Colin Myers’ journey from a thoughtful Indiana kid to a data-driven professional with international experience is a testament to the power of curiosity, adaptability and a passion for understanding people. Raised in a family with deep Purdue and Indiana ties — his father, great-great-grandfather, and other relatives were all Boilermakers — Myers’ decision to attend Purdue felt instinctive. But it was more than just family tradition that led him to West Lafayette.
“I had always liked the Purdue brand, the Purdue sports teams. I was a big fan growing up,” Myers says. “But then looking at college more practically as an 18-year-old, I was also considering other large in-state universities. Purdue was still top of the list. As a naturally analytical kind of person, the programs and culture around STEM were attractive to me.”
Myers began his Purdue career as an actuarial science major, drawn by his aptitude for math and the practical application the field promised. But he soon found himself craving something more connected to human behavior.
“I was interested in modeling human behavior and learning how you can use statistics to predict trends and future outcomes,” he says. The shift to economics was a natural one, blending analytical rigor with a broader, more human-centered perspective. “Economics was a good transition point because it still used a lot of math, still was analytical, but was a lot more broadly applicable to different potential career paths.”
He eventually earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics, with a statistics minor and an international business minor — an academic combination that reflected both his analytical strengths and growing interest in global perspectives.
"Economics was a good transition point because it still used a lot of math, still was analytical, but was a lot more broadly applicable to different potential career paths."
Myers’ global interests also translated into international experiences. “I did study abroad a few times, including a month abroad in Madrid learning managerial economics. That was a really cool course,” he says. After graduating, those experiences led to a job with an Indian analytics company, Mu Sigma.
“It was a good way to get into the analytics world, knowing how internationally interconnected a lot of businesses are nowadays, especially in the tech and data space,” he says. At Mu Sigma, Myers trained in India before returning to the U.S. to serve as a bridge between offshore teams and American clients.
A project analyzing digital engagement for an insurance client in Austin bolstered a developing fascination for Myers: understanding and influencing human behavior through data. “That project involved more social science, trying to understand what drives people and how you can use data to measure that,” he says.
This led him to pursue a master’s in decision and behavioral sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, where he deepened his expertise in using data to study and influence consumer behavior.
Myers’ current position at Circana (formerly known as IRI) showcases his evolution from a data enthusiast to a leader in client service technology. Leveraging his analytical skills and global perspective, he delivers actionable insights for some of the largest retail clients in the United States.
"Once you get all these numbers and data, what does that say about the question you’re asking and how can you present it in a way that’s useful and interesting to somebody?"
Myers is particularly passionate about the practical application of analytics. At Circana, he has been instrumental in developing and refining reporting processes that help clients make sense of vast amounts of market and consumer data. This focus on quality, usability and client impact sets Myers apart. He is not content with simply delivering data; he strives to ensure that every report and dashboard tells a story and drives business decisions.
“Once you get all these numbers and data, what does that say about the question you’re asking and how can you present it in a way that’s useful and interesting to somebody?” he says.
The retail industry is in constant flux, and Myers is keenly aware of the need to stay ahead of trends. At Circana, he has contributed to projects that help clients adapt to shifts in consumer behavior, supply chain disruptions and the growing importance of measuring digital engagement. His background in behavioral science and international business has proven invaluable in these efforts, allowing him to bring a nuanced perspective to problem-solving.
Ultimately, Myers’ work at Circana is driven by a commitment to continuous learning and client success. “The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the tangible impact of my team’s work on client outcomes,” he says. “It’s about making sure they get what they need and that we’re helping them uncover insights and drive meaningful progress with the data and tools we provide.”
