Josh Ortega (Jour’06; MSBA’21)
Certification Analyst, City and County of Denver
When you picture a data analyst, you probably think of a numbers wizard working in front of multiple computer screens, writing algorithms and creating models that help guide business intelligence and decision making.
Josh Ortega would like to remind you that not all analysts are created alike.
Josh studied sports journalism at Ƶ Boulder before going on to a varied career that included work in digital marketing, customer service, account management, social media strategy and more.
“I was really intrigued by the opportunities in data—not necessarily just data science, but bridging that gap between the data scientists and the C suite,” he said.
That led him to the graduate program in business analytics at Leeds, but it also meant leveraging lessons from journalism that Josh has relied on throughout his career.
The right questions, the right answers
“You have to ask the right questions, be able to communicate effectively, be able do your research,” he said. “It’s been as true for me in J-school as it is in business analytics. If you’re not asking the right questions, understanding the context, you’re not going to arrive at the right solution.”
In his role as a certification analyst with the Division of Small Business Opportunity, he is proud to connect small business to the resources they need to thrive. He does so as part of a team that represents the community it serves, including many Colorado natives and proud Buffs.
“A lot of my career has been focused on small business, and opportunities to be creative,” he said. “I wanted to use my new skill set to do something more altruistic, while still scratching that itch of being creative, being analytical and using my communications skills.”
“I really enjoyed being able to help build a sense of community with my younger classmates, so we could better help each other out.”
Josh Ortega (Jour’06; MSBA’21)
For instance, Josh gathers data on the companies his division works with to ensure they meet eligibility requirements for certification programs, “but in my conversations with them, I really get a look at the impact they could be making in business if they had that extra support. Leeds was where I learned how to take that story and combine it with the skills obtained to help small businesses and women- and minority-owned companies take advantage of the opportunities available to them.”
One of Josh’s concerns about the program was how to follow along when the experience became fully virtual during the pandemic. Rather than feel lost, he used his extensive network to invite speakers to interact with his peers.
“We had quite a few people in the class who were recent grads, because the job market was so weak,” he said. “I really enjoyed being able to help build a sense of community with my younger classmates, so we could better help each other out.”