Gabriella Pauline Djojosaputro
Master of IT in Business (Analytics)
Graduation Class of 2022
Data Scientist, Shift Technology
I am Gabriella Pauline Djojosaputro, an alumna of MITB (Analytics Track) Class of 2022. Shortly after COVID-19 first emerged, I applied to MITB as a fresh graduate, with a Bachelor of Cyber Security and Forensics & Business Information Systems degree. With the uncertainty in economic conditions back then, it was not easy for me to find a job in Singapore. The MITB degree has paved a smoother path for me to enter the job market, and I am currently working as a Data Scientist at UOB Asset Management.
With my decision to take a Master’s degree being kind of last minute, many universities have closed their application window for the 2020 intake. By comparing the reviews and programme ranking of those that are still open, I narrowed down my option to SMU’s Masters. MITB was my final choice because I believe it is a versatile programme that allows me to move into various industries, since the skills and knowledge acquired are highly transferrable
The internship attachment as AI/Data Analytics Intern at UOB Asset Management was fun and rewarding. The models that I developed during the internship are actually used by business users within the company to help their decision-making process. I had the chance to experience end-to-end data science projects, including data gathering, data wrangling, feature engineering, model training, hyperparameter tuning, presenting to users, and even UI development.
MITB has built all the required foundational knowledge for my current work as a data scientist, from statistical and machine learning concepts to programming. Not only in the technical aspects, but SMU’s interactive teaching style has improved my soft skills as well.
On top of the rigorous curriculum, meeting people with diverse backgrounds and journeys was eye-opening. It was fascinating to be in a community of people who are motivated to learn, and I really admire some of my classmates who are even juggling a full-time job and/or a family during the MITB programme. I miss studying at Kwa Geok Choo Library too… It has such a nice view!
MITB professors are definitely knowledgeable and armed with extensive experience in the industry. I appreciate how the professors are helpful and patient in explaining concepts that students struggle to understand, and we can freely ask questions without reservations. Prof Kam Tin Seong has inspired me the most during my MITB journey because he really goes the extra mile to transfer his knowledge. When I felt like complaining about the heaps of assignments from Prof Kam, I remembered that he pulls all-nighters to mark our assignments as much as we do to complete them.
I believe the data science industry is still growing, and the demand for talent will continue to increase in the upcoming years. MITB may look intimidating, and it does require you to work hard, but it’s worth the effort. Don’t be afraid to take the difficult modules if you think they would be useful, because ultimately the learning is more important than the grades you get. Wishing my fellow juniors all the best for your future journey!
