Adding Business Analysis to Project Management Toolkit

Project managers and business analysts make a strong team. The project manager (PM) keeps the timeline, resources and goals on track, while the business analyst (BA) ensures that the team is solving the right problems and meeting real business needs. Together, they help turn ideas into successful, well-executed outcomes.

The beauty is when the project manager and the business analyst are the same person.

For business analysis certificate graduate Shwetha Srinivasan, the fusion of project management and business analysis became evident during her time as a PM at Intuit. There, she was responsible for planning and managing multiple initiatives, coordinating cross-functional teams and ensuring that projects were delivered on time and within scope—the true definition of a project manager.

Shwetha’s brain lit up upon realizing that she could up the ante of her work by gaining tools around understanding and meeting business requirements, encouraging and sustaining stakeholder engagement, and focusing on process improvement. These are the core functional areas of business analysis.

“As a project manager,” Shwetha says, “I often found myself involved in the early stages of projects—defining scope, identifying goals, documenting tasks and aligning resources. I realized that having a strong foundation in business analysis was essential to executing these responsibilities effectively.

“Business analysis plays a critical role in aligning initiatives with strategic goals, identifying risks early and making informed decisions that deliver value,” she continues. “Understanding these concepts more deeply has helped me become a more strategic and impactful contributor to every project I work on.”

This includes those projects that currently cross her desk as a customer experience product manager at Cisco. But let’s rewind to 2018, when she started our Certificate Program in Business Analysis to see how the PM and the BA have merged to drive Shwetha’s career forward.

As a project manager, I often found myself involved in the early stages of projects—defining scope, identifying goals, documenting tasks and aligning resources. I realized that having a strong foundation in business analysis was essential to executing these responsibilities effectively.

Why drew you to our certificate?

I was looking for a certificate with a strong academic reputation and a curriculum that aligned with industry standards—and UC Berkeley Extension stood out right away.

I was drawn to the certificate’s reputation and its focus on practical, real-world applications. I wanted to gain a structured understanding of how to define needs, analyze processes and design solutions that drive business value. My goal was to upskill in a way that would complement my existing project and product management background, while also opening up new career growth opportunities.

During the two years that you spent taking classes, how was your experience?

The courses were engaging, hands-on and highly collaborative. Each class included projects and assignments that encouraged working with fellow students, which created great opportunities for peer learning and networking. The instructors were knowledgeable, approachable and brought real-world experience into the classroom, which made the material even more relevant and applicable.

The flexibility of taking classes online was really important to me, especially while balancing a full-time job. The courses were well-organized, interactive and offered plenty of opportunities to connect with both instructors and classmates. It felt like a seamless learning experience.

My goal was to upskill in a way that would complement my existing project and product management background, while also opening up new career growth opportunities.

Tell me about your current role at Cisco.

I work closely with cross-functional teams to develop and launch new offers, manage stakeholder expectations, and ensure successful end-to-end execution of products and services. The work is highly collaborative and requires constant alignment between business goals and customer needs—skills that were reinforced and refined through the certificate program.

I was able to immediately apply concepts from class like stakeholder analysis, process mapping and writing effective business requirements. The certificate gave me the tools and frameworks that I now use to communicate more clearly, make better decisions and streamline collaboration across teams.

What does earning this certificate mean for you personally and professionally?

Earning this certificate is both a personal accomplishment and a professional milestone.

Personally, it’s been fulfilling to invest in my growth and formalize skills that I had developed on the job.

Professionally, it adds credibility to my profile, boosts my confidence in high-stakes discussions, and opens up future opportunities in business analysis, product strategy or even leadership roles.

The certificate gave me the tools and frameworks that I now use to communicate more clearly, make better decisions and streamline collaboration across teams.

What advice would you give to a student who is starting the certificate?

Stay proactive: Don’t just focus on completing assignments, but look for ways to apply what you're learning in real time.

Engage with your classmates and instructors; there's a lot of value in their diverse experiences.

Be open to different industries and perspectives—it will deepen your understanding of how business analysis is used in various contexts.

Where can we find you in five to 10 years from now?

I see myself in a senior leadership role—perhaps as a director of product management or strategy—leading teams that develop innovative customer solutions. I want to continue bridging the gap between business goals and customer experiences, and drive impactful change through strategic analysis and data-informed decisions.