An Analytical Approach to Sustainable Growth

Madison Gray attends the University of Texas at Austin with majors in Management Information Systems and Plan II Honors (an interdisciplinary liberal arts program).

When she read the Trane Technologies internship description, Madison said, “It seemed like a great match. My passion for sustainability is unwavering, so the company’s description of being a global climate innovator really grabbed me.” After applying to the Enterprise Program for Interns & Co-Ops (EPIC) and receiving an offer as a 2021 data analytics intern, she eagerly accepted the opportunity.

An intersection of sustainability and analytics

“My interest in sustainability stemmed from my interest in social impact. Girl Scouts introduced me to the idea of helping people long term, so that became instilled in me as a young girl,” she reflects. “I want to help the world in some way, so any place I work for needs to have a strong mission.” At Trane Technologies, she has found just that.

An assigned book for class served as the catalyst for her specific sustainability interests: “I read Garbology by Edward Humes during my freshman year, and it opened my eyes to the importance of zero waste. Now, as I learn about carbon emissions, waste, and returnable packaging within a large company, I figure out how to dig deep into data and perform better analysis on topics that really appeal to me.”

“Data is fascinating to me because it can tell a story if you look at it the right way. I am learning to find the most important patterns within these numbers and make sure that decisions align with our company’s 2030 Commitments,” she shares.

Learning beyond the data

In addition to enabling data driven decisions, Madison is also honing her project management skills this summer. She notes, “I’m a big picture person, and it can be hard to visualize the final outcome when starting a large project. I’m learning to take an overwhelming task one step at a time and focus on the next small step rather than the end result.”

Unlike many college classes, there is no syllabus to guide her through her work. Instead, Madison utilizes her critical thinking and technical abilities to find solutions. “Although it can be frustrating at first, forcing myself to figure something out—instead of relying on detailed instructions—has taught me how to navigate projects effectively.” Candidly, she adds, “It is challenging at times, but leading myself encourages me to be accountable in the workplace. Even if I head in the wrong direction, I’m still learning.”