Shaza Kareem, a Big Data & Analytics student from Temasek Polytechnic, has always been immersed in the world of information technology. But everything changed when she took a leap into business analytics through OCBC’s Ignite Programme. What started as a bold move soon became a turning point — reshaping her career aspirations and opening doors she never imagined.

Think one internship can’t make a difference? Think again. Read on to discover how Shaza’s journey through Ignite sparked new ambitions and transformed her perspective on her career.

1. Why did you choose to switch from IT to a business role like sales incentive analysis for your internship?

I’ve been considering switching my university course and wanted to explore a career in business. This internship gave me the perfect opportunity to get firsthand experience through two projects — an automated incentive calculator and an Excel tool for sales staff to track quarterly incentives. Interestingly, many concepts from my IT course, like data analysis and problem-solving, proved highly relevant and applicable in this role.

2. How do you feel about being given the opportunity to try out something new in the Ignite Programme?

I'm incredibly grateful and excited for this opportunity. Stepping into unfamiliar territory has been both challenging and rewarding, helping me discover potential interests — possibly in Fintech, in a role that blends business and finance. Initially, it was tough to connect with my colleagues due to age differences, but over time we found common ground and synergy. I’ve also come to appreciate their sense of humor.

(Shaza with her colleagues)

3. What have you done or learnt so far through your internship?

I’ve learned a great deal beyond what’s taught in school, especially the value of soft skills like communication. Unlike school, where most work was independent, this experience required me to engage actively with mentors and colleagues, ask questions, and collaborate effectively — a steep but rewarding learning curve.

4. How different is what you do at your internship now compared to school? How have you grown?

The technical work here is quite different from school. I used to focus on coding, but now I mainly work with Excel and advanced tools like Power Query. I’ve grown significantly in using these tools efficiently and understanding their real-world applications, which has broadened my technical skill set.

5. What’s a project/task you worked on that you are most proud of?

I’m wrapping up a project to revamp and automate incentive payout calculation. It’s been time-intensive, but I’ve learned a lot — especially about automation, data handling, and process optimisation through research and tools like OCBC GPT. OCBC GPT is the bank’s generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, launched globally for all employees in November 2023.

6. How has Ignite made you think about your future career?

This experience opened my eyes to the corporate world and made me seriously consider switching my academic focus toward business analytics or a related field.

7. How is internship life different from school life? What new concepts or things have you learnt through your internship?

Internship life is much more dynamic and impactful. In school, we follow a fixed curriculum, but here, every task contributes to real-world outcomes. I’ve learned to deal with real data, solve practical problems, and adapt quickly — skills that are hard to fully develop in a classroom setting.

(Shaza at Kids@Work event)

8. What’s your working relationship like with your supervisor and colleagues?

It’s been very positive. My mentors and colleagues are incredibly supportive and approachable. Despite their busy schedules, they always make time to guide me and answer my questions, which has made a huge difference in my learning experience.

(Shaza with department colleagues at an OCBC Cares volunteering event)

9. Any surprising overlaps between data analytics and analysing sales incentives?

Yes, definitely. One major overlap is in data validation. I often work with raw, unstructured data, and my background in data cleaning and validation has been incredibly useful in ensuring accuracy and consistency in sales incentive calculations.

10. The internship duration is longer compared to the usual 3 – 6 months. Why did you decide to do a 12-month internship?

I wanted a deeper, more immersive experience in the corporate world — something that a shorter internship might not provide. A longer internship allows me to work on more substantial projects, gain a broader perspective, and better prepare myself for full-time work in the future.

Ignite has equipped me with a good foundation, developed my knowledge, skills and professional work ethic, gave me many networking opportunities, and built my overall confidence through the practical experience. This will help make the transition to full-time work smoother and more effective.

11. What are your plans for the future?

In the short term, I plan to attend university and further my studies. However, this internship has influenced my academic and career direction, and I’m now considering a shift toward business and analytics-related fields.