Learning Beyond the Classroom
For Sahil Shahi, M.S. ’26, information systems, graduate school was an opportunity to look beyond the technical side of data and explore its role in decision-making and organizational success. Through UMBC’s M.S. in Information Systems program, he combined industry experience with research, analytics, and practical learning experiences that helped shape his professional goals and prepare him for a future in data-driven innovation.
Information Systems: Tell us about yourself and your journey at UMBC.
Sahil Shahi: Before joining UMBC, I completed my undergraduate degree in Computer Science Engineering in India and worked as a Data Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services. While working in industry, I spent a lot of time building data pipelines, reports, and analytics solutions, but I found myself becoming increasingly curious about how organizations actually use data to make decisions. That curiosity eventually motivated me to pursue graduate studies.
When I was looking for universities, UMBC stood out because of its strong reputation in technology, research, and applied learning. What attracted me most was that the Information Systems program offered a balance between technical depth and real-world business applications. I wanted a program that would help me grow beyond purely technical work and understand how data, people, and organizations interact.
My journey at UMBC has been both professionally and personally transformative. As an international student, moving to a new country came with challenges, but it also pushed me to grow in ways I never expected. Through coursework, research, internships, and campus employment, I developed not only stronger technical skills but also greater confidence in communicating ideas, collaborating with diverse teams, and taking ownership of complex projects.
Looking back, one of the most rewarding parts of my experience has been seeing how everything is connected. Concepts I learned in class could be applied in my internship, research projects influenced how I approached real-world problems, and my professional experience helped me contribute meaningfully in academic settings. UMBC has given me opportunities that helped shape both my career goals and my perspective on the impact technology can have on organizations and society.
IS: How has UMBC and the IS Department helped prepare you for your future career?
SS: The Information Systems program at UMBC helped me understand that successful technology solutions are not just about technical implementation—they are also about solving real business problems and supporting better decision-making.
The coursework exposed me to areas such as Data Mining, Analytics for Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Cloud Computing, Database Systems, and Business Analytics. These courses strengthened my technical foundation while teaching me how to think critically about data, systems, and organizational challenges. I particularly enjoyed courses that involved hands-on projects because they allowed me to apply concepts to practical scenarios rather than simply learning theory.
Beyond the classroom, UMBC provided opportunities that had an equally significant impact on my development. Through my role as a Graduate Student Assistant and my internship with the Student Affairs Business Service Center, I worked with stakeholders from different backgrounds, managed projects with real organizational impact, and learned how to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences.
The faculty also encouraged curiosity and independent thinking. Through research projects, I learned how to ask meaningful questions, analyze evidence, and approach problems systematically. These experiences helped me realize that technology is most valuable when it helps people make better decisions.
Overall, UMBC prepared me not only with technical knowledge but also with the analytical thinking, communication skills, and practical experience needed to succeed in a data-driven career.
IS: What experiences, projects, or opportunities have been most meaningful during your time at UMBC?
SS: The first was my Financial Business Analyst internship at UMBC. During that internship, I worked on improving billing and reporting processes that affected day-to-day operations. I automated workflows, developed reporting solutions, and helped improve data quality and efficiency. What made the experience meaningful was seeing how relatively small improvements in data processes could create a noticeable impact for the people using them.
The second was my research on Zero-Day Attack Detection using Machine Learning. This project started as an academic challenge but eventually grew into a published research paper. Working with large cybersecurity datasets, experimenting with machine learning models, and going through the publication process taught me patience, persistence, and the importance of continuous learning. It was the first time I truly experienced what research looks like beyond the classroom.
The third experience was working as a Graduate Student Assistant at the Albin O. Kuhn Library. Through this role, I interacted with students, faculty, and staff from across the university while supporting technology initiatives and troubleshooting technical issues. It helped me improve my communication skills and reminded me that technology is ultimately about helping people.
Together, these experiences gave me exposure to industry, research, and service, which I believe has made my graduate experience much more well-rounded and rewarding.
IS: Describe a project, internship, research experience, or role you are most proud of.
SS: The experience I am most proud of is my research project on Zero-Day Attack Detection using Machine Learning, which eventually led to a peer-reviewed publication.
