On Tuesday, October 10, the community welcomed Laura Watson ’14 as part of the Computer Science for Hotchkiss (CS4H) Speaker Series. Ms. Watson is manager of the Technology+ Team at CohnReznik, a consulting and accounting firm.
Hosted by the Mathematics and Computer Science department, the CS4H Speaker Series invites alumni to share experiences from their careers in computer science.
Mr. Roger Wistar P’26 and director of the computer science program, said, “I want to show current students that computer science can help you be successful in lots of different areas, not exclusively those focused on technology.”
After graduating from Cornell University with a degree in Operations Research and Informational Engineering, Ms. Watson entered the consulting world. She has specialized in the real estate, hospitality, and financial services industries.
In addition to working with clients on procurement, cost-cutting, and technological adaptation, Ms. Watson is considered a thought leader in the industry. Her work in private equity recently earned her recognition from Consulting Magazine, which named her a “Rising Star of the Profession.”
In her talk, entitled “The Role of Data & Technology in Modern Businesses,” Ms. Watson shared her experiences applying technical skills to the job of consulting. One example of this trend, she said, is the hospitality industry, which has embraced data analytics as a way to improve customer service.
Ms. Watson also discussed the diversity of opportunities in the industry, emphasizing the importance of bringing data engineering and data analysis to a variety of technology-related professions.
Amalia Sardinha ’25, who is enrolled in Introduction to Computer Science, said, “It was fascinating to learn how Ms. Watson applies the ideas she learned in her computer science studies to her current work, particularly in utilizing technology and data to enhance customer service in the hospitality industry.”
In November, the school will welcome Priyanka Kumar ’19 as the next speaker in the series. Mr. Wistar said, “It’s wonderful to provide students with a glimpse of life post-graduation, be it five years, ten years, or even two decades down the road.”
Mr. Wistar hopes to invite a student from the class of 2023 to give future lectures. He said, “I’m hoping the speaker series will help build a network of alumni who’ve studied computer science and show current students that, when you take computer science at Hotchkiss, you join a community of like-minded people.”
