IOMP Alumni

 

I apply my I-O training in advanced analytics and research methods to my daily work as a Senior People Analytics Analyst, where I manage all aspects of People Analytics operations, including system administration, full-cycle implementation, data governance, and change management. My responsibilities include integrating disparate data sources, optimizing operational workflows, and developing metrics, dimensions, and attributes for use in dashboards to analyze trends in people data. This allows our People Analytics team and clients to tell stories using people data to drive business outcomes, effect organizational change, improve performance, and foster an inclusive workplace culture at DocuSign.

Additionally, I serve as a Senior People Analytics Consultant for the DE&I team, where I analyze diversity trends, deliver data-driven insights, and recommendations to support DocuSign's Global DEI strategy and programs. My education in Industrial-Organizational Psychology has provided me with a unique skill set, enabling me to combine research methods, analytics, and organizational theory to enhance the employee experience. This enables me to translate complex data into actionable recommendations that drive strategic decision-making and positive organizational change.

What specific experiences in the program do you think have been most valuable to you so far in your career?

One of the most impactful aspects of the program was the hands-on experience I gained in diagnosing organizational issues and proposing solutions through project-based assignments and real-world simulations. The quarterly projects not only helped me apply theory directly to my work in People Analytics, but they also helped me build the skill of communicating effectively with stakeholders using data-driven, research-backed recommendations.

Furthermore, the program's diverse curriculum has shaped my career by covering a wide range of topics. Courses in advanced analytics and organizational research methods equipped me with the skills to proficiently utilize statistical tools like R for data analysis. Additionally, the knowledge gained in areas such as diversity, talent development, and talent acquisition has been invaluable in comprehending workplace dynamics and applying HR analytics across different functional areas.

The IOMP equipped me with invaluable research and analytical skills essential to my career in People Analytics. The combination of hands-on experience and comprehensive coursework has enabled me to contribute meaningfully to organizational success.

How has your IOMP experience helped you to advance your career?

The IOMP played a pivotal role in accelerating my career trajectory. Having previously worked as a Human Resource Generalist, I encountered challenges in advancing professionally. However, my enrollment in the program proved to be a game-changer. Within just a year of starting the program, I secured a graduate internship in People Analytics, leveraging the project-based experience and research methods coursework I gained. This opportunity propelled me into a People Analytics Analyst role shortly after graduation.

The hands-on projects and rigorous coursework provided by the program equipped me with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in my new role. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Frost and the exceptional faculty who not only prepared me to apply my learnings effectively but also provided unwavering support and encouragement throughout my journey. My IOMP experience served as a catalyst for my career growth, allowing me to transition into a specialized field and advance swiftly within it. I credit much of my success to the program and the invaluable guidance of its faculty.

 

Rachel Roller (2022 Graduate)

Current Job Title: People Analyst at Inmar Intelligence.

What do you do in your current job that is relevant to your I-O education? 

Everything! My role focuses on measuring the employee experience and identifying areas for improvement. I am responsible for our annual engagement survey and onboarding and exit survey programs. I manage the entire process, from developing the items to collecting responses and delivering insights to leaders. I also lead a project team developing a competency model focused on leadership behaviors to improve our selection and performance management processes. 

What specific experiences in the program do you think have been most valuable to you so far in your career? 

The project-based work we did with real organizations has been the most valuable to me following graduation. It highlights the challenges of applying the concepts in an organization while learning best practices from theory. Having practical experience conducting a job analysis, building a training program, or designing a hiring process makes you an exciting candidate if you are changing careers or entering a new field. 

How has your IOMP experience helped you to advance your career? 

The IOMP played a huge role in helping me transition from higher education to people analytics. I didn't fully understand what people analytics was before my IOMP experience. After taking the People Analytics elective, I knew it was the field for me. It provided me with a deep skill set for analyzing people data and deriving actionable insights. I wouldn't be in my current role or have the same positive impact on my organization without my IOMP experience. 

