When people think of information science degrees, big tech companies like Microsoft or Google often come to mind. But for graduates of the Information School, their skills open up possibilities in a variety of sectors – not just tech.

iSchool alumni are applying their skills across sectors — including business, sports, education and public service — showcasing the broad value of an information science education.

Max Kahn, MSIM ‘22, works as a senior analyst of business intelligence for the San Francisco 49ers, where he finds ways to use data to drive revenue and brand affinity. 

“From ticketing and concessions to post-game surveys and focus groups, all of the business data that the 49ers have lives in my domain,” Kahn said. “It's my job to empower the organization to make data-driven decisions.”

In the MSIM program, Kahn focused on sports analytics, completing projects like studying home-field advantage during the pandemic and fan accessibility via public transport. These helped him secure his current role with the 49ers, where he uses data to inform business strategy and map fan engagement.

“Even though I hadn't worked professionally in sports before, I had an expansive enough portfolio that helped me land the role,” he said.

With a background as a geography major during his undergrad at the UW, Kahn enjoys finding connections between geography and data. One of his projects involved analyzing TV broadcast metrics to determine where fans watch 49ers games.

“One of the things we learned is that we have a surprisingly strong contingent of fans in Iowa,” Kahn said. “And that was one of the big things that I brought to the table thanks to the MSIM program … finding ways to use the data to learn where our fans are located, and then building a map to help us visualize and understand it.”

Although Kahn’s role isn’t a traditional tech job, data influences the fan experience in-stadium and beyond. Technology is integral to the sports industry, including social media engagement, data on retail transactions, and leveraging stadium tech such as ticket scanners and video boards. 

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Another iSchool alum drawn to sports is Godgiven Caelin Grogan, Informatics ‘20. Her work as a product manager for GMR Marketing's Orchestrate, an event execution and management platform, has given her the opportunity to work on high-profile events including the Paris Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and the Super Bowl. 

Grogan manages data systems for major events. When she went to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, she was in charge of data management and reporting and managing the package ticketing system for various clients. 

In Grogan’s work, the pressure is high and there are many moving parts and challenges around event planning and execution for VIPs and major events, but she finds those challenges exciting. 

Her advice to those figuring out what career is best suited for them is to remember what they loved to do as a child. For Grogan, it was doing puzzles. Now as a product manager, Grogan gets to solve complex problems and find the best solutions for her clients. 

“That's why I love what I do,” Grogan said. “I'm just solving problems, it's just little puzzles or big puzzles every day.”

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As he pursued his Informatics degree, Aaron Zhao, ‘22, hoped to work in higher education. Now, he is an admissions counselor at Marquette University.

“I chose a field, especially in informatics, where I feel like the human aspect of technology and the technology itself are talked about equally,” Zhao said. “I [wanted] to go into educational technology to make education more accessible.”

At Marquette, Zhao uses his Informatics background to improve access to education through technology. His leadership at the UW and experience advising students shaped his path in higher ed.

While at the UW, served as president of the Informatics Undergraduate Association. He said it helped him understand how the university works, which led him to where he is now in his career.

He also was involved as a teaching assistant for introductory classes such as INFO 200 and INFO 201 and was an undergraduate peer advisor, helping students apply to the Informatics major.

“Explore different areas, different industries,” Zhao said. “We very much need students of those backgrounds. We need graduates who understand those concepts and who have those skills, and we desperately need them.”

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MSIM ‘22 alum Alan Butler is applying his education in the public sector, working for the City of Tacoma on its data analytics team.

“The iSchool is definitely the pivotal moment in my career,” Butler said. “[It] does a really good job of setting you up for sustainable research practices [and] talking to people that aren’t just data engineers.”

On the data analytics team, Butler has worked with local vendor management, on information access and on Tacoma’s Open Data Initiative, where he worked to create an open and transparent operating process to align with the city’s goals as well as to support the public.

Assignments like the Open Data Initiative that benefit the community are what drew Butler to working in the public sector. His advice to students and alumni is to find jobs that encourage professional development.

“Take that exciting leap,” Butler said. “Lean into roles that push your other boundaries.” 

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Kris Tomasovic Nelson, MSIM ‘15, works as the head of sustainable investing at Russell Investments, a financial services firm based in Seattle. She works across the investment teams to ensure they have the policies and processes in place to deliver on sustainable objectives for their clients.

After a long career in finance and investing, Nelson didn’t expect to become an information professional. She pursued her MSIM with the desire to use her degree in the investing world and help her to understand how corporations are adapting to the rise of data-driven business decisions.

“It allowed me to think about things from a more project point of view,” she said.Nelson remains involved in the MSIM program 10 years after obtaining her degree, serving on the MSIM advisory board. 

She advises current students and professionals to not be afraid to try something new and to step up to challenges. As a mid-career professional, getting her MSIM was a chance she took that has benefited her in her investing career.

“The MSIM degree is so applicable across a broad number of industries,” she said. “Look for projects that you can get involved in that will be your steppingstone to where you want to be.”