Kevin Louther

After earning his B.S. in Agricultural Business from Cal Poly, Kevin Louther decided to return for his MS in Business Analytics to transition from agriculture into the growing field of data analytics.

“I knew Cal Poly’s program was the perfect fit after speaking with the program director. It gave me the tools to move into analytics, bridging my background in agriculture with a field I was passionate about—all while staying in a city I loved,” Louther said.

Throughout the program, Kevin gained a mix of technical skills and soft skills that proved invaluable in his career. “The program taught me the data analytics expertise I needed, but just as importantly, it focused on soft skills like communication, critical thinking, and personal branding, which are essential in the corporate world.”

Kevin’s favorite experience during the program was working on industry projects, where he had the chance to apply everything he had learned to real-world problems. “Those projects gave me hands-on experience and confidence in making recommendations to companies. It was a great opportunity to see how all of the courses tied together.”

Since graduating, Kevin has built an impressive career. He started at Splunk as a Data Analyst and worked his way up to Senior Product Manager before moving to Adobe, where he now serves as a Product Lead in Data and Analytics for Generative AI. Beyond his professional roles, Kevin stays involved with Cal Poly as a member of the Business Analytics Advisory Board and regularly speaks at conferences on topics like product analytics and data governance.

Outside of work, Kevin continues to apply his analytical mindset to personal projects. He is experimenting with IoT sensors and machine learning to optimize his home garden, maximizing yield while minimizing inputs. “It’s a fun way to bring together my background in agriculture and my passion for data analytics,” he said.

His advice for new students: “Find an area you’re passionate about, and apply your analytics skills to it. Cal Poly’s program will give you all the tools you need to make a difference in your chosen field.”

This profile was published in the Winter of 2024.