POV shares insights from the 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ University community on important topics. Olivia Jákli earned a master's degree in computer science in 2024 after initially earning a bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising in 2015. She analyzes data for an e-commerce business selling luxury fashion, jewelry, art and vintage collectibles in Los Angeles, California, and recently encouraged others to embrace calculated risks by sharing insights from her career transition journey.
The greater the risk, the greater the reward.
Or something along those lines.
A career pivot is a substantial risk, and to those who have done so, are currently doing so, or just started thinking about it, I salute you.
It might not seem like it, but each role has taken me one step closer to a career in data science.
I received my bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising, which was focused on business. This allowed me to develop a clear understanding of statistics, communication, collaboration and problem-solving.
91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ University offered me a well-rounded education, one that ‘forced’ me to complete challenging math classes, microeconomics and even a class focused specifically on analyzing data using Excel. I gained insight into how and why individuals and firms make decisions, the mathematical formulas that explain them, and the tools needed in their communication.
Many are drawn to fashion as an avenue for creativity and artistic expression, but it is so much more than that.
I learned to identify patterns and build upon them. I understand how parts relate to the whole, how everything is interconnected, and how seemingly distant industries can have an enormous impact on trends and business overall.
For example, major stress-inducing global events like financial crises, political turmoil and environmental distress can drive preferences in big, baggy, comfortable clothing styles.
During my internship with , I strengthened my programming skills by using C++ (a language I had no business working with) to manipulate microcontrollers. Additionally, I learned how to break stuff and put them back together, and to approach seemingly impossible problems independently.
For my master’s research project, I worked with the Earth Sciences department to take on the biggest challenge I had so far encountered: selecting an appropriate cloud masking algorithm for the purpose of detecting harmful algal blooms in a freshwater environment.
Remote sensing was an entirely new field for me, in addition to many of the concepts I was simultaneously learning in my computer science courses, such as machine learning and deep learning.
I went from feeling overwhelmed with new information to an overwhelming feeling of pride and excitement.
Olivia Jákli grew up in Kent, Ohio, and she originally shared.