Alumnus Aditya Kumar Thota Secures Senior Data Role at Capital One

Aditya Kumar Thota, who earned his master’s in Business Analytics in May 2024 from the College of Business at East Texas A&M University, recently stepped into the role of Senior Data Process Manager at Capital One's Integrated Workforce Reporting division. In this role, Aditya applies his expertise to analyze complex datasets, build actionable reports, and empower contact-center leaders with the insights they need to optimize operations and improve customer experience.

Thota's journey into analytics began at Tech Mahindra, where he discovered the power of data to solve real-world problems. His subsequent projects at Amazon convinced him he needed stronger technical skills, inspiring him to pursue a Master's in Business Analytics at East Texas A&M.

“I knew I could make an even deeper impact with more hands-on training,” Thota reflects. The program’s practical curriculum, including Business Analytics Programming and Data Warehousing, as well as the mentorship of Dr. Zaki Malik and Dr. Son Bui, was pivotal in honing his expertise.

Stepping away from a secure career and familiar life in India meant swapping boardrooms for classrooms, adapting to a new culture, and juggling financial pressures. Faced with so much change at once, Thota kept himself grounded by focusing on the here and now.

“Whenever the future felt uncertain, I'd ask, ‘What can I do today?'” Thota said. “I made it a point to learn something new each day, asked questions freely, leaned on the people around me, and reminded myself that real growth often comes through the toughest moments.”

Early in his first semester, he secured a Graduate Assistantship with the Department of Philanthropy and Engagement. Working alongside Brenda Morris, Kim Jefferies, and Devin Girod, he found both community and confidence.

“They treated me like part of the team and encouraged me to speak up,” Thota recalls, crediting this experience with teaching him resilience and the value of human connection.

After facing more than 1,000 rejections and even a rescinded offer, Thota's persistence paid off. “Treat every rejection like training for the one opportunity that will click,” he advises. That mindset, along with rigorous SQL practice and mock interviews, saw him through Capital One's Power Day process. On December 12, 2024—one day before his graduation—he finally received his offer.

Today, Thota thrives in a collaborative environment that values curiosity. “Knowing our work directly improves decision-making across the company makes every challenge worthwhile,” he says. Reflecting on his journey, he emphasizes that ETAMU's rigorous coursework, hands-on assistantship, and unwavering support from faculty and peers provided the foundation for his success.