ABOUT

Usra Khan

L O S A N G E L E S , C A L I F O R N I A

I completed my undergraduate at the University of Florida and obtained my Bachelor's in Anthropology and Mass Communication. After graduating I realized I wanted to combine my Mass Communication degree with data. I applied to Applied Analytics Master’s program at Columbia University in 2020 and I got in. I will be graduating with my degree in July 2023.

My goal is to find a balance in life where I can be creative and apply the lessons I learned at Columbia to my real life. In the three years, it has taken me to complete this program I haven’t given up my passion for art and creation. I have enjoyed designing clothing and jewelry, curating events, photography, directing short films, and editing photos/film. Because of the various projects I have worked on these past few years, I have learned a few things about myself. Like how I enjoy being a problem solver, working with people and teams, and fell in love with the idea of creating a message.

I had a chance to learn the ins of creative directing with Ogilvy’s own, Joel Arzu, in 2022. Being able to create advertising and marketing concepts has been a new sort of revelation for me. Learning how to convey my ideas and have them flower into something real always makes me feel like I’m dreaming. I place a great deal of importance on learning, which is why I continue to pick up courses I am interested in, such as this Art Direction course. I know I will never know enough and I find that truly exciting, it allows me to stay searching and continue being creative.