Meet Katie Uhler, an ESTEEM alumna from the Class of 2020 whose career centers on transforming data into strategy. After graduating from ESTEEM, Katie joined Stackline, a leader in ecommerce intelligence, where she progressed from Associate Manager to Senior Account Manager of Strategic Insights. In her role, Katie partners with global retail brands to uncover performance trends, identify competitive advantages, and translate complex analytics into meaningful business decisions. She reflects on the lessons she carried from ESTEEM, her path into the digital commerce sector, and the perspectives that guide her work in this fast-evolving industry.
Background & ESTEEM Experience
ESTEEM: Can you share a bit about your academic and professional background before joining ESTEEM?
Katie: I went to the University of Notre Dame for undergrad and studied Science Business, a degree that combines pre-medical curriculum with business courses. After graduating, I took a gap year and worked as a medical scribe for a variety of physicians (ER, gynecologic oncologist, cardiologist) in the Michiana area while I applied to medical school.
Going to medical school initially appealed to me because it was a well-laid out path with defined checkpoints and set goals. While pursuing my Science Business degree, however, I developed a budding interest in tech and business. I decided to explore this further during my gap year by taking a part-time role at the IDEA Center. During my time at the IDEA Center, I interacted with several ESTEEM students and learned about the projects they were working on. I remember feeling impressed by their academic and entrepreneurial endeavors and excited about the career opportunities they pursued post-ESTEEM.
I was accepted into medical school but was still on the fence about whether I wanted to pursue a career in clinical medicine, so I decided to defer my acceptance and enroll in the ESTEEM program. My ESTEEM experience opened my eyes to the career opportunities that exist at the intersection of business and technology, so I declined my medical school offer and embarked upon a new path.
ESTEEM: What inspired you to pursue ESTEEM, and how did the program shape your approach to innovation and leadership?
Katie: Enrolling in ESTEEM marked an important transition for me from the insulated, constructed and well-defined environment of undergraduate courses to the vague, open-endedness of the real world. ESTEEM’s curriculum and experiential learning opportunities helped me develop an entrepreneurial mindset and the skills needed to navigate ambiguity. Instead of trying to force the “right” answer immediately, I learned to sit in the uncertainty long enough to ask sharper, more insightful questions. That shift has fundamentally changed how I lead projects and how I collaborate today.
ESTEEM: Looking back, what part of the ESTEEM experience, whether a course, mentor, or project, had the biggest influence on how you work today?
Katie: My capstone project with the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research was my main focus during my time at ESTEEM. Jim Dolan, my capstone sponsor, and the research team were tremendously engaged in the project, which greatly enhanced my learning experience and made my capstone work all the more fulfilling. The capstone project was an essential development opportunity that allowed me to get hands-on experience working for a “client” on a complex, meaningful project.
Career Journey and Strategic Insights at Stackline
ESTEEM: Can you walk us through your career path since graduating from ESTEEM? What led you to Stackline, and what drew you to strategic insights?
Katie: ESTEEM helped me take a more open-minded approach to my career. Initially, I felt so unsettled by the fact that I didn’t know what I wanted to do post-ESTEEM. Conversations with ESTEEM staff members and instructors helped me shift my mindset from asking “what do I want to do?” to considering more open-ended questions like “what type of environment do I want to work in?” and “What do I want to learn about myself?” This type of hypothesis-centered thinking (along with ESTEEM’s alumni network!) helped me land my current gig at Stackline.
Natalie (May) Cotter, an ESTEEM alumna and former Stackline employee, came back to campus one football weekend to meet with my class and share her early career experience at Stackline. Her talk was appealing to me as she spoke with such excitement about the software tools and services she and the Stackline team were building. She had a similar background to me, so I sensed I would be a good culture fit at the company. I connected with Natalie, and she helped loop me into the recruiting process at Stackline.
Since joining Stackline in 2020, I’ve been promoted twice and now manage my own portfolio of clients as a Senior Account Manager of Strategic Insights. Each step has expanded both my technical skills and my confidence, and it's been energizing to grow within a company that’s evolving just as quickly as the eCommerce landscape itself.
ESTEEM: Your work centers on helping brands understand and act on ecommerce trends. What does your role as Senior Account Manager of Strategic Insights involve day to day?
Katie: At its core, my job is to translate complex datasets into insights brands can act on with confidence. I work with a roster of clients across a variety of categories and meet with them regularly to understand what business challenges they are facing and determine how to leverage Stackline’s suite of ecommerce management and intelligence tools to provide them with decision-driving data and insights. A typical day involves diving into sales, search traffic, and competitive data to identify what’s driving performance for a category or brand.
ESTEEM: What aspects of working in a data-driven strategy role do you find most energizing or rewarding? What has challenged you the most?
Katie: I love the interdisciplinary nature of my role as it blends analytics, consulting, and communication. I get to collaborate with product, engineering, sales, and support teams internally and work with clients who manage some of the world’s most recognizable brands. The work is incredibly dynamic, and no two weeks look the same.
The biggest challenge is also what keeps my job exciting: ecommerce moves fast! Consumer behavior is ever-changing, and the technology powering online shopping continues to evolve. Staying curious and approaching challenges with an analytical and creative mindset have enabled me to navigate such a dynamic environment.
ESTEEM: What does effective leadership look like to you in a data-centered role, and how do you build strong relationships with your clients and teams?
Katie: Curiosity is a hallmark of effective leadership in a data-centered role. Listening, asking thoughtful questions, and approaching complex challenges through framework-driven helps turn uncertainty into clarity and empowers peers and clients to make confident decisions.
Advice for Students & Future Innovators
ESTEEM: Many current ESTEEM students are interested in analytics, consulting, or customer insights. What advice would you offer them as they begin shaping their paths?
Katie: Embrace uncertainty and discomfort - that’s where learning and growth happen! Learn broadly, be curious, and find great people to work alongside.
ESTEEM: What skills or qualities do you believe will define the next generation of leaders in data-driven industries?
Katie: Curiosity, adaptability, and strong data storytelling will set individuals apart, especially as generative AI continues to advance and transform the way we work. AI agents conduct incredibly robust analyses, but they are only as good as they are directed to be. Future leaders will work in tandem with AI to tell data-rich stories that distill complex questions and uncover actionable opportunities.