Crossing Boundaries: A Conversation with MLA Alumna Stephanie Herti

Tristan Cabello & Stephanie Herti

I had the chance to sit down with Stephanie Herti, an MLA alumna whose story really captures what this program is about. Stephanie has built a career that moves between linguistics and data analytics, and she’s found a way to connect worlds that don’t always speak to each other. She talked about what it means to bridge technical and non-technical teams, and how the MLA helped her think differently about problem-solving, and leadership. We’ve shared a glimpse of her work before in an article, but this time I wanted to bring you the full conversation. Thank you Stephanie! – Tristan

Tristan Cabello: What drew you to the MLA program?

Stephanie Herti: It’s a program supporting a diverse range of skills across multiple domains. I’ve always been drawn to broad, integrative learning rather than narrowly focused graduate study, which can sometimes limit the scope of application. In today’s dynamic professional landscape, success often requires the ability to think beyond traditional boundaries and draw from varied areas of expertise. I thrive in environments that allow for versatility and cross-functional growth. I never want to be confined to a single lane of knowledge.

Tristan Cabello: Is there a moment from the program (an idea, a class, a conversation) that has stayed with you?

Stephanie Herti: I never anticipated collaborating with so many engineers in a program rooted in the arts. While working full-time in marketing data and analytics, it took me five years to complete the MLA program. Throughout that time, I witnessed how critical thinking serves as a bridge between highly technical roles and those centered around communication and empathy.

As a linguist by nature with an undergraduate background in Russian language, I found it fascinating to engage with colleagues whose fluency lay in code and formulaic logic. Yet whether it was human language or code-based, everyone expressed their own interpretation of language. What united us was a shared drive to solve problems and apply insights across disciplines, industries, and domains.

Regardless of professional background, each classmate demonstrated a strong commitment to self-reflection, continuous improvement, and meaningful progress. While engineers may describe their work as a science, I would debate whether it's equally an art. That’s why interdisciplinary programs like the MLA are so meaningful: they bring together intellectually curious professionals with diverse strengths, encouraging innovation at the intersections of knowledge. This is often unrecognized.

I once described my experience in the MLA program to Dr. Laura DeSisto as a space for accelerating self-propelled innovation and rapid progress alongside observant, like-minded professionals.

Tristan Cabello: What are you working on or exploring now?

Stephanie Herti: I serve as a translator between technical and non-technical teams, helping marketing and account management teams better understand data concepts and workflows. At the same time, I ensure that the data department clearly understands client objectives and business needs. In my hybrid role, I bridge communication gaps across five core departments: media services, client services, creative/UX services, and data services.

My work is rooted in understanding and aligning cross-functional needs to drive progress and close knowledge gaps on behalf of the data team. I'm intrinsically motivated to eliminate operational inefficiencies and communication barriers that stem from ways of working that are not universally understood. I’m especially passionate about tools that automate and simplify complex workflows or systems that large teams rely on to generate revenue.

I believe everyone is capable of engaging with data meaningfully, and I consistently advocate for broader access to tools, enablement resources, and education to help streamline success across the business.

Tristan Cabello: How has the MLA shaped how you see the world—or how you move through it?

Stephanie Herti: Interdisciplinary thinking translates directly to cross-departmental collaboration in the professional world. Similarly, interdisciplinary innovation mirrors the kind of progress that happens when diverse teams work together across functions.

The MLA program’s emphasis on embracing multiple branches of knowledge aligns with what drives success in the workplace: openness to different disciplines, perspectives, and ways of thinking. In large organizations, information can easily become siloed. The ability to navigate across categories of subject matter, to bridge gaps between segmented areas of expertise, is both rare and highly valuable.

Just as an appreciation for culture fosters empathy and understanding, it also informs how we work with others. Interdisciplinary education cultivates this mindset, and it directly strengthens one’s ability to operate effectively in complex, cross-functional environments.

Tristan Cabello: Anything you'd like to say to current or future MLA students?

Stephanie Herti: What are you allowing yourself to see? Consider this question through both academic and professional lenses as you grow into a thought leader with interdisciplinary skills. The MLA program invites you to bring academic insight and professional experience into conversation, to identify what’s missing, to understand it deeply, and to act on it.

Your strength lies in perceiving gaps others may overlook and transforming that awareness into meaningful progress. There is always more context to uncover, and embracing this reality will elevate both your academic thinking and your professional impact.

With the right mindset, you can empower others to see the unseen, think beyond convention, and achieve what has yet to be done.