About Hatua Network
Industry: Non-profit
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Company size: Less than 50
Website: hatuanetwork.org
Q&A with Vivian Osano, Data and Learning Coordinator
Q: What Does Hatua Network do?
A: Hatua Network is a nonprofit that offers scholarships to top-performing students from low-income families in Kenya for secondary and tertiary education. Their nine-year program provides financial aid along with academic and psycho-social support to help students break the cycle of poverty.
Q: What types of projects do you entrust to D'Amore-McKim students?
A: We typically immerse students immediately and assign them major responsibilities when it's a good fit. For example, we have a team of students tackling distinct projects, which include finalizing the Scope of Work (SOW) for a consulting project to develop a database management system and conducting a market analysis and feasibility study for expanding access to Hatua's mentoring and soft skills curriculum.
Because the students I oversee are Master's in Business Analytics students, their expertise is relevant to all aspects of our key projects. They review our current data templates and management practices and then recommend redesigns. They also create new templates and work on improvement proposals. Additionally, this past summer, they researched and identified consulting firms suited for our projects, participated in meetings with these firms, asked pertinent questions, and evaluated project proposals. They also assist in data analysis across the organization, creating market analysis reports, and developing marketing materials based on their analysis.
I helped finalize the Scope of Work for consultants tasked with completing a database customization project and conducted a market analysis and feasibility study. I reviewed data templates and management practices, recommended redesigns, and created new templates to enhance their database.”
Rashmi Pahari, MS in Business Analytics'24
Q: How do students benefit from this experience?
A: Students gain valuable experience by evaluating proposals and making decisions in a corporate setting. They participate in meetings where companies pitch ideas, and then help assess these proposals. I'd say they are refining their task management, communication, and scheduling skills. Networking opportunities also arise, which can lead to mentorship opportunities and expanded professional connections.
Not only are the students applying their skills and expertise to actual challenges, but they are also contributing to a mission-driven organization. The students took ownership of their project from start to finish, so this is a real-life project to add to their resumé. Their support enhances our organization's capacity strengthening the Hatua Network's ability to achieve its goals and broaden its reach.
Q: What qualities do you look for when you hire?
A: It's essential that a student's academic background aligns with the project. For instance, our database management project succeeded because students had analytics expertise and prior experience with database management systems.
We also pay close attention to soft skills, such as curiosity and the ability to interact comfortably with individuals at all levels. This summer, our residents screened over 40 consulting agencies that focus on our line of work, so strong communication skills related to technical work were critical. Finally, we look for students who demonstrate confidence, dedication, and efficient task management, all of which significantly contribute to project success.
Analytics courses provided a strong foundation in Python and practical applications using Tableau and Power BI. At Hatua Network, we used Python for data analysis and Tableau for creating dashboards. These tools allowed us to integrate their existing dashboards with new ones we created, providing comprehensive data insights.”
Rashmi Pahari, MS in Business Analytics'24
Q: How do D'Amore-McKim students stand out?
A: D'Amore-McKim students are excellent at working as a team, regularly reviewing progress, addressing challenges, and collaborating to stay on track. Their open communication ensures tasks are managed smoothly, and there's always someone ready to step in if needed. They consistently meet deadlines and show a strong work ethic. What stands out most is their attention to detail, particularly in their interactions with consulting firms, where they ask thoughtful questions to keep evaluations both efficient and effective.
In addition to their teamwork, the students stand out for their exceptional qualitative and quantitative analytics skills. They demonstrate confidence and capability by volunteering for additional tasks. This proactive approach shows their readiness to embrace additional responsibilities and apply their skills effectively.
Q: Do you mentor your student workers?
A: We want the students to grow and learn through their experience working with Hatua. While they may not have a formal mentor, they receive guidance from their supervisor related to their project work and through interactions with other members of our team. I provide clarity and direction on navigating tasks and challenges during the project. This helps them understand their roles better and build their skills.
Working at Hatua gives the interns many networking opportunities. For example, during one of our meet-ups, a student connected with someone outside of Hatua who offered to mentor them in evaluating consultant proposals.
Q: Would you hire more Community Impact Students?
A: Yes, I would definitely hire more students from the Community Impact Initiative. Their valuable skills and fresh perspectives significantly enhance our productivity and innovation. Their contributions to improving our database management and analytics, which directly supports and advances our mission.
