1. What is a Business Analyst?

As a Business Analyst at American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), you occupy a pivotal role at the intersection of data, technology, and corporate travel strategy. This position is not merely about reporting numbers; it is about interpreting vast amounts of travel data to drive efficiency, improve client experiences, and optimize internal operations. You will act as a bridge between technical teams and business stakeholders, translating complex data sets into actionable insights that power the world’s leading B2B travel platform.

The impact of this role is significant. Amex GBT manages millions of transactions and supports companies in navigating the complexities of global mobility. In this role, you will likely work on projects ranging from optimizing analytics pipelines to building dashboards that help clients visualize their travel spend and carbon footprint. You are expected to bring clarity to ambiguity, ensuring that data-driven decisions guide the company’s product evolution and service delivery.

Candidates who thrive here are those who view data as a storytelling tool. Whether you are refining a machine learning model to predict travel trends or structuring a SQL query to solve a client issue, your work directly influences how businesses connect globally. It is a role that demands technical rigor, but rewards you with the opportunity to shape the future of corporate travel on a massive scale.

2. Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation for Amex GBT requires a balanced focus on technical acumen and soft skills. The interviewers are looking for candidates who can not only perform the analysis but also communicate the "so what" behind the data.

Key Evaluation Criteria:

• Technical Proficiency – You must demonstrate a solid grasp of data manipulation and visualization tools. Interviewers will evaluate your ability to write complex SQL queries, understand data warehousing concepts, and apply basic machine learning algorithms where applicable.
• Analytical Problem Solving – Amex GBT places a heavy emphasis on case studies. You will be evaluated on your ability to break down open-ended business problems, structure a logical approach, and derive recommendations based on limited or ambiguous information.
• Communication & Presence – Because this role involves stakeholder management, your ability to articulate your thoughts clearly is critical. This includes verbal communication during case studies as well as written communication, which may be tested through email writing exercises or documentation reviews.
• Resume Deep Dive – Expect a rigorous examination of your past experiences. Interviewers will probe the specific methodologies you used in previous projects to verify the depth of your involvement and understanding.

3. Interview Process Overview

The interview process at American Express Global Business Travel is generally structured to assess consistency and depth. While the timeline can vary significantly—ranging from a streamlined one-day process to a multi-month engagement—the stages follow a logical progression. You should expect a process that is thorough, involving multiple rounds of interviews that alternate between technical assessments and behavioral discussions.

Typically, the process begins with an initial screening or briefing, which may include a written test covering aptitude, email writing, or technical concepts. Following this, you will move into 2–3 rounds of interviews. These rounds usually escalate in seniority, starting with a Manager or Peer, moving to a Senior Manager, and often concluding with a Director. The atmosphere is frequently described as cooperative and professional, though you should be prepared for interviewers who are "hard to read" or highly focused on technical specifics.

This timeline illustrates a standard progression from the initial application to the final offer. Use this to manage your expectations; while some candidates experience a rapid turnaround, others note gaps between rounds. It is important to stay patient and maintain professional follow-up if the process extends over several weeks.

4. Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

To succeed, you must demonstrate competency across several specific domains. Based on candidate experiences, the evaluation is a mix of standard business analysis skills and specific technical requirements relevant to Amex GBT’s data infrastructure.

Data Manipulation & SQL

This is a cornerstone of the evaluation. You will be tested on your ability to retrieve and manipulate data efficiently. Be ready to go over:

• SQL Fundamentals – Joins (inner, outer, cross), aggregations, and filtering.
• Pipeline Setup – How you extract, transform, and load (ETL) data for analysis.
• Data Cleaning – Techniques for handling missing values or inconsistent data formats.

Business Intelligence & Visualization

You must show how you present data to stakeholders. Tableau is frequently mentioned in interview feedback. Be ready to go over:

• Dashboard Logic – How to choose the right chart for the data.
• Tool Specifics – Filters, calculated fields, and parameters in tools like Tableau.
• Storytelling – explaining insights to non-technical audiences.

Machine Learning Concepts

While this is a Business Analyst role, there is a distinct preference for candidates who understand data science principles. Be ready to go over:

• Algorithm Selection – When to use regression vs. classification.
• Model Basics – Understanding supervised vs. unsupervised learning.
• Application – Describing a situation where a specific ML technique solved a business problem.

