SXU Alum Builds Career in Data Analytics
Saint Xavier University (SXU) alum Jim Barista '20 has built a career in data analytics, serving as a data governance lead, writing as an analyst for Seeking Alpha, and working on a Master of Science in Information Systems – and much of his groundwork for success started at SXU.
Barista, who pursued an MBA in finance at SXU, began his academic career at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he studied economics. Barista has always been interested in personal finance and investing and believed that an MBA in finance would complement his economics background. He also appreciated that SXU was close to home.
Barista feels that his time at Saint Xavier taught him to think through problems in a more analytical way.
"The professors brought real-world experience into the classroom, which gave me practical tools I've used throughout my career. It also laid the groundwork for me to start writing investment research for Seeking Alpha, which has become a big passion of mine. The finance training helped me turn what was just a personal interest in investing into something I could actually do in a more serious way," said Barista.
Currently, Barista serves as a data governance lead at Mark Anthony Group, the company behind White Claw and Mike's Hard Lemonade. He focuses on data quality standards, improving processes across the businesses, and making sure that trusted data drives decisions. Additionally, he writes investment research for Seeking Alpha, which he considers a meaningful way to stay connected to finance.
Barista has been studying investing and writing about companies for years.
"My finance background helped, but so did the communication skills I developed in my data work. I spend a lot of time creating technical documentation and explaining complex ideas to different audiences -- business teams, IT teams, you name it. That experience made the transition to publishing on Seeking Alpha feel natural. It's continued to sharpen my financial analysis and writing while expanding my network in the investing community," said Barista.
Embracing SXU's core value of learning for life, he is pursuing a Master of Science in Information Systems at Northwestern University to deepen his technical skills.
Though his finance program kept him busy, Barista balanced academics with playing basketball at Saint Xavier under the guidance of Coach Tom O'Malley, who coached his father back in the '70s at Leo High School.
"It felt like a really special connection to be under Coach O'Malley's guidance. The 2017-2018 basketball season meant a lot to me. I made close friendships with teammates I'm still in touch with today. I also practically lived in the library. The mix of athletics, academics, and the supportive environment made SXU feel like home," said Barista.
Barista looks back fondly on the relationships he built and the sense of community he got both in the classroom and on the basketball team at SXU.
"I had professors who pushed me to think differently and take ownership of my path, and I formed lasting friendships through basketball. The practices, bus rides, and daily grind of the season created a bond that made everything memorable. What I still carry is the belief that growth never stops and that the people around you matter. SXU reinforced that," said Barista.
The sense of community inspires Barista to pay it forward. He is eager to speak with current or prospective SXU students interested in data, analytics and finance, hoping his experiences will help them find direction.
Barista plans to keep writing for Seeking Alpha with the hope that it eventually becomes full-time once he;s completed the core chapters of his data and analytics career.
"Finance has always been a lifelong passion, and the foundation I built at SXU still influences how I analyze companies and think about markets. My goal is to keep advancing in data while building toward that transition."