How do you creatively drive solutions for greater impact? For Consortium alumna Michela Grant, this means merging two seemingly disparate passions: people and data analytics.
Born and raised in Garland, Texas, Grant grew up in a vibrant community that, as she says, blended small-town charm with big-city opportunities, providing “a rich environment for exploration and growth.” As a member of her middle school’s student council, she first discovered her passion for people empowerment — an experience that introduced her to “the challenges and rewards of advocating for others’ needs,” says Grant.
With a background in sociology and career moves into roles in HR and people analytics, Grant has consistently pursued her passion for ensuring the best outcomes for people. Since pivoting to product management, her commitment to this mission remains strong.
A 2018 MBA alumna of the University of Rochester Simon Business School, Grant is now a senior product owner at Humana, where she designs and develops data products that support talent management, leadership development and business strategy. She recently shared with The Consortium how she is using data to improve businesses and the workforce experience.
What inspired your career shift from sociology and HR to data analytics and product management?
I always wanted the work I did to lead to better outcomes for individuals, as I find fulfilment in connecting people to what they need. My undergraduate studies in sociology deepened my understanding of human development, ultimately guiding me toward a career in HR.
Throughout my experience and studies, I learned that systems impact groups and I could have a larger influence by focusing on systems. Concentrating on data science transformed my approach, revealing how analytics can tell collective stories and inform decision-making to drive more impactful large-scale outcomes for people.
Over the past three years, I’ve transitioned within my people analytics team to digital product management. In this role, I combine various tools to map out the factors impacting systems, allowing me and my team to consult more effectively with business leaders. By understanding their needs, we can build product iterations or propose new analyses. This shift represents a progression from helping individuals to aiding groups, as we quantify and measure the current state to drive expected progress. It allows me to apply my skills in a broader context, creating products that blend human insights with data-driven strategies, while striving for impactful results.
How did you get into this space, and where do you hope to go with it?
Diving into the world of STEM has been a thrilling ride, driven by relentless curiosity and a firm belief in data’s transformative power.
From a young age, I believed that more information translates to better decision-making and a clearer grasp of our world. The realization that people analytics was not only a viable career path, but also an exciting one, was a turning point for me. It allowed me to blend my passion for human behavior with my talent for spotting data patterns aimed at helping people reach their full potential.
Looking forward, the possibilities within machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) leave me incredibly excited. These cutting-edge technologies allow us to process enormous datasets, uncovering insights and opportunities that were previously unimaginable. By leveraging these tools, we can elevate customer experiences and streamline business operations, driving efficiency and effectiveness.
What is it about AI specifically that interests you?
The rigor of data science applied to something as amorphous as people fascinates me. I know people are more than numbers, but we can learn a lot from trends and patterns. As I’ve moved into the product space, I see how robust or delicate our information systems can be. I like that AI’s abilities are continuously growing, and as a learner, there’s always a new frontier.
It’s not a question of if AI will affect the way people work, but when.
However, as we embrace these advancements, we must do so with a sense of responsibility and ethical consideration. Partnering with AI means harnessing its strengths to complement our own, while staying mindful of the broader implications of our decisions. Together, we can shape a future where technology and human potential grow hand in hand.
Why did you decide to get an MBA, and how has it aided you on this nontraditional path?
Pursuing an MBA was a transformative decision for me — a ticket to rewriting my career story. In my pre-MBA role, I saw that building a people-focused career the traditional way would take decades of on-the-job learning. I needed to accelerate that journey.
I understood that to be truly effective, I needed to master financial terms, accounting principles, macroeconomics, operations and labor laws. An MBA provided me with the opportunity to understand the language of business. Armed with this knowledge, I can approach senior leaders and translate employee issues into specific metrics.
This educational investment not only equipped me with critical skills, but also provides the agility to pivot and adapt my career path as my interests and expertise evolve.
How does The Consortium and its mission align with your own vision?
The Consortium represents self-empowerment and collective advancement for me. It’s an incredible network of highly driven individuals, each bringing a diverse set of talents and a shared commitment to creating opportunities for mutual success. The mission also resonates deeply with me, as it’s about breaking down barriers and expanding access to the essential language of business — and it aligns perfectly with my vision of leveraging technology and human capital to build a better, more connected world.
By fostering connections between companies and a wider pool of talent, The Consortium not only enhances corporate and entrepreneurial strategies, but also drives growth and innovation across industries. At its core, The Consortium challenges us to acknowledge historical limitations, while inspiring us to create a future that’s more expansive, inclusive and brighter for everyone.