 

Teddy Kiniry (2021 Graduate)

Current Job Title: Leadership & Organizational Development Consultant at FMI Corporation

What do you do in your current job that is relevant to your I-O education?

I think about my current job in relation to my I-O education in two ways. One is in the services and advisory that we provide to clients. These include (but aren’t limited to) developing high-performing teams, competency modeling, leadership development, and succession planning. My I/O Education has amplified my ability to help clients confidently through these efforts. The second is how my I/O education changed the way that I think. My ability to help ensure our work will actually move the needle for our clients stems from understanding the research and science behind our recommendations. It also helped me think in terms of outcomes -- what does success look like for the company, executive team, or individual I am working with -- then work back from there. In short, nearly every aspect of my current role is influenced and impacted by my I-O education.

What specific experiences in the program do you think have been most valuable to you so far in your career?

For me, it was all of the experiences that emphasized the application of research to real-world challenges. Throughout the program, I was forced to start thinking about how to turn scientific research into something that could be digested and applied to a business. This idea of turning research into practical applications is a daily focus of my current role and our practice. Multiple times in the IOMP, I and other cohort members were able to work on projects that addressed real challenges for real businesses, which gave me the confidence, skills, and experience needed to do the same in my current role.

How has your IOMP experience helped you to advance your career?

Before helping me advance in my career, the IOMP experience allowed me to change my career completely. I went from not being familiar with I/O Psychology as a field and working in a sales role to completing the program and working in a role with I/O Psychology firmly at the center. This transition would not have been possible without my IOMP experience. Regarding acceleration, my experience in the IOMP helped me hit the ground running in my role and has helped me advance quickly.

 

Parker Thomas (2018 Graduate)

Current job: People Analyst at Google

Briefly describe a few of the interesting things you do in your job relevant to your I-O education.

I am a People Analyst supporting Google's Hiring Design team. I am responsible for providing analytical support and consultation on hiring process design pilots and roll outs. We are often piloting adjustments to the hiring process and measuring the impact of those changes - all with the end goal of improving effectiveness, efficiency, experience, and equity. It's a lot of fun to see design ideas be challenged through the experimentation process.

I rely heavily on the analytics courses that I took in the IOMP as well as best practices we learned related to understanding behavioral competencies, assessing talent, change management, and leadership development. I find the most reward in being able to answer challenging questions through thoughtful analysis. I also enjoy being able to utilize SQL and R to conduct those analyses. 

The biggest win for me still is that I have been able to apply the analytical-people focused approach that is I/O psychology into my daily work life.

What aspect(s) of or experience(s) in the program do you think have been most valuable to you so far in your career?

First and foremost would be role-related knowledge. I honestly think that I have been able to apply a little bit of knowledge from all of the IOMP courses into my work. I constantly reference back to materials we have had in class, either for the content or as a jumping-off point into further research. Do your readings - it will pay off.

One of the most valuable parts of the program is the opportunity to partner with real organizations. Experiential learning provides first hand exposure to the challenges and rewards you are likely to face when bridging the gap between theory and application. It taught me how to demonstrate the value of research-based practices to an organization, and how to confidently communicate that value to key stakeholders.

How has the program helped you to advance your career?

I owe my career growth to Dr. Frost & the IOMP faculty. Their passion for I/O and dedication to the student body is unparalleled and you should make the most of it. They equipped me with the strategies and domain expertise needed to win-over key stakeholders - which I used to take my career to the next level.

Any thoughts on the perceived financial value of the program at this point in your career?

Speaking from my personal experience, the IOMP had a significant financial ROI. I was able to take what I had learned from the program and directly apply it to my career in ways that far exceed my anticipated career trajectory before enrollment. But it’s important to acknowledge that the IOMP is only part of the equation - it’s what you do with the knowledge, skills, and abilities you acquire (or enhance) through the program that will determine your success.