What makes this project special to me is not just the outcome, but the journey behind it. When I started the project, I was interested in cybersecurity and machine learning, but I had limited experience conducting research at that level. The project required me to work with large cybersecurity datasets, experiment with different machine learning approaches, evaluate performance, and continuously refine the solution when results did not go as expected.
There were many moments when the models did not perform the way I wanted, and I had to go back, rethink my approach, and try again. That process taught me patience, persistence, and the importance of being comfortable with uncertainty. Research is rarely a straight path, and learning how to navigate that uncertainty was one of the most valuable lessons I gained.
Beyond the technical aspects, the project changed how I think about technology. It helped me understand that building accurate models is only part of the challenge. Equally important is ensuring that the insights generated by those systems can be understood and used effectively by people making decisions.
Seeing the project evolve from an idea into a published paper was incredibly rewarding and remains one of the proudest accomplishments of my academic journey.
IS: What tools, technologies, or skills have you used throughout your academic or professional experiences?
SS: Throughout my academic and professional journey, I have had the opportunity to work with a wide range of tools and technologies across data engineering, analytics, cloud computing, and machine learning.
On the data side, I have worked extensively with SQL, T-SQL, Snowflake, ETL/ELT pipelines, data modeling, and data warehousing. For analytics and reporting, I have used Power BI, DAX, Tableau, Excel, Power Query, and VBA to develop dashboards, automate reporting processes, and support data-driven decision-making.
I have also worked with cloud technologies such as AWS, including services like EC2, S3, Lambda, and RDS, while building scalable data and analytics solutions. Through research and academic projects, I gained experience with Python, machine learning models, anomaly detection techniques, forecasting methods, and cybersecurity analytics.
However, if there is one skill that has consistently helped me across every project and role, it is problem-solving. Technologies continue to evolve, but the ability to analyze a problem, break it down, and develop a practical solution is something I have relied on throughout my career and will continue to develop moving forward.
IS: What advice would you give to current or future students?
SS: My biggest advice is to take advantage of opportunities outside the classroom. Courses provide an important foundation, but internships, research projects, student employment, networking events, and hands-on projects are often where the most meaningful learning happens.
Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Some of the experiences that contributed most to my growth were the ones I initially felt unprepared for. Whether it was conducting research, presenting findings, working with new technologies, or collaborating with people from different backgrounds, each challenge taught me something valuable.
Also, focus on building a strong foundation rather than chasing every new tool or trend. Technologies will change throughout your career, but skills such as problem-solving, communication, adaptability, and continuous learning will always remain relevant.
Finally, be patient with yourself. Growth takes time, and every experience whether successful or challenging contributes to your development. Stay curious, keep learning, and don’t underestimate how much you can accomplish over the course of your journey.
IS: Which skill or area are you most excited to continue developing after graduation?
SS: The area I am most excited to continue developing is the intersection of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and decision support systems.
Throughout my professional and academic experiences, I have become increasingly interested in understanding not only how intelligent systems work but also how people interact with them. We are living in a time when organizations rely heavily on data and AI to make important decisions, yet there are still many challenges related to trust, interpretation, and effective use of these technologies.
I want to continue building expertise in analytics, machine learning, and cloud-based data systems while exploring how intelligent technologies can be designed to support better decision-making. Whether in cybersecurity, healthcare, or business operations, I am excited by opportunities to work on problems where technology can create meaningful impact.
The field is evolving rapidly, which makes continuous learning both necessary and exciting. That constant opportunity to learn and grow is one of the reasons I enjoy working in technology and analytics.
IS: What are your career goals or roles you are you interested in pursuing?
SS: My immediate goal is to pursue roles in Data Analytics, Business Analytics, Analytics Engineering, or Data Engineering, where I can help organizations transform data into actionable insights and better decisions.
Long term, I would like to work on complex analytical problems that combine technology, business strategy, and emerging technologies such as AI. I am particularly interested in industries where data can create meaningful impact, including cybersecurity, healthcare, financial services, and technology.
I enjoy solving problems that sit at the intersection of technical systems and human decision-making, and I hope to build a career where I can contribute to both innovation and practical business outcomes.
To learn more about Sahil and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn and follow him on Instagram.
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