From Zoology Graduate to Business Analyst at Zepto: Nikita Singh Raghav’s Journey with Newton School

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Career journeys are rarely linear — and Nikita Singh Raghav’s path is a powerful example of how curiosity, real-world exposure, and the right upskilling platform can lead to a successful career in data.

Today, Nikita works as a Business Analyst at Zepto. Her journey to this role spans academic exploration, public health volunteering, hands-on data work, and finally, structured learning at Newton School.

Early Academic Journey and Exploring Career Options

Nikita completed her 12th grade in 2017 and took a one-year gap to prepare for NEET. Despite her efforts, she did not secure admission to a government medical college. Determined to move forward, she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Hansraj College, Delhi University, starting in 2018 and graduating in 2021.

Her graduation years coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, during which she actively engaged in volunteering work — an experience that played a significant role in shaping her career direction.

Real-World Exposure to Data During COVID-19

For nearly two years, Nikita worked closely with Urban Primary Health Care Centres (UPHCs) in Haryana, supporting teams involved in vaccination drives and public health initiatives.

Her responsibilities included:

- Analysing vaccination data
- Identifying cities and areas for health camps
- Deciding camp durations
- Assisting with medicine distribution planning

This exposure introduced her to data-driven decision-making in healthcare, sparking a strong interest in data analysis and its real-world impact.

Discovering Strengths Through Hands-On Business Analysis

After her volunteering experience, Nikita decided to support her father’s business. Here, she worked directly with customer and property data to identify:

- High-value customers
- Clients with early property investments
- Asset-heavy portfolios

These insights helped the business grow and, more importantly, gave Nikita confidence in her analytical abilities. She realised that with the right skills and training, she could build a long-term career as a data analyst or business analyst.

Choosing Newton School for Structured Data Science Learning

In 2024, Nikita began exploring upskilling options. She was clear about one thing — she did not want to pursue a traditional master’s degree. Instead, she was looking for short-term certification courses in data analytics that were industry-focused and placement-driven.

Her search led her to Newton School, and three key factors influenced her decision.

1. Structured, Phase-Wise Curriculum

Newton School’s four-phase curriculum stood out immediately. The program offered a structured progression across:

- Data Analytics
- Business Analytics
- Data Engineering
- Machine Learning

This phased approach ensured a clear learning roadmap and strong foundations in data science and analytics, rather than fragmented learning.

2. Strong Mentor and Industry Support System

Another major differentiator was Newton School’s multi-layered mentorship model. From:

- Success Managers
- Industry Mentors
- Doubt-Solving Mentors
- Industry Connect and Placement Teams

This comprehensive support system was unlike anything Nikita had seen in other courses.

3. Lifetime Placement Support

For Nikita, the primary goal of enrolling in a course was getting placed. While many platforms offered placement assistance, Newton School’s lifetime placement support stood out.

Even after completing the course, learners can return for placement help — whether transitioning into a new role such as data engineering or aiming for better opportunities later in their careers.

This long-term commitment to learner success reinforced her decision to join Newton School.

Arena: Bridging Learning and Real Interviews

One of Nikita’s favourite features of the program was Arena — a practice platform that includes:

- Assignment-style questions
- Interview-level problem statements
- Questions inspired by real companies like Amazon, Zepto, and Meesho

This proved invaluable during her actual interview processes. While interviewing with companies like Zepto and Meesho, Nikita encountered 2–3 questions that were directly similar to those she had already practised in Arena, giving her a clear advantage.

Where Nikita Singh Raghav Is Today

Today, Nikita Singh Raghav works as a Business Analyst at Zepto, applying her analytical skills in a fast-paced, high-impact environment.

Her journey demonstrates how Newton School helps non-tech graduates and career switchers build successful careers in data analytics and business analytics through structured curriculum, strong mentorship, real interview preparation, and lifelong placement support.