Data is only the beginning for ambitious business student
KALAMAZOO, Mich.— Ethan Collyer, a senior studying computer information systems at Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business, is putting himself out into the professional business world one step at a time. Collyer is passionate about the work he is doing and is always looking for new opportunities.
This past summer, he got the chance to work for Avanade, a subsidiary of Accenture, as a data engineering intern. He was originally drawn to the position because Accenture currently ranks high for employee satisfaction. The internship was a part of his desired industry while also being relevant to his major—it was a perfect fit! His responsibilities included updating project tasks and troubleshooting to ensure his team’s work was accounted for and completed before the project’s deadline. He also transformed low-quality data into valuable data so the client could use it for making advantageous business decisions.
“I am passionate about utilizing the power of data with machine learning to generate value for businesses,” he says. “I find it particularly exciting to have the opportunity to work with AI in the future. In fact, writing code that teaches computers how to predict trends using data from the past can be fun. I am now looking to further apply that knowledge and learn how to teach computers to recognize people, dogs, cars, and other things in real-time video."
Being a student at WMU Haworth has also helped Collyer prepare for his professional journey, especially the way he markets himself.
“The college has helped me so much with professional development regarding my resume, LinkedIn and interviewing skills. As basic as these assets may seem, they are the first resources that employers use to evaluate us as job candidates, making them critical for our professionalism,” he says, adding that his communication skills have improved significantly since attending events held by WMU Haworth. These skills have already served Collyer well in his internship, and they are sure to carry over as he continues down his professional path.
Collyer also found the faculty connection at WMU Haworth of great value. “Faculty members care about the success of their students, so they are all super supportive of my education,” he says. “I think that having a comfortable dynamic with my faculty has allowed me to ask questions in the classroom, and even approach professors one-on-one when I need extra help.”
Staying involved on campus has also been valuable to Collyer’s time at WMU. He has served as president of the Business Analytics and Information Technology Association, a mentor for the Business Association of Mentors and the treasurer of the National Parks Club.
As he finishes up the last year of his undergraduate degree, he offers some advice to his fellow students, “Experiment with different majors and extracurricular events until you find something you are passionate about. I used to be confused about what I wanted to study, but that changed once I started getting involved on campus with new activities and trying out different courses. WMU Haworth is a great environment that will encourage you through that process!”
After his graduation this December, Collyer hopes to be at the forefront of innovative machine learning technologies to help address the constant change in the world of tech and beyond.
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