Poppy Cao
Poppy graduated with a Master of Business Analytics and is currently a Commercial Analyst with Mercury. She finds fulfilment in her work, where she can see how her data informs strategic decisions.
During the research phase of her postgraduate study journey, Poppy realised that university reputation is an important consideration for her, leading her to the University of Auckland. She chose the Master of Business Analytics as it offered course content to get her industry ready with its combination of business and technical knowledge.
Clubs are a great way to meet people with a common interest and when she first arrived at the University, she “didn’t know how many clubs there are, because there are so many. I joined a ski club myself and made very good friends there”.
She received support from both the teaching and business school support staff, and especially enjoyed using the Career Development and Employability Services (CDES) and the online MyCDES+ platform. “I was able to make appointments for support with my CV and cover letter, and attended many inspiring events to help me get ready for future work”.
After graduation, Poppy was able to work in her chosen field. “As a data analyst, my work is to help the business analyse relevant data, including sales data, customer data, and marketing activity data to help inform strategic decisions. I enjoy this process very much as its very fulfilling how my data directly helps the company make decisions”.
Outside of her studies, Poppy also saw the need for “a Chinese community for data analysts. Since its inception in 2021, our community has grown to over 750 members, and we have organized more than 30 industry events, demonstrating my commitment to leadership and the field of data. Additionally, advocating for women in technology has always been a key passion of mine”.