Interview With A Mathematics Major

A mathematics major involves a rigorous curriculum in topics such as calculus, algebra, and geometry, which develops strong analytical and problem-solving skills and can lead to many unique career paths. From a career as an actuary to a career in education, this degree can take you far. To dive deeper into the intricacies of this major, I interviewed Coleman Brockmeier, a senior marketing analyst at L.L.Bean. I asked Coleman a series of questions regarding his chosen undergraduate major and current career path, and here are his responses:

What school did you attend for your undergraduate degree?

"Bowdoin College, a small liberal arts college in Maine."

What was your undergraduate major?

"Mathematics and Music (double major)."

What is your current occupation, and how did your undergraduate major prepare you for your career?

"I work at L.L.Bean as a Senior Marketing Analyst in marketing analytics. I spend a lot of my time building statistical models and analyzing large datasets in the service of advising senior leadership how to invest our multi-million dollar annual marketing budget. My math background gave me the technical tools for the job (probability, statistics, logical reasoning), which I use every day. And my music background and liberal arts curriculum sharpened my ability to think creatively, communicate clearly, and draw connections across fields. Lots of people graduate from STEM fields able to crunch the numbers, but I feel what sets you apart is the ability to see opportunities and connections in unexpected places."

What does a regular day in your occupation look like?

"My days are a mix of time spent in meetings and desk work. On the technical side, I write SQL to pull in data, code in Python, create Tableau dashboards, and build Excel workbooks/data models. And on the “softer” side, I also spend time designing PowerPoint decks and drafting emails to both communicate analysis and tell a clear story from the data. A big part of my work is spotting trends and connecting dots across different parts of the business and sharing those insights with leaders who have decision-making power."

Did you do any additional schooling after undergraduate school for your occupation? (If so, then what school/program and how long did it take?)

"None since graduating, though many in my position go on to pursue an MBA or Master’s degrees in Data Science or Business Analytics. I do have a colleague on the team who earned a Ph.D in Applied Math directly after her undergrad degree."

What was your favorite aspect of your undergraduate major?

"For math, I loved the sense of discovery. I’d often spend hours on a single problem in a problem set or on an exam before the solution would suddenly present itself. I learned how to be persistent and comfortable with uncertainty through that process. For music, I loved needing to collaborate with others for a result bigger than any one person. I really came to appreciate how music would balance out the math, in that time spent in a practice room led to consistent, observable gains (monotonically increasing, ha) in my skill level!"

What was the most challenging part of your undergraduate major?

"The higher-level theoretical math courses, like Analysis and Groups (Abstract Algebra), presented a level of sheer difficulty I hadn’t seen before. These types of classes tended to be proof-based and were far more ambiguous than classes I’d previously seen, in both high school and early college. I also needed to learn how to balance all the various curricular and extracurricular activities I was involved in, from classes, to a handful of musical ensembles, and leading outdoor adventures with the outing club."

What made you choose your undergraduate major?

"I was pretty set on both degrees from the start based on my passion for both in high school. Bowdoin encouraged double majors, with over half the class pursuing them, so I never felt that I had to choose just one. I have seen that decision continue to shape how I think today, combining analytical thinking with creative storytelling."