniques, we learned to consider the decisions organizations are trying to make, the available data, and how to design a methodologically sound approach to evaluating evidence.
After graduating, I applied these lessons as I transitioned into people analytics at T-Mobile. The role involves answering complex organizational questions, such as understanding the drivers of employee engagement, retention, and workforce performance, and the research design framework has been incredibly valuable in structuring those analyses.
Just as important, the course reinforced the need to communicate insights clearly to stakeholders, ensuring they can meaningfully inform decision-making.
The APAN program recently unveiled new concentrations: Emerging Technologies and Quantitative Management. As a program graduate who works in the industry, how might these concentrations benefit students?
In practice, analytics professionals are often asked to solve complex business problems that require both technical depth and strategic thinking. These concentrations allow students to develop deeper expertise while still maintaining the interdisciplinary perspective that makes APAN so powerful.
As the analytics field continues to evolve rapidly, and as organizations increasingly adopt AI, machine learning, and automation to support decision-making, these concentrations are becoming ever more important. By introducing emerging technologies and practicing structured analytical approaches to make strategic decisions, they prepare students not just to analyze data but to help organizations make better, more informed decisions.
What advice would you give to incoming APAN students on how to make the most of their time at Columbia?
My biggest advice is to keep an open mind and embrace the interdisciplinary nature of the program. Analytics touches almost every field—from finance and healthcare to marketing and organizational strategy—and some of the most interesting opportunities come from connecting ideas across these areas.
I would also encourage students to take advantage of the people around them. Classmates bring diverse professional and academic experiences, and many of the most valuable insights emerge through collaboration.
Finally, remember that analytics is not just about tools or models. It’s about how you approach problems: structuring complex questions, considering multiple possibilities, and communicating insights in a way that decision-makers can easily understand and act on.
About the Program
Columbia University’s Master of Science in Applied Analytics prepares students with the practical data and leadership skills to succeed. The program combines in-depth knowledge of data analytics with the leadership, management, and communication principles and tactics necessary to impact decision-making across industries and organizational functions.
Learn more about the program here. The program is available full-time and part-time, online and on-campus.
