My time at NYUAD was a journey of unexpected discovery. I started as a Social Research and Public Policy major, but everything changed when I was introduced to data science. The flexibility of the liberal arts program gave me the freedom to switch gears and dive deep into this new field, Computer Science. I not only took courses I never imagined myself in, but I also had the incredible opportunity to be involved in research as an undergraduate — working with Professor Minsu Park in Computational Social Science and Professor Yi Fang in Machine Learning. This experience helped me narrow down my interests and solidify what I truly wanted to pursue. The academic freedom and mentorship at NYUAD gave me the confidence to explore new paths and trust my instincts. It wasn’t just about finding a career — it was about discovering who I am and what drives me.
Now, I'm a data analyst at TikTok (ByteDance), where I started as a summer product analyst intern during my junior year. My internship was extended part-time until graduation, and I was later offered a full-time role. After analyzing TikTok's products, I recently shifted my focus to corporate service products, finding ways to optimize workflows and improve business operations. What I find most rewarding is uncovering insights—those hidden trends or anomalies that might not be obvious at first but can make a big difference for the company.
Home Region: Changwon, Republic of Korea (South Korea)
Current: Data Analyst, TikTok (ByteDance)
Location: Dubai, UAE
Major: Computer Science
I genuinely enjoy working with data every day, and I’m excited to keep growing in the tech and media industry. I’m always eager to take on new challenges, and I hope I’ll always have the courage to keep experimenting, learning, and pushing myself forward.