Master of Information Technology and Analytics: A family tradition

Since graduating from Rutgers Business School’s Master of Information Technology and Analytics (MITA) program in 2018, Vaidehi Thaker has held technical/engineering program manager positions specializing in Data Science, Engineering, and Infrastructure at several international technology companies in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Google and, currently, Apple.

“I have wanted to pursue computer science and engineering since my early school days at S.N. Kansagra in Rajkot, Gujarat, India,” Vaidehi said. “I began working in the tech industry, synthesizing data. These were the early days of data science, looking at connections and leveraging data to apply to business.”

After working for three years, building her skills and abilities, Vaidehi started looking into master’s programs to advance her career. She looked for a program offering a wide range of career options and the depth of learning to give her the expertise to lead global cross-functional teams. She wanted a program to bridge the gap between technology and business, applying actionable data insights to inform strategy. 

“I was looking to advance my data science skill set to the leading edge of the technology and prepare myself to continue growing with the advancing profession,” Vaidehi said. 

Her research led her to Rutgers Business School’s MITA program. “RBS MITA was the only program that fit my interests and career goals, offering the breadth of courses taught by faculty with the professional experience to connect theory to practice,” she said. “Moving halfway around the world from India to the U.S. was a big decision for me. It was a tremendous help to have family in New Jersey who were so supportive.”

A highlight from her time at Rutgers Business School was a negotiation class with Professor Terri R. Kurtzberg. Besides business students, law and medical school students were taking the class. Professor Kurtzberg's interdisciplinary approaches to one-on-one and team negotiations made the class an exceptional experience for Vaidehi.

Vaidehi’s résumé now includes technical/engineering program & product manager positions at Affine, Google, founding technical program manager of OneHouse, and now an engineering program manager at Apple.

Vaidehi’s brother Parth is on a similar path, yet all his own. Parth, too, concentrated on computer engineering at S.N. Kansagra School but had not yet decided on a career path.

“I worked in Sales Analytics and Business Intelligence for two and a half years and began thinking about a U.S. graduate degree, but then COVID hit,” said Parth. “I continued working for another couple of years, gaining valuable experience before finally making the move.”

After a few years, the time seemed right, Parth took a close look at the MITA program and what his sister, Vaidehi, was able to do with the degree.

“I’ve always loved person-to-person interactions and had already developed strong soft skills,” said Parth. “What I wanted next was to hone my hard skills and dive deeper into the world of data. The MITA program was the perfect bridge between business and technology.”

He took a project management course with Dr. Leon Herszon, adjunct professor, focusing on project management, real-world applications, including artificial intelligence, which he described as “amazing.” 

A few years after Vaidehi took Analytics of Business Intelligence with Associate Professor of Professional Practice Wajahat Gilani, Parth took the same course. “Dr. Gilani is exceptional. His classes are engaging, and he teaches with real passion for the subject,” he said. Vaidehi agreed. Parth added that he took the class at 8 a.m. on weekends, which speaks volumes about Dr. Gilani’s teaching.

Outside the classroom, Parth earned five licenses and certifications to support his career goals. He was also president of the Master’s in Information Technology and Analytics Student Association (MITSA). In this role, he was recognized with the MITA Student Leadership & Service Award for his volunteerism, leadership, and commitment to making a positive impact, going above and beyond to contribute meaningfully to the well-being of others.

Parth graduated from the MITA program in December of 2024 and is a business intelligence analyst with United Airlines.

The breadth and depth of the MITA program made it the perfect fit for Vaidehi and Parth, who are very different individuals pursuing different career paths. Vaidehi said she is still in touch with classmates and professors who mentored her. Parth has also realized the value of the Rutgers network. “Through the Rutgers Business School brand name recognition," he said, "I continually make new connections with alumni.”

- Sean Ireland