Hitali Shah has built a career out of turning raw numbers into useful, real-world solutions. Her journey from a curious kid in a small town in India to landing impactful roles at major companies like LinkedIn and Electronic Arts (EA) is a story of grit, passion, and a love for technology.
But what sets Hitali apart is her ability to turn complicated data into easy-to-understand insights that make a real impact.
Hitali Shah
From Math Puzzles to a Love for Data
Hitali grew up in western India in a warm, close family that valued education and hard work. From a young age, she was drawn to math and enjoyed solving puzzles. She liked how numbers could explain things and make sense of the world. At the same time, she loved making crafts, which allowed her to think creatively.
Hitali’s dad, a hardworking and resilient person, always stressed the importance of pushing through challenges and never giving up. He also taught her the value of staying curious and always learning. Inspired by her dad and leaders like Indra Nooyi, who balanced success with strong values, Hitali set out to make her mark in the world.
Education became her focus. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology from Gujarat Technological University in 2015. Determined to keep learning, she got a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Nirma University in 2017.
But she didn’t stop there.
To sharpen her skills even more, she completed another master’s degree, this time in Business Analytics and Information Systems from the University of South Florida in 2022. These experiences gave her a strong foundation in both technology and how data works.
The First Big Leaps: Oracle and EA
Hitali’s first big career move was at Oracle. From 2016 to 2017, she worked as a Data Analyst Intern while wrapping up her studies. She got to work on real projects, like using data to help retailers forecast sales and manage inventory. She even analyzed customer reviews to find out what people liked or didn’t like about products.
Hitali learned how powerful data can be when it comes to making good business decisions. Oracle liked her work so much that they hired her full-time as a Business Analyst in 2017. At Oracle, she created models to catch fraudulent transactions and developed tools to help stores understand their customers better.
In November 2017, Hitali joined Electronic Arts (EA) as a Data Analyst, and this role really let her shine. She worked on using player data to improve game experiences. She tracked what players were doing, ran tests to see what worked best, and helped the team make data-based decisions.
Her hard work paid off, and she was promoted every year, becoming a Senior Data Analyst by 2020.
One of her standout achievements at EA was winning a company-wide Data Visualization Competition. Her project was a dashboard that turned complicated player data into easy-to-read insights. It helped the team make better decisions and showed off her skill for making data simple and useful.
Hitali was also recognized as a runner-up in an EA Hackathon for her creative solutions and earned the Peer Award for Tenacity. These awards highlighted her dedication and innovative thinking.
Leveling Up at LinkedIn
After earning her second master’s degree, Hitali started a new chapter at LinkedIn in May 2022 as an Insights Analyst. Here, she worked on big projects that involved a lot of data and required collaboration with different teams.
One of her key tasks was analyzing customer feedback using advanced tools like OpenAPI GPT-3.5-Turbo. She also created dashboards to help track important metrics, like how often support cases came in and how users engaged with the platform. Her insights helped shape LinkedIn’s business strategy and made a big impact.
Working at LinkedIn gave Hitali the chance to refine her skills even more. She became an expert at understanding data architecture and using it to solve real business problems. But beyond just crunching numbers, she was valued for her ability to explain data clearly, helping teams make better, more informed choices.
Back to EA: A New Mission
In October 2023, Hitali returned to EA, this time in a new role as an Advanced Insights Analyst. Her mission is still the same: to make data work for people.
Now, she focuses on using data to improve customer experiences, digging deep into analytics to find trends and patterns. Her work helps guide the company’s direction and continues to show how valuable data-driven insights can be.
Achievements, Research, and What Comes Next
Hitali’s career has been full of achievements. Her dashboard for EA’s Data Visualization Competition remains a career-defining moment, but she’s accomplished so much more. She’s published eight research papers on topics like data science and the Internet of Things (IoT), which have been cited over 35 times.
Her academic work has made a mark in the research community, and her industry certifications, like Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals, make her a well-rounded expert.
Looking to the future, Hitali is focused on continuous growth. She’s always learning about new technologies, from artificial intelligence to advanced analytics. In the short term, she’s eager to take on more challenging projects and mentor others in her field.
Long term, she dreams of stepping into a senior leadership role, like Chief Data Officer or Head of Analytics. She wants to lead data strategies, using her skills to make a difference in both business and society.
Looking Ahead
Hitali Shah’s story is about more than just numbers. It’s about using data to create real change. From her start in India to her roles at Oracle, EA, and LinkedIn, she’s proven that data can be powerful when used wisely. Her journey is marked by a passion for learning, a drive to solve problems, and a genuine desire to make things better.
As she continues her career, Hitali remains committed to using data not just for business success but to make a positive impact in the world.
