Business analytics alumnus Christian Lahaine furthers career goals, achievements with W. P. Carey degrees

For veteran and alum Christian Lahaine (BS Business Data Analytics '22, MS Business Analytics '24), returning to ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business for a master's degree provided an opportunity to refine the skills and knowledge he first gained during his undergraduate program.

Pursuing a graduate business degree is a great way to gain specialized skills that put you on the forefront of the workforce. For veteran and alum Christian Lahaine (BS Business Data Analytics '22, MS Business Analytics '24), returning to ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business provided an opportunity to refine the skills and knowledge he first gained during his undergraduate program.

"W. P. Carey has given me a solid foundation of practical skills and knowledge to help me succeed in my career," Lahaine says. "[The school offered] the specific degree that interested me, aligned with my career aspirations, and having completed my undergraduate at ASU, I was confident I would have a similar experience."

Lahaine spoke with the W. P. Carey School about his choice to pursue a master's degree in business analytics, how graduate school has impacted his career so far, and his advice for students considering a similar path.

Why W. P. Carey?

"I am a veteran and had time left on my GI Bill, so I felt it would be silly not to pursue graduate studies," says Lahaine, who served in the Army. "It could only benefit me, and the cost was taken care of."

Although W. P. Carey offers an Online MS-BA program, Lahaine decided that the on-campus experience would be the right fit for him. “I wanted the benefit of going to class in person, which I believe offers a more in-depth experience and chance to meet others,” he says.

That included meeting and connecting with W. P. Carey faculty, who made a meaningful impact on his experience. "All were extremely helpful and truly cared about your success. Classes were challenging, fun, and exposed me to a lot of different tools and ideas."

MS-BA students have the unique opportunity to learn from renowned faculty in the W. P. Carey Department of Supply Chain Management and the W. P. Carey Department of Information Systems. “The faculty is made up of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, research scientists, and many others that are experts in their fields,” Lahaine says. “The quality of programs, level of detail, and support offered prepares you to excel in your chosen career path.”

Why business analytics?

Lahaine completed a financial technology bootcamp at ASU in 2020 and received his bachelor's degree in business data analytics from W. P. Carey in 2022. But a year later, he still wanted to learn more about the complex world of analytics.

The STEM-designated MS-BA curriculum matched Lahaine's interests and long-term career aspirations, providing a more in-depth understanding of business analytics concepts and the chance to build skills including Python programming language, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and decision modeling using Excel and other software.

"W. P. Carey has given me a solid foundation of practical skills and knowledge to help me succeed in my career," Lahaine says. “They also provide plenty of resources for professional development and events to continue networking.”

Around the time he graduated from the MS-BA, Lahaine began his current role as a senior director of data science at Annexus Group, a financial services company based in Scottsdale, Arizona. He greatly enjoys the work he is doing for Annexus and looks forward to seeing how his career grows and evolves.

What's next?

"In the future, I hope to continue progressing within my company and advance into a more senior position where I can contribute more to our organizational goals," Lahaine says. "I'm passionate about the work I do and eager to continue developing my professional and leadership skills within my company."

Another passion of Lahaine's is sports, and a dream of his would be to combine that with his knowledge and love of analytics. "I aspire to create a sports analytics company to provide content, insights, and value to the overall industry," he says.

Lahaine encourages future students to follow their passions and achieve their career goals at ASU. "W. P. Carey offers many degree programs, so there should be something that aligns to most people's interests," he says. "There is an ocean of resources available to you, led by brilliant people that are invested in your success, pre- and post-graduation."

He acknowledges that graduate programs demand "much more of you than undergrad does," but says that the benefits for professional and personal growth make it worthwhile, especially when taking advantage of everything offered.

"There is a diverse and rich community that can expand your horizons and allow you to meet and work with great people from many different backgrounds and cultures," Lahaine says. "Immerse yourself fully, participate often, collaborate with others, get acquainted with faculty, and put forth full effort."