MSA Alumni Spotlight
Elizabeth Stanford (’19)
VP of Data, PandaDoc
Atlanta, GA
About Elizabeth
I’m Elizabeth Stanford, and I’m currently based in Atlanta. I serve as the Vice President of Data at PandaDoc, where I lead our data engineering, analytics, and data science teams for our SaaS product. My role also involves shaping how we structure our data to better support internal and external AI initiatives.
My background is actually in math and psychology, which sparked my interest in the intersection of data, people, and decision-making. Over time, that passion evolved into leading teams and thinking more holistically about how data can drive business strategy.
How do you use analytics or data science in your day-to-day work?
It really spans a wide spectrum. Sometimes it’s as straightforward as identifying the right data point to inform a strategic decision and communicating that insight clearly to stakeholders. Other times, it’s much more technical — such as building predictive models to help sales teams target the right prospects more efficiently.
We also run experiments and navigate statistical nuances specific to SaaS environments. At the leadership level, my role is about ensuring that data isn’t just produced — it’s integrated into how decisions are made across product, go-to-market, and customer success functions.
What do you enjoy most about your job, especially when it comes to working with data?
I am the kind of person who really enjoys the intersection of the data and more of the like people workings and how to influence and motivate. And so that's part of what drove me into more of a leadership position. I really have enjoyed thinking through not just how do we solve these data problems and build these models, but also how can we better structure our organizations to integrate data-driven decisions and think from a more holistic standpoint and pull in some of those data solutions that my teams are working so diligently to provide.
What's one favorite memory you have from the MSA program-academic, social, or professional?
One of my favorite memories from the MSA program is the late nights spent studying and working through projects with classmates. I completed the program over several years while working full-time, so those campus evenings were intense but incredibly meaningful.
The relationships built during those study sessions have lasted well beyond graduation — and many of those peers are still people I exchange ideas with professionally today.
What MSA skill, class, or project helped you get your job or grow in your career?
It wasn’t just one class — it was the mindset the program instilled. The MSA program was excellent at teaching us how to learn.
I think the biggest thing really in this industry is learning how to learn and this program was so excellent at doing that and providing the foundation for being able to jump into the real world and expect that you're going to have to pivot and iterate and continue to learn and grow. And I think that was the biggest mindset that you gained from all of the really challenging courses here.
What advice would you give to a MSA student looking to break into your industry?
The three biggest markers of success I look for when hiring are curiosity, ownership, and collaboration.
Be genuinely curious about the problem you’re solving. Take ownership of your work and drive it forward. And remember that this field evolves quickly — you can’t succeed alone. The strongest professionals are the ones who continue learning, work well across teams, and are willing to step up and lead when needed.