Athar Naseer (2017 Graduate)

Current job: Manager, Talent Management at Veritiv Corp. 

Briefly describe a few of the interesting things you do in your job relevant to your I-O education.

Working in the area of talent management has afforded me the opportunity to delve into a wide variety of projects and initiatives which all rely on the foundations of my I-O education. I have had the opportunity to own and manage developmental assessments enterprise wide for Veritiv, lead career pathing efforts, supported the launch of diversity and inclusion initiatives by providing analytical insight into diversity data, launched formal training on individual development planning for better talent outcomes and have been able to add insights to talent discussions using data and analysis. Additionally, I am involved in leadership development efforts for Veritiv through the use of assessments such as the 360 assessment in conjunction with providing leadership coaching. It excites me to know that the majority of what I get to work on in my job ties back to my I-O education. I enjoy being able to blend data, analytics and research as a means to inform our talent decisions. 

What aspect(s) of or experience(s) in the program do you think have been most valuable to you so far in your career?

The many projects that we completed through the program have become invaluable to me as I journey through my career. These projects make up my “portfolio” of knowledge that I can, and have always gone back to as a source of guidance and inspiration if I get stuck on solving a particular issue or challenge. This is due to the real-world examples on which these projects were built. For me, the other valuable experience was being able to work with data and become comfortable cleaning, manipulating and analyzing it. I am fortunate at my company to have access to large swaths of data, but it is not always clean and often there is work to be done to dig up the hidden nuggets of information that allow us to make insightful and meaningful human capital decisions. 

How has the program helped you to advance your career?

The I-O program has completely made my career for me. Without the program, I certainly would not be where I am today. The applied projects and knowledge gained from professors in the program have allowed me to arrive at job interviews confident and with real world experience; not just theory. Beyond the interviews, my notes and work from previous courses guides me to ensure I am keeping I-O fundamentals in mind when designing solutions.

If you enrolled in the IOMP to change careers, briefly describe your situation, the outcome of that effort, and/or your satisfaction with that transition so far.

I was initially working on the administrative side of the healthcare sector when I decided to change careers to I-O. Working for a large healthcare organization at the time, I was always intrigued by the conundrum that while many healthcare professionals find their work meaningful in caring for patients, they are often burned out and have low levels of organizational engagement. Through a fit of chance, I came across I-O and did some research to find out more about what the field was about and existing educational programs which lead me to the UGA IOMP. Reinventing myself and changing careers was not easy, but the one thing which helped tremendously was that I tried to volunteer my organization for as many of our class projects as I could. In doing so, I was able to take those projects back and show my organization that I wanted to add value to the company and that the I-O degree would allow me to do so. This effort made it possible for me to transition from an administrative role within my organization to one in HR. I have been immensely satisfied with my transition. 

 

Alissa Manolescu (2017 Graduate)

Current Job: Director, Leadership Development at idealis. 

What do you do in your current job that is relevant to your I-O education?

From building competency models for internal and external clients, to writing white papers addressing the link between pay and performance, to measuring teamwork processes in cybersecurity operations centers, my I-O education informs much of what I do as a human capital consultant. I am frequently called upon to provide I-O subject matter expertise on various projects, so even the more theoretical components of the program have proven to be highly relevant to my work. 

What specific experiences in the program do you think have been most valuable to you so far in your career?

The applied nature of the program – the ability to practice hands-on what we learned in the classroom – was the most valuable aspect, but the opportunity to build a meaningful network with my cohort and professors has also been of great benefit both personally and professionally. 

How has your IOMP experience helped you to advance your career?

I worked in Testing & Assessment in my previous career, but wanted to move into the Human Capital/Talent space. Through the MA program at UGA, I was able to successfully pivot into a role as a Talent Management consultant, and then to my current role in Human Capital consulting. I would not have gotten my current job had it not been for my MA in I-O, nor would I have been so successful without the education the MAIOP program imparted.