Graduate of CPS: Anant Ashishkumar Soni
Master of Professional Studies in Analytics
First-Generation College Graduate
Where are you from, or where do you consider home?
I’m from India.
Three words to describe your experience at Northeastern:
Transformative. Supportive. Empowering.
What motivated you to continue through challenging times?
During challenging times, I stayed motivated by remembering why I began this journey: to build a meaningful career in data and use my skills to solve real-world problems. Each difficult course, project, and new technical concept was helping me become more capable and better prepared for the opportunities ahead. My progress, even in small steps, reminded me that persistence matters. I was also motivated by the support of the Northeastern community and the belief that completing this degree would create a stronger foundation for both my personal and professional future.
What has your journey revealed to you about yourself?
My journey at Northeastern revealed that I am more adaptable, resilient, and capable than I initially realized. Balancing graduate-level coursework, technical projects, professional experience, and the transition to a new environment pushed me to become more confident in solving unfamiliar problems. It also showed me that I genuinely enjoy turning complex data into practical insights, and that I can trust my own ability to grow through challenges rather than avoid them.
Experiential learning is a core component of a Northeastern education. Describe some of the highlights for you.
One of the most meaningful parts of my Northeastern experience was applying what I learned in the classroom to real business problems. During my data analyst internship at ImEx Cargo, I worked with website visitor data, CRM workflows, lead management, and operational reporting. I built Power BI dashboards to help the team better understand website engagement and business activity, and I supported automation efforts that improved how leads were organized and followed up. These experiences helped me see how analytics creates value beyond technical outputs. I learned how important it is to understand stakeholder needs, work with imperfect data, communicate insights clearly, and build solutions that people can actually use.
Where do you imagine yourself five years from now?
I see myself as a data and analytics professional leading projects that turn complex information into practical business decisions, working closely with cross-functional teams, building solutions that create measurable value, and continuing to develop my skills in analytics, machine learning, and AI. I also see myself giving back by mentoring students and early-career professionals navigating the same transition from education to industry that I experienced.
This degree was not only about gaining technical knowledge. It helped me become more confident, adaptable, and intentional about the kind of impact I want to create through my work.
Anant Ashishkumar Soni
Is there anything else you wanted to say that we didn’t cover?
I am deeply grateful to the faculty, advisors, and classmates who made my Northeastern experience meaningful. I’m proud to be part of the CPS community and look forward to staying connected as an alumnus. I hope my journey reflects that growth comes from being open to learning, taking on unfamiliar challenges, and making the most of every opportunity along the way.
