From Chemistry to Data Analytics: A Business Insights and Analytics Graduate's Inspiring Journey

Switching careers can be daunting, but for Shajid Rahman, a Humber Business Insights and Analytics (BIA) graduate and Customer Data Analyst at Grainger Canada, the transition was not just possible but rewarding.

With a background in Chemistry, Shajid had little experience in coding or analytics. However, through Humber’s Business Insights and Analytics (BIA) program, he gained the skills, confidence, and industry knowledge to carve out a successful career in data analytics. Today, he uses data-driven insights to help Grainger Canada optimize business operations and improve customer experiences.

During his Chemistry studies, Shajid became intrigued by how data was shaping industries, driving innovations, and solving real-world problems.

"I saw how data was being used to enhance research, make business decisions, and even improve patient care in pharmaceuticals. That’s when I decided—this is where I want to be."

With this realization, he took a leap of faith and enrolled in Humber’s BIA program, ready to embrace the world of data.

Q&A With Shajid Rahman

How did the BIA program help you transition from Chemistry to Data Analytics?

Humber’s BIA program provided a structured and practical learning experience, which was crucial for someone like me coming from a non-technical background. The hands-on approach in courses like Data Analytics Tools and Quantitative Methods helped me build essential technical skills, including SQL, Python, Power BI, and Excel.

Initially, I had no prior experience in coding, but the program’s step-by-step learning method made it easy to grasp. I particularly benefited from working with Excel, where I mastered functions like VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, and Solver—skills I now use daily in my job. The program’s real-world applications and case studies made complex technical concepts more accessible, allowing me to transition smoothly into analytics.

What role did Humber’s faculty and career guidance play in your journey?

The support I received from Humber’s faculty was instrumental in my success. Two professors, in particular, played a significant role in shaping my career.

Professor Prabhpreet Sidhu and his approachable teaching style made even the most complex concepts easy to understand. I never felt intimidated by coding or analytics because of the way he broke things down.

Professor Nataliya Korchagina and her Career Development course were a game-changer for me. Initially, I thought that good grades and technical skills were enough to land a job. However, through her guidance, I realized the importance of networking, optimizing my LinkedIn profile, and preparing for job interviews. Professor Nataliya continued mentoring me even after I graduated, helping me refine my resume and prepare job applications. Her advice on networking and personal branding played a huge role in securing my first analytics position.

This combination of technical training and career mentorship helped me transition into the industry with confidence.

How did hands-on projects prepare you for real-world analytics challenges?

One of the best aspects of the BIA program was its emphasis on hands-on projects. Working with real datasets prepared me for the challenges I now face as a data analyst.

In class, we learned to handle messy data—fixing errors, dealing with missing values, and optimizing datasets for analysis. These experiences taught me that in the real world, data is never perfect. You have to think critically, clean and process data efficiently, and extract meaningful insights.

The projects at Humber trained me to approach problems logically and apply my technical skills to solve them. Today, whether I’m analyzing customer behaviour or optimizing business processes, I use the same problem-solving mindset I developed during my coursework.

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