Paulina Prucnal

A deep dive into customer grocery shopping habits gave Paulina Prucnal her first taste of data analytics.

And Ivey Business School’s one-year Master of Management: Analytics (MM-A) program was the recipe that turned that interest into a career.

As a consulting manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Canada, Prucnal has experience driving the design and delivery of technology implementations, customer experience, and operational optimization projects.

Her first years were spent doing technology implementation in the financial services space before moving into more operational and customer experiences.

Where It Started

A major optimization project in grocery retail changed her trajectory. The work involved analyzing transaction size, geography, store type, customer behaviour, theft, and self-checkout usage. It showed her how data-driven insights could strengthen stakeholder buy-in and improve decision-making.

“This was the project that prompted me to begin this analytics journey and explore a master’s program,” she said. “It made me want to do more of this work.”

Short-term boot camps and online tutorials didn’t offer the depth she needed.

“I wanted to dedicate a year to building this skill so I could be seen as an analytics expert within PwC and the industry.”

She chose Ivey’s MM-A program for its balance of leadership and analytics, which complemented her undergraduate degree in international business, including French language study and an exchange in France.

With its strong brand, extensive network, and blended format that fits her full-time schedule, the program checked every box. Just as importantly, the classroom experience translated directly to her day-to-day work.

Putting It to Work

Prucnal has already applied skills in SQL, Tableau, Python, and data visualization to improve reporting, dashboards, and operational decisions.

“I used something at work that we learned last Wednesday in class, and I thought, ‘I wouldn’t have known how to do that.’”

The program’s blended format, including time on Ivey’s campus, helped build a close-knit cohort. Learning alongside peers from diverse industries has strengthened both discussion and collaboration.

“We all know each other now. People are comfortable speaking up. Our class is close, welcoming, and collaborative.”

The case method initially pushed her outside her comfort zone but quickly became a valuable skill.

“It was challenging at first because it wasn’t how I learned in undergrad,” she said. “But it exposed me to industries I might never explore and forced me to identify what information matters. That’s critical in consulting.”

Balancing work and study required discipline, but Prucnal makes time to recharge through outdoor activities like skiing, soccer, and hiking, including a recent trip to Austria.

She offers clear advice for prospective students: Minimize competing commitments, establish a routine, participate actively, and apply what you learn as you go.

Looking ahead, she’s focused on roles at the intersection of operations, analytics, and execution, where insights translate into real-world impact.

“I want to build a career in marketplace operations where I can combine analytical thinking with hands-on execution to support market and geographic expansion, improve performance, and ensure strong on-the-ground delivery.”

What began as a single project exploring grocery shopping habits has grown into something more substantial. With the training and experience gained at Ivey, Prucnal is no longer just getting a taste of data analytics. She’s building a career around it.