Since Fall 2019 to this past summer, more than 100 Bryn Mawr students have participated in professional training programs related to data analytics and career readiness by Aesop Academy.
Aesop Academy is led by Panos Panidis (HC ’09). Each week-long session focuses on a set of both soft skills and technical knowledge that can be applied to a wide variety of professional pursuits.
“Coming out of the program, students become adaptable problem solvers, technically agile, and grow as ‘hybrid’ business-technical employees comfortable in their transferable abilities in this digital age and confident with their level of professionalism,” says Panidis.
Joan Ndichu '21, a double major in economics and mathematics from Nairobi, Kenya, was among the students to take part in the data analytics intensive.
“It was an impactful experience in my career path as I learned and developed technical skills alongside other skills,” says Joan. “I was only expecting to grow my data analysis skills but I got more than that. I was also able to develop my leadership, teamwork and professional skills.”
Computer science major Nisha Choudhary '21 says the academy helped her learn how to work with others in a virtual environment, perform better data analysis using Microsoft Excel, and how to use Tableau to create data visualizations.
“With these new skills, it helps me add to my current skillset and be able to work with data more effectively,” says Nisha.
For América Nájera '22, a mathematics and economics double major from New York City, the data analytics intensive was her second experience with the Aesop Academy. In October 2019 she took the Professional and Technical Skills intensive.
“Aesop's Data Analytics intensive was the perfect intensive since it taught me the importance of a company's warehouse, how to find and export data, how to break down and analyze data, and finally to put together advanced Powerpoint presentations,” she says. “I would definitely recommend the program to anyone interested in going outside their comfort zone to learn something new and to challenge yourself.
“Bryn Mawr has taught me the soft skills required to be a professional, and Aesop has taught me the hard skills needed to get the job done. The partnership of BMC and Aesop is perfect.”
Panidis began the academy in 2014. As a liberal arts major who entered the job market in the midst of a recession, he realized how important it is to have a mix of practical business and industry skills and knowledge to complement the critical thinking skills he’d honed at Haverford.
“The current economic climate and limited opportunities remind me of the same challenges during the previous recession,” says Panidis. “There was a lot I had to learn to advance my networking, career prep, and skill development in order to standout in a job market where many candidates are pursuing the same few opportunities.”
The Career & Civic Engagement Center will partner with Aesop again for two programs in the fall and another during winter break. Interested students should keep an eye out for an email from the Career & Civic Engagement Center and check Handshake for more details when they become available.