RECOGNIZING VSB ALUMNI: TANYA COUTRAY

Tanya Coutray holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Mathematics from Virginia Tech University and is a student in the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) program at VSB.

At Walmart she has led the tech and data for global compliance, people analytics, global responsibility, and most recently the focus on their positive community impact through philanthropy and sustainability. Earlier in her career she owned her own business, was an NFL cheerleader and worked at PwC, TC Technologies and Sprint. Coutray is married and has four children.

What inspired you to pursue your current career path?

The work that I get to do is nothing short of inspiring. I have the privilege of leading technology, data and analytics for Walmart’s Philanthropy and Sustainability efforts globally. This includes $1.4B annual in cash and in-kind donations across 27 countries and efforts like Project Gigaton which is the reduction of 1 billion metric tons (a gigaton) of emissions into the environment by 2030. Literally, the everyday work is focused on how to make the world a better place, maximizing impact for people and communities in all our programs. The ability to use my technical skillset in this realm is very rewarding.

Can you tell us more about your journey to becoming a Senior Director of Technology, Data, and Analytics at Walmart?

I’ve had numerous roles throughout my career that have deeply focused on technology, data and/or analytics. It’s this combination that’s allowed me to lead products and services end to end. Coming out of school with degrees in theoretical and applied mathematics, I joined PwC consulting. This gave me business skills and ways I could apply the technical knowledge I had gained. I started out as a programmer, analyzing data for performance impact at companies and then later started my own consulting company. I’ve consciously changed roles to expand my areas of knowledge (sales, marketing, fraud detection, compliance, etc.) and leadership capabilities as well.

What do you enjoy most about your career and/or find the most rewarding?

In addition to providing positive impact to people and communities globally with the use of technology, I really enjoy giving back to individuals in their career journey. I’ve had some incredible mentors along the way and like to share the guidance I’ve received with others.

What is some of the best guidance that you’re received?

I had a few mentors who’ve really pushed me to be proactive – making connections and building relationships sometimes way beyond my peer level, expressing areas of interest and increasing responsibilities, and going for stretch roles. This was not easy for me because I’m a natural introvert (remember I was a math major 😊) but it’s made all the difference in the world. Not only did it help me to become more comfortable outwardly, it actually brought tremendous opportunities to me.

What are some ways being a woman has impacted your career path, both positively and negatively?

Balancing work life and family has been difficult at times. My husband and I had four kids in five years, all while both working full time and having no extended family in the area to help. We’ve stayed very active with them in sports and academics, knowing it’s important to stay involved in their daily lives. This level of commitment and competing work/life demands has also made me a stronger leader - able to handle a lot of varying responsibilities, intently prioritize, and also keep perspective on what’s really important in work situations.

Have you ever faced adversity in your career? Could you share a specific story with our readers as well as provide us some insight into how you overcame adversity?

The only thing I’ve wished is that I had gotten my MS Analytics earlier. In many of the new roles I’ve started, I’ve felt there was always a period of earning respect in terms of being qualified, whereas I’d see the MS or PhD introduce themselves with the title and gain instant credibility. It just would have made it easier and shortcut some of the startup phases that I’ve had in roles, enabling me to move faster.

What is your perspective on data analytics’ impact on the corporate social responsibilities environment?

It is huge and a direct focus area in my work. Customers and investors want to know that the companies they support are taking actions in terms of corporate social responsibility. At Walmart, we release an annual ESG report for full transparency and accountability to global responsibility areas and commitments we’ve made accordingly.

What drew you to pursue your MSA at Villanova?

I appreciate the MSA program content that Villanova offered, being directly relevant to areas of analytics across industries. The flexibility offered in this program, specifically the online nature, was critical in my ability to balance school, work, and family.

How has the MSA program at Villanova helped in your work?

It’s directly relevant to the data and analytics work that I do. While my day-to-day job is in leading functions, it has allowed me to be more connected with the teams and individuals that I manage by being current on analytical methodologies and tool sets.

Could you share one or two memorable experiences during your studies?

There’s been quite a few “aha” moments that have demystified the complexity of advanced analytical methodologies, and instead provided me with the confidence to produce them in R. I’ve also enjoyed the connections I’ve made with class members throughout the program, many which continue beyond the program courses into work.

What advice would you offer to our readers as they pursue their own careers?

Constantly push yourself outside your comfort zone. It is only then that you’ll know what you’re capable of. If you’re not uncomfortable, then you’re not growing.