What does it take to go from a forensic consultant to leading cutting-edge machine learning projects at one of the world’s tech giants? For Stanislav Piskulov, it was curiosity, courage, and the transformative power of the NUS Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA).
A proud graduate of NUS MSBA Class of 2016, Stanislav is now a Senior Data and Analytics Consultant at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Singapore. He leads cloud-based analytics and machine learning projects that focuses on helping businesses implement cloud-native analytics and machine learning solution, empowering them to innovate and scale with data.
Finding the Right Fit: Why NUS MSBA
Stanislav’s journey into business analytics began with an undergraduate degree, where he built a strong foundation in economics and statistics. He started his professional working life in forensic consulting at Deloitte, where his interest in data analysis truly took off.
“As I explored graduate programmes around the world, the NUS MSBA stood out,” he shared. “It offered the perfect blend of statistics, programming, and business insight—everything I needed to make a meaningful shift into a data-driven career.”
A Campus Full of Possibilities (and Stairs!)
Stanislav’s time at NUS was marked by hands-on industry projects that exposed him to real-world data challenges and allowed him to collaborate with industry professionals across sectors. These experiences helped bridge the gap between classroom theory and practical application.
The vibrant NUS campus also left an impression on Stanislav. “It’s incredibly modern, so big it even has its own internal bus service! Though I must admit, the tropical heat and those endless stairs between the School of Business and the School of Computing took some time to get used to. 😄” he shared.
Building a Strong Foundation for a Global Impact
The NUS MSBA programme equipped Stanislav with a robust foundation in data analytics, covering statistics, machine learning, and data management. Courses were designed to connect theory with application, giving him a clear understanding of how data science operates across industries like finance, insurance, and IT.
Crucially, the programme’s strong industry ties and networking opportunities helped him secure his first job in Singapore. A referral from NUS Professor Keppo played a pivotal role in landing a position at KPMG, where he worked on diverse data science projects.
From Classroom to Consulting: Career Growth After NUS MSBA
Stanislav’s career journey after NUS MSBA has been dynamic and impactful. After his stint with KPMG, he transitioned into Investment Data Science at Temasek, supporting investment teams with data science and machine learning to drive investment decisions.
Eventually, he joined AWS, where he now serves as a technical lead for data and machine learning projects. His role involves designing scalable, cloud-native solutions and helping customers harness the power of data and AI to drive innovation.
Advice for Aspiring NUS MSBA Students
For aspiring NUS MSBA students, Stanislav offers grounded yet powerful advice:
“Focus on both your technical and business acumen. Data science is most impactful when it solves real-world problems. Choose courses and projects that genuinely excite you. That passion will fuel you through the toughest challenges.”
He also emphasises the value of the NUS MSBA community:
“Don’t underestimate the power of networking. The industry connections and support from professors can make a real difference.”
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