Heejae (Jay) Roh, MPS in Analytics ’24, on Reaching Goals: “Find People To Do Things With”
When Heejae (Jay) Roh walked into a Santa Cruz beach with a surfboard under his arm in February last year, he had no surfing experience, and he couldn’t swim, either. But there were people willing to help. Some pointed him toward the good spots for beginners, others showed him how to paddle, and a few even called out instructions when the waves rolled in. It was as if everybody on the beach was on his team.
Having played sports his whole life—from elementary school to college, where he was vice-captain of the soccer team and captain of the basketball team, and up to this day, as a member of the Palo Alto Adult Soccer League—Roh can’t help but see the world through a lens of interdependence; to believe in the power of teamwork, on and off the pitch. While enrolled in the Master of Professional Studies in Analytics program, he embraced collaboration and lifting up (and being uplifted by) his peers.
Team spirit on campus
With his classmate and friend Nikshita Ranganathan, he founded the Northeastern University Adobe Club for students on campus to “inspire one another and generate ideas together” using the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. Together, Roh and Ranganathan led workshops, launched competitions, hosted collaborative work sessions, and organized trips, including a visit to the Adobe headquarters.
As a teaching assistant for the course “Probability Theory and Introduction to Statistics”, Roh helped students struggling with statistics (or the feeling that data science might not be for them) by coaching them through challenges and reminding them of their strengths. “In sports, even when we are losing, we can focus on our play and stay positive,” he said. “I really love that. In my daily life, I also enjoy giving compliments and positive feedback.”
Heejae (left) with other students after giving a presentation about the Adobe Club on campus
But it was while working on real-world projects for partner organizations within Northeastern’s Experiential Network that Roh had a chance to shine as both a team leader and a rising data science expert.
For a 3-D printing company looking to connect more effectively with prospects and clients, he and four of his classmates performed a customer segmentation analysis. “We converted data into an actionable marketing strategy for them,” Roh said. “I’m really proud of the discussions we had and the work we did as a team.”
His teams also helped a hotel chain better predict booking cancellations and a leading fashion retailer gain insights into its reputation. Applying what he learned from decades of playing in sports, Roh took on the role of project manager, leading weekly meetings, negotiating deadlines, and checking in with his teammates.
Community connections and new contacts
Outside of campus, Roh also sought collaborators and accountability partners. To stay active, he started his own soccer team and also joined the Palo Alto Adult Soccer League, ensuring he got two games in every week. “Every time I play soccer, I get more energy. I can do more in my studies and professionally,” he said.
To maintain a regular study routine in machine learning, data science, SQL, and Python, he started four virtual study groups on Discord. “Studying isn’t natural, but it’s important,” he said. “Virtual study groups push me to study more,” he said.
Heejae with machine learning pioneer Andrew Ng (right).
Whether it’s keeping physically or mentally active, he said, doing things with other people helps him stay on track. “What I found is that consistency helps. What’s the best way to cultivate consistency? Find people to do things with.”
To learn new skills, Roh also goes to industry conferences and networking events. “Continuously learning something is the key factor to data analysis, because new technologies come out every day and we have to understand what’s going on,” he said. As a bonus, these events remind him that he’s part of a larger community of AI explorers and innovators, many of whom are actively working toward a better future.
“What I found is that consistency helps. How do you cultivate consistency? Find people to do stuff with.”
Data science and real world impact
Roh is passionate about using data science for the greater good. Before coming to the US, while working at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, he applied his self-taught Python, Tableau, and SQL skills to analyze government data, uncovering insights that helped boost public awareness of COVID-19 government policies and reduce domestic abuse of disabled individuals during the pandemic. “I realized that data can improve the way we do things and change countries for the better,” he said.
The experience, which earned him recognition from senior colleagues and a promotion within less than a year, inspired him to seek formal education in data analytics.
As he prepares to start his career in data science in the U.S., having just finished his Master’s, making a positive impact continues to be his greatest inspiration. “So many people have helped me in my journey, he said. “I want to give back.”
A seasoned surfer now, he’ll be ready to seize the right opportunity when it comes along.
