From Solving Customer Problems to Finding Customer Patterns: Meet Eman

Eman B.’s journey to data analysis began with learning what the numbers actually represented in her line of work—real people with real problems. 

After earning her college degree in business administration, Eman intentionally sought out diverse roles—from managing frustrated customers to coordinating cross-departmental projects—that would provide her with ample opportunity to build skills in customer service and office management. “It gave me the strategic perspective needed to understand how my operational and technical work directly contributed to overall business goals,” she said. 

As her career continued to expand, she turned to Coursera to ensure her skill set kept pace. “I wanted to gain the skills to interpret complex data sets, make informed decisions, and manage projects efficiently, especially in fast-paced, multicultural environments,” she explained. “This goal is important to me because I believe that combining analytical thinking with structured leadership is key to solving real-world problems and empowering teams.” 

Eman subscribed to Coursera Plus and began working through several programs, including the Google Project Management Professional Certificate and the Meta Data Analyst with AI. For Eman, the combination of certificates didn't just offer a way to build skills for her career—it revealed an entirely new one. She’s now aspiring to advance to a role where she can drive organizational strategy through data. “It is the ideal next step to leverage my practical operational insights and managerial expertise to drive strategic, data-backed decisions,” she said.

Eman spoke with Coursera about the unique way data analysis has shifted her thinking in all areas of life, and how skills-based learning impacted her work right away. 

What have you enjoyed about learning on Coursera? 

The immediate, practical applicability of the training. I learned industry-recognized frameworks and tools, which allowed me to start thinking and acting like a project manager or data analyst right away. 

Learning to use Microsoft Excel for data cleaning or creating a work breakdown structure (WBS), for instance, wasn't just abstract knowledge—it was a skill I could instantly apply to my professional work and use to solve real-world problems. The instructors also excelled at breaking down complex disciplines into clear, step-by-step roadmaps. This approach made the huge undertaking of mastering a new field feel manageable. 

What skills have you developed or strengthened?

I’ve developed several core skills that directly bridge my operational experience with strategic foresight, including structured planning and execution, risk mitigation, stakeholder communication, data analysis, data visualization, and SQL and querying. 

Together, these skills empower me not only to manage the how of project delivery but also to understand the why behind the business decisions, which makes me a more valuable, data-informed professional.

Did you face any challenges?

The primary challenge I faced was the steep initial learning curve when transitioning into the technical aspects of data analysis. Specifically, learning to write SQL queries and grasping the syntax and logic of data manipulation proved demanding. It required shifting my mindset from operational thinking to precise, logical coding.

I didn't rush through the coding lessons. I treated the practice exercises as mandatory repetitions, much like a project iteration. Instead of just completing the required labs, I actively sought out additional, real-world data sets to practice writing more complex queries. I also utilized the course forums and external documentation as key project resources.

Have you experienced any kind of impact from what you’ve learned on Coursera?

The biggest change is the shift in my mindset: I no longer view problems as isolated issues to be fixed, but as data points to be analyzed or a project scope to be managed. I now approach every task, from office management scheduling to marketing campaign analysis, with the structured thinking of a project manager and the analytical curiosity of a data analyst. I've also grown in confidence, knowing I possess the formal skills to back up my operational instincts.

I now approach every task…with the structured thinking of a project manager and the analytical curiosity of a data analyst.

How have you been able to apply what you’ve learned?

In my IT support and marketing roles, I’ve started using my data analysis skills to drive better outcomes. For instance, instead of just reporting the number of support tickets closed, I now use basic SQL querying concepts to segment the data and find out why certain issues have been recurring. Similarly, I use data visualization techniques to present marketing campaign performance, showing not just the results, but the story behind the numbers, enabling leaders to make faster, more confident strategic adjustments.

But I’d say the biggest impact is the confidence I have when discussing strategy with leadership. I can now speak fluently about risk management, key performance indicators (KPIs), and structured project lifecycles. This has positioned me as a strategic contributor rather than just an expert in a functional area, making me a much stronger candidate for a promotion into a management or analytical role.

The biggest impact is the confidence I have when discussing strategy with leadership.

Why did you choose to enroll in Coursera Plus?

Subscribing to Coursera Plus was a strategic decision rooted in curiosity and ambition. I wasn’t just looking for one course—I was building a bridge between disciplines that matter deeply to my work.

What made Coursera Plus invaluable was the freedom to explore. I could move fluidly between programs. This cross-pollination helped me design bilingual, scenario-based learning resources that are both technically sound and creatively engaging.

Having access to multiple programs also meant I could learn at the speed of relevance. When a new challenge emerged, like mentoring a peer on benefits realization or designing a visual explainer on prompt engineering, I had the tools and knowledge at my fingertips. Coursera Plus wasn’t just a subscription—it was a launchpad for integration, creativity, and impact.

Has anything surprised you during your time learning on Coursera?

How profoundly transferable the skills were outside of their core domain. I went into the programs expecting to learn how to manage a tech project or analyze a database, but the biggest unexpected life lesson came from the data analysis course and the idea that "data cleaning is 80 percent of the work." 

I realized that before you can gain any meaningful insight or build anything useful, you have to invest the majority of your time in organizing, structuring, and verifying the quality of the input. I now apply this to everything: when I plan a complex personal event, I spend 80 percent of the time verifying guest lists and logistics before I even think about the execution (the remaining 20 percent).

What do you hope to do with what you’ve learned?

I’d like to secure a role where I can drive organizational strategy through data. I want to transition from executing tasks to influencing what tasks are executed, backed by quantitative insights.

I am actively working on self-directed projects and case studies to demonstrate my ability to solve real business problems, creating a robust portfolio for potential employers.

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*Individual experiences and outcomes can vary, and Coursera does not guarantee job interviews or job placements upon completion of its courses.