Staying Relevant in Data Science: How Consistent Skill Growth Drives Mike Norton’s Success

After over 30 years in the telecom industry and a distinguished career as an officer in the Marine Corps, Mike Norton isn’t slowing down. In fact, he’s accelerating. Now a Product Management leader at T-Mobile, Mike has embraced the evolving field of data science, combining his technical expertise and leadership experience to stay competitive and drive value for his company and team. His story is not only about career progression — it’s about his determination to constantly upskill, his passion for mentoring, and his strategic decision to stay relevant in a rapidly changing industry. 

With two master’s degrees already under his belt, Mike Norton saw value in continuing to refine his skills portfolio. Ultimately, Mike sought his third master’s credential with the University of Colorado Boulder’s Master of Science in Data Science on Coursera. 

A Career Built on Leadership and Adaptation

Mike’s journey began at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, leading to 7.5 years of service in the Marine Corps. After leaving the military, he transitioned into telecom, where he climbed the ranks in IT management and application development. Over the years, he managed complex systems — billing, ordering, and network management to name a few — steadily building a career defined by leadership and technical expertise.

But seven years ago, Mike faced a pivotal shift. His company restructured, and instead of retreating, he seized the opportunity to start fresh as an individual contributor. Leveraging his management skills, he eventually transitioned into product management — first as a consultant, then securing a permanent position at T-Mobile. The company’s focus on data opened new doors for Mike, and he saw a clear opportunity: “Data is important here,” he says. “To be of maximum value, you have to keep learning.” With this philosophy in mind, Mike began exploring his third master’s degree with the University of Colorado Boulder.

At T-Mobile, the value of education is clear as Mike has been able to take advantage of employer tuition reimbursement benefits. “I’m extremely satisfied by the program. I love the price. For the investment, it’s very affordable. It’s so affordable that I’ve managed it within the funding that T-mobile provides.”

The Pursuit of Data Science Excellence

As he began his enrollment to the program, Mike knew his technical foundation was strong, but also knew that to truly master data science and machine learning, he needed formal training. After formerly completing a six-month machine learning certificate program, he sought more— a deeper understanding of big data, statistics, and non-AI elements of data science.

The flexibility of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Data Science program and practical focus of the curriculum were exactly what Mike was looking for:

“In the traditional classroom, information is here today, gone tomorrow. But with this program, the combination of videos, labs, and tests really makes the knowledge stick.”

Mike also speaks highly of the professors, particularly Dr. Jen Corcoran and Dr. Zaharatos, whose engaging and challenging teaching styles made a lasting impact. “90% of the professors I’ve had have been excellent,” Mike says. The ability to work at his own pace was a game-changer. “If you’re not feeling great one day, you can pick it up later. That flexibility makes a big difference.”

In terms of enrollment, Mike took the technical pathway into the program, tackling courses in statistics and data pipeline engineering. While he admits that brushing up on calculus was challenging, he sees value in the struggle. “Some of the stats courses were very math-heavy — I hadn’t touched calculus in…I don’t want to say how many years! But with hard work, you figure it out.”

Bringing Knowledge Back to the Team

Mike’s data science education isn’t just personal — it’s transforming how he leads his teams. Managing four machine learning scrum teams at T-Mobile, Mike has been able to apply statistical insights and modeling techniques directly to real-world problems.

“Before, I had a good technical understanding. But now, I can better explain how these models work mathematically. I’m able to coach my teams more effectively.”

Mike has also pushed his teams to refine their approach to data distribution and algorithm selection. He’s encouraged them to read abstracts, question assumptions, and experiment with feature engineering. For example, when it comes to models, he has worked with his teams to continuously tweak things to find the best approach.

A Passion for Mentoring 

Mike isn’t just applying what he’s learned — he’s sharing it. He meets regularly with colleagues for one-on-one mentoring, helping younger team members navigate their careers and grow their confidence. 

Mike’s commitment to mentoring has made him a role model. Younger employees in their 20s have told him that seeing him pursue a degree has inspired them to go back and pursue their own education. He even recently inspired a member of his team to enroll in the very same Data Science master’s degree at CU Boulder. “What (The University of Colorado Boulder) has invested in me, I invest in other people.”

“I believe firmly that as an individual in charting your career, your biggest skillset is your ability to learn, adjust and continue to reskill yourself to be relevant.”

Staying Competitive and Future-proofing his Career

Mike’s motivation is clear: staying competitive in a fast-moving field. He knows that as his career progresses, he’ll need to continue sharpening his edge:

“You have to be competitive because, as an employee, you get more and more expensive. If you’re not upskilling and retooling, you’re not going to stay relevant.”

The credential itself matters — but so does the knowledge behind it. Mike is already thinking about his next steps. Large language models are the next frontier, and he’s preparing by studying them independently. “I bought a $68 book on large language models — theory and practice. There’s an old saying that if you invest in 30% of the best texts in an area, you’ll be ahead of 80% of your peers.”

Finishing Strong and Looking Ahead

With just one credit hour left, Mike is on track to graduate this May. He’s excited to cross the finish line — but more importantly, he’s proud of the skills he’s gained along the way. “It’s been a long haul — like a marathon. But I’m excited to have the credential. It’s meaningful in itself.”

Mike’s long-term goal is to stay at the forefront of data science, both within his company and the broader industry. He’s considering writing an abstract on anomaly detection and submitting it to the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Public speaking at data science conferences is also on his radar — a return to a strength from earlier in his career.

“I’m obviously not a spring chicken,” he jokes. “But I plan to contribute for a long time to come, and I’m already thinking about what I’m going to learn next.”

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