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Episode 08: From Math Classroom to Healthcare Analytics with Megan McKay

What happens when a math instructor asks, “Where can I take the math?” For Megan McKay, the answer was analytics, intentional networking, and a referral that led to Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina. In this episode, Megan unpacks her pivot from teaching undergrad math to landing a newly minted analyst role, including the exact steps, surprises, and lessons that moved her from “spray and pray” to strategic.

Megan holds a master’s in applied mathematics from the University of South Carolina, taught 100-level courses for three years, and built a new class called Mathematical Concepts for Data and Analytics to support USC’s data analysis degree. That work pulled her into the analytics world, where she completed the Google Professional Data Analytics Certificate, joined Avery Smith’s Data Analytics Accelerator, built projects, and rebuilt her resume and portfolio.

The job that stuck started with a referral. Megan applied during a short posting window, confirmed salary with the recruiter, and completed two interviews that leaned behavioral with light scenario thinking. No live coding, but lots of communication, problem framing, and clarifying definitions in a regulated domain. She also shares a clean follow-up move that preceded her offer call by a couple of hours and a look at week-one onboarding in healthcare, from HIPAA to business language and acronyms.

You’ll learn:

• How a teacher translated math skills into business outcomes and analytics stories
• Why pausing applications to level up projects and portfolio can raise your hit rate
• A simple “open calendar” coffee-chat experiment that produced 15 calls in two weeks and a stronger network across multiple countries
• How referrals cut the line without guaranteeing the job, and why vibe and clarity still win the room
• Smart follow-up timing after “you’ll hear soon”
• What early onboarding looks like in a healthcare analytics role

Tactics to steal:

• Clarify terms, baselines, and success criteria before proposing solutions
• Post with intent on LinkedIn and send personal connection messages
• Make it easy for people to talk with you using a limited Calendly window
• Shift time blocks as you progress: upskill early, then lean into applications and networking
• Pick a lane when you can, and let strong referrals open doors you can grow into

Connect with Megan on LinkedIn. Her portfolio and Tableau Public are accessible through her profile and resume. She keeps messages open and welcomes thoughtful conversations if you want to try the open calendar idea yourself.

For more on closing the gap between job seekers and hiring authorities, visit themajordata.com or join the Data Career Academy community on LinkedIn.

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