Citra Dini Yatie MSc

The course

Why did you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh Business School (UEBS)?

I chose UEBS mainly because it is a highly respected business school with world-class influence in management studies. I also wanted to be a part of a university that is not only steeped in history but is also leading today’s conversation.

Like everyone else who has lived in Edinburgh, I fell deeply in love with this beautiful city.

What was it about the degree programme that particularly attracted you?

I found the MSc Data and Decision Analytics programme attractive for a few reasons. I wanted to gain an MSc from a highly prestigious university. In addition, the programme offers a balanced combination of technical and business aspects and is delivered in a flexible online format. As a result, I don’t need to compromise my office responsibilities and can continue progressing with my career, scheduling my studies around work.

Your career

Can you tell us about your career before and after graduating?

I am currently a senior manager in the change management division at PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk.

As a transformation accelerator, my job is to ensure that my organisation adapts to the ever-changing business landscape, while remaining committed to its long-term objectives. In the next five years, I will lead strategic initiatives to help the company remain competitive against new players in areas such as fintech, digital banking, and peer-to-peer lending.

My MSc enables me to innovate and initiate progress.

How did your degree prepare you for your career?

In my current line of work, I see first-hand the growing importance of data analytics. More and more business decisions are made based on empirical analysis instead of intuition or judgment. That is where I contribute most with my analytical skills.

My degree has taught me all of the essential tools and techniques to perform data analysis. It also enhances my credibility. It sets me apart from other colleagues and plays a critical role in my career progression.

Masters of Change

What notable changes has your degree enabled you to make in your professional or personal life?

Using Jupyter, a programme the university supplies, I am improving my analytical skills and can now analyse any type of data and act on that information.

During my study, and especially because it is an online degree, I also cultivate valuable personal qualities such as resilience, time management, and self-discipline.

What are the changes you have been able to make in your chosen field, of which you are most proud?

When my team was assigned to work on an acquisition plan of a competitor, I took a different approach. Instead of analysing the market as an aggregate, we delved deeper into the data of each and every market participant over a long period of time. This means we had to collect, classify and scrutinise massive amounts of granular data.

It resulted in a very robust financial analysis and our findings helped the company make a well-informed decision on a high-profile merger and acquisition.

How did your studies at the Business School help you to make those changes?

During my studies, I learned to craft a solution around data. Now my first instinct is always to seek more data before making a decision. I have come to believe that data is a necessity. Most importantly, my degree is empowering me to be a change-maker. I am now more confident to take the first step, to innovate, and to initiate progress.

Course highlights and advice

What are your best memories on the programme?

When I first started learning to code with Python, I was worried I would fall behind and never be able to catch up. However, my instructors were patient and there were a lot of university resources available to programming newbies like me. I also made the most of the weekly Python clinic and always got help for even a trivial problem.

Now that I know my fears were unfounded, I can say with confidence that coding is one of my analytical powers.

What one piece of advice would you give to current students and recent graduates?

Never fear change, embrace it with open arms.