Students get first look at new technology Alteryx in Masterclass by Bootcamps

Bootcamps partnered with RSM Canada (external link)  to host an industry-led Masterclass on Alteryx - a data analytics automation tool. Ted Rogers School undergraduate students were the first students to have this training, and they made the most of their opportunity.

The Alteryx Masterclass Bootcamp took place November 20, 2023 at the Bootcamp Lab. Approximately 30 students participated in the three-hour long masterclass. 

The Ted Rogers School is the first university partner to have access to this learning by RSM Canada, explained Aakifah Luthfee (external link) , manager of bootcamps and stakeholder engagement at the Business Career Hub. The Corporate Partnerships team observed the Alteryx platform growing rapidly in job postings in several sectors, she said. When a new technology is identified, they find a partner to help bring that experience to students. Daniel Booth, national campus recruiting lead at RSM Canada championed the initiative to bring this opportunity to Ted Rogers School students. 

“The masterclass involved a combination of an overview on what the platform is, activities, demonstrations, networking, as well as learning more about hiring opportunities at RSM Canada,” Luthfee said. 

“Students learned the capabilities of data automation in finance and accounting functions through Alteryx,” Luthfee said. “They were able to learn how to identify different elements from the interface and get hands-on experience with the tool to prepare a basic Alteryx workflow.”

Leading the session RSM Canada’s Michael Charette (external link) , who is a partner, tax technology consulting, and supporting students were co-facilitators Bogdan Airinei (external link) , Aeric Siu (external link)  and Luca Antonini (external link) . An overview on RSM Canada and hiring opportunities was facilitated by Daniel Booth (external link) , national campus recruiting lead at RSM Canada, who previously won an Honorary Ted Rogers Alumni award for his community service.

“RSM Canada is devoted to giving back to the post-secondary community and offering sessions like this is one way that our firm plans to support preparing our leaders for the future,” Charette said, adding that they have a Power Your Education scholarship (external link) . 

Alteryx is a powerful tool that is becoming more and more prevalent in many large organizations. It is a “low code no code” platform which makes it easier for accountants and finance professionals to prepare and model data more effectively for decision making. Knowing Alteryx will accelerate students’ ability to understand how businesses work with data to generate value.

Business Technology Management student Sakina Bandukwala (external link)  said she registered for the event because she’d always been curious to learn about new technologies and their abilities to make people’s lives easier.  

“When I heard about the Alteryx Masterclass hosted by RSM, it felt like the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into the area of data analytics,” she said. “The masterclass promised to not just teach the basics but to truly elevate my understanding of Alteryx. And, it did just that, providing a structured and immersive experience that fueled my passion for leveraging data to drive informed decisions.”

The Masterclass exceeded Bandukwala’s expectations, she said. The RSM facilitators were approachable and knowledgeable and made complex concepts easy to understand. 

“The hands-on approach was invaluable - I appreciated how the session was divided into a theoretical and practical approach to applying Alteryx in real-world examples,” she said. 

“Additionally, the networking aspect was fantastic, being able to connect with the RSM team and get their insights into the work they do, added immense value to the entire masterclass. Overall, it was an exceptional experience that not only expanded my skill set but also provided a supportive environment for continuous learning and growth.”

Starting from ground zero, Bandukwala said the masterclass advanced her knowledge of Alteryx, from understanding the interface, workflows and basic uses. 

“From data extraction to predictive analytics and reporting, each step was put together to ensure a strong foundation in utilizing Alteryx efficiently,” she said. “By the end of it, I became comfortable with data preparation, manipulation, and transformation, which are fundamental skills for any data enthusiast. The masterclass laid a solid groundwork, allowing me to confidently navigate Alteryx and kickstart my journey into utilizing the platform.”

Almost 75 per cent of participants reported they really enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about Alteryx and complete activities facilitated by RSM Canada while navigating through the platform. They also enjoyed the opportunity to network with their team and get more insights into the industry, Luthfee explained.

Having experienced the Alteryx masterclass will help her in the future, Bandukwala said. 

“Being able to explore data and present insights in a user-friendly manner, accessible to both high-level decision-makers and frontline staff, is highly needed in our data-driven world. It's a skill set that's bound to be an indispensable asset in today’s competitive market.”