From quiet student to confident leader

Undertaking his Master of Business Analytics enabled Jack to develop his personal brand from a curiously quiet student, to a confident, connected mentor. A journey of possibility – from quiet curiosity to confidence, connection, and mentorship.

• Name: Jack Lin
• Current Role: Data and Insights Specialist
• Program: Full-time Master of Business Analytics, Melbourne Business School
• Cohort: 2023
• Notables: Cohort Dux, Recipient of Forethought Roberts Prize; MBS Award of Distinction; Dean’s commendation award for subject Causal Analytics; Jetstar Case Competition 2023; Student fellow for Centre of Business Analytics

Discovering a passion

For Jack, new technologies have long been a source of fascination.

“Seeing AI develop, the potential it has, and the amazing directions it’s going in, I wanted to be a part of it and to be on that path,” he said.However, Jack didn’t initially plan a career in data. He chose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in commerce at the University of Melbourne, believing it was a safer option.

But, he quickly found himself drawn to the degree’s metrics-based side, including maths and statistical modelling.

After completing his undergraduate degree and with a thirst for deeper technological knowledge, Jack set out to find a postgraduate program that he felt would match his future ambitions.

Why Melbourne Business School

A friend's strong recommendation led Jack to explore the Master of Business Analytics at Melbourne Business School.

“I was excited by the curriculum,” he said.

“It felt totally unique. It covered topics I liked, which opens more career fields."

Jack joined the MBusA in 2023 and is keen to reinforce how much he benefited from the program’s broad scope.

“Thinking back, I know that I learnt so much,” he said.

“In fact, in a single year, I gained more from my Master’s in Business Analytics than what I learned in my undergrad degree.”

Inside the MBA experience

The MBusA offered Jack excellent preparation for the busy world of work.

“It was intense and fast-paced. You have to work hard to stay on track, which I liked because it mirrors the work of a full-time job,” he said.

“A lot of us felt the same way.”

For Jack, who is by nature quite shy, Melbourne Business School’s strong networking opportunities and rich social scene encouraged him to step out of his comfort zone and get to know more people.

“It was a small class, so I saw my classmates every day, and we became very close,” he said.

“I met people from diverse backgrounds and really enjoyed learning from them.”

This was valuable for Jack, as it helped him learn to engage with senior stakeholders.

“I remember having conversations with our Dean and feeling pretty awkward at times,” he laughed.

“But when I pushed myself, I realised this is something I could actually do but had always shied away from.”

With his increasing self-confidence, Jack was able to use his social skills to give back to the MBusA community.

From mentee to mentor

“I became a mentor,” Jack said, proudly.

For context, MBS offers a variety of mentor opportunities including the Master of Business Analytics Mentoring Program which pairs current students with alumni, and MentorLink, which pairs alumni with each other.

Jack was invited to become a mentor for the broader University’s Ask Alumni program after completing his master’s, reflecting the University’s recognition of his achievements at MBS.

Keen to stay connected to the school and having personally benefited from being a mentee during his time there, he was happy to volunteer and use his experience to help current students with future career planning.

“I've mentored two people since graduating and expect to have another this year,” he said

“We discuss their goals, and I suggest roles to apply for and help review their resumes.

“It's a great opportunity. I also learn from my mentees, what motivates them, and how they think."

Putting skills to work

Now working for publisher Broadsheet Media, Jack says he gained too many skills to list during his time at MBS.

One area that stood out in his experience is marketing mix modelling, which he has applied alongside time series techniques to identify key drivers of website traffic growth across digital channels.

“I use it all the time,” he said.

“And the technical stuff I learned on the course, like Python and SQL, has been fantastic for turning all that data into something useful.

“Having that knowledge has just made my day-to-day work much easier.”

Message for future students

Jack’s message to future students is to just enjoy the experience and participate as much as possible.

“You’ll make lots of friends, learn a lot, and have loads of fun at the same time,” he said.

“My advice is to get involved in as much as you can.

“There are loads of clubs you can join, events to attend, and all sorts of different people from different backgrounds you’ll get to know.”

Made Not born – Jack’s interpretation

Jack’s interpretation of Made. Not born is deeply introspective.

“My interpretation is that some traits are hidden,” he said.

"I was a shy, introverted kid, not outgoing. Networking wasn't natural for me at MBS.

“But what really changed was being pushed out of my comfort zone. Having to ask questions and meet people.

“It made me realise that I had these skills all along. So I’d say, these traits aren’t created—they’re awakened. You just have to give yourself the chance to use them.”

At Melbourne Business School, Jack got that opportunity to connect and grow.