Data

Alexis Auer

Hometown: South Orange, NJ

Alma Mater: Haverford College

Major: International Studies; East Asian Studies and Economics Minors

Current Role: Associate Data Research Analyst – Commodities & Energy (Chicago)

When did you start the MDP program and what was your role? 

I started the MDP program in July of 2017 on the Client Support team for Morningstar’s Commodities & Energy product. 

What was your next position? What led you to this role? 

My next (and current) role is as an Associate Data Research Analyst for the Commodities product. We worked closely with them as support reps, and I was really interested in the functions of their role. Since our product has a pretty small team in general, the Data Research Analysts have many different responsibilities and have to resolve all escalated cases to completion, which requires a lot of problem solving and hard/soft skills that you learn on the job. 

What is a typical day in your current role? 

There are a few main functions of our role – we resolve JIRA tickets escalated from the support team; implement new data development projects into our data warehouse systems to make sure they work correctly; and we monitor the daily processes of data jobs in our internal data warehouses, which means making sure that data is downloaded correctly from our external data providers, processed correctly internally on our systems, and uploaded to client servers as expected. 

Did you participate in any stretch projects or ERGs? 

I participated in the Quant Bootcamp in 2017 and the QAP that year as well. This involved working with other commodities analysts under the direction of Michael O’Leary (a quant researcher) to create electricity forecast models based off of weather data. I also volunteered at the Noble Academy teaching after-school finance courses. 

What advice would you give your first-year self? 

Try everything and anything! It’s great to have a fixed path in mind for yourself, but with all of the opportunities available through stretch projects, ERGs, and apprenticeships, it’s important to expand your network, skillset, and interests. 

What is your favorite place in Chicago? 

My favorite place in Chicago is probably the Zhou B art center in Bridgeport. It’s a huge warehouse filled with probably around 50 independent artists’ galleries, and every third Friday they open up the center to the public. It’s really fun to walk around and see what people are creating, while also getting free wine and snacks as you go. The artists are really cool to talk to and there are fun interactive activities. Last time I went, I won a handmade pin by (almost) beating an artist in Super Smash Bros. 

Charlotte Turner

Hometown: Roanoke, VA

Alma Mater: Sewanee: The University of the South

Major: Economics and Spanish; Politics Minor

Current Role: Associate Data Research Analyst – Data Level 2 (Chicago)

When did you start the MDP program and what was your role? 

I started the MDP program in July of 2017 as a Client Support Representative on the Managed Portfolios team.  Prior to starting the MDP program, I participated in the summer internship program which is ultimately what led me to start my career at Morningstar! 

What was your next position? What led you to this role?

I moved to the Data Level 2 team as an Associate Data Research Analyst for my next role.  I was interested in learning more about Morningstar products and the underlying data processes behind them.  I enjoy the analytical component of the role as well as the breadth of data exposure. One of the best parts of the role is working with the amazing people on the Data Level 2 Team! 

What is a typical day in your current role? 

The Data Level 2 Team serves as the intermediary between client services and data teams to ensure that data issues are resolved in a timely and accurate manner.  A typical day begins with a team huddle, where we discuss any major issues or trends, and come up with our strategy for managing our queue of cases for the day.  Our responsibilities include investigation and triage of all cases escalated to our team through Salesforce. We verify and fix data issues and escalate the case further to the appropriate team, if needed. 

Did you participate in any stretch projects or ERGs? 

I am currently participating in the IMRAP program on the MulitAsset/Alternatives Manager Research team. 

What advice would you give your first-year self? 

Don’t hesitate to join organizations or committees across Morningstar if something interests you! It is a great way to connect with Morningstar employees and gain exposure to everything Morningstar has to offer.  Also, use your educational stipend!  It is a great complement to the MDP program because you are encouraged to explore various career paths, and can use your educational stipend to improve your skill set in an area you may not have a lot of prior experience in. 

What is your favorite place in Chicago? 

The Art Institute of Chicago!