Case Studies & Problem Solving

Almost every candidate reports encountering case studies. These are designed to test your thinking process rather than a specific right answer. Be ready to go over:

• Root Cause Analysis – Identifying why a specific metric has dropped or spiked.
• Market Sizing/Estimation – Quick math to estimate business opportunity.
• Scenario Planning – "What would you do if..." type scenarios related to travel data or client reporting.

The word cloud above highlights the most frequently discussed topics in Amex GBT interviews. Notice the prominence of SQL, Case Study, Resume, and Machine Learning. This indicates that while your resume gets you in the door, your ability to discuss technical execution and solve cases live is what secures the offer.

5. Key Responsibilities

As a Business Analyst at American Express Global Business Travel, your daily work revolves around making travel programs smarter and more efficient. You will be responsible for gathering requirements from business stakeholders—such as account managers or product owners—and translating them into technical specifications for data engineering teams or building solutions yourself.

A significant portion of your time will be spent on analytics pipeline setup and maintenance. You will work to ensure that data flows correctly from source systems into reporting environments. This often involves writing SQL queries to validate data accuracy and building dashboards in Tableau to track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for internal leadership or external clients.

Collaboration is essential. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to identify gaps in current processes. For example, you might analyze transaction data to identify patterns that suggest a need for a new product feature, or you might use regression analysis to forecast travel volumes for specific regions. You are expected to take ownership of your projects, managing them from the initial "ask" through to delivery and documentation.

6. Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be a competitive candidate for this position, you need a specific blend of technical hard skills and consultative soft skills.

• Must-Have Technical Skills

  • SQL: Proficiency in writing complex queries is non-negotiable.
  • Visualization Tools: Strong experience with Tableau (preferred) or PowerBI.
  • Excel: Advanced proficiency for quick data manipulation.
  • Communication: Excellent written and verbal English, specifically for business reporting (e.g., email writing).

• Nice-to-Have Skills

  • Machine Learning: Conceptual understanding or practical experience with Python/R for regression and clustering.
  • Domain Knowledge: Prior experience in the travel, logistics, or fintech sectors.
  • Cloud Platforms: Familiarity with cloud data environments.

• Experience Level

  • Typically, candidates are expected to have prior experience in a similar analytical role. The depth of questions regarding your resume suggests that entry-level candidates should have robust internship or project experience, while experienced hires must be ready to defend their past architectural decisions.

7. Common Interview Questions

The following questions are derived from actual candidate experiences at American Express Global Business Travel. They are representative of the rigor you will face. Do not memorize answers; instead, use these to practice your structure and delivery.

Technical & Tools

These questions test your raw ability to do the job.

• "What are the different types of joins in SQL, and when would you use a Left Join over an Inner Join?"
• "Explain how you would use filters in Tableau to create a dynamic dashboard."
• "What is the difference between supervised and unsupervised learning?"
• "Explain the concept of regression and where you have used it."
• "How do you handle null values in a dataset before analysis?"

Case Study & Problem Solving

These questions assess your logical reasoning.

• "We have noticed a drop in travel bookings in a specific region. How would you investigate the cause?"
• "Design an analytics pipeline for a new client who wants to track their carbon footprint."
• "How would you approach a situation where the data in the report contradicts the client's anecdotal experience?"

Behavioral & Resume

These questions verify your experience and cultural fit.

• "Walk me through your resume and explain your contribution to [specific project]."
• "Describe a time you had to explain a complex technical concept to a non-technical stakeholder."
• "Introduce yourself and explain your past job experience in detail."

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does the interview process take? The timeline varies significantly. Some candidates complete the process in a few days, while others report a timeline spanning up to 3 months. It is important to ask your recruiter for an estimated timeline at the start of the process.

Q: Is there a written test? Yes, several candidates have reported a written component. This may include multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on aptitude and technical topics, or a specific "email writing" test to evaluate your business communication skills.

Q: How difficult are the technical questions? The difficulty is generally rated as "Medium." You are not expected to be a software engineer, but you must be fluent in SQL and understand the theoretical underpinnings of the machine learning models you claim to know.

Q: What is the culture of the interview panel like? Most candidates describe the panelists as cooperative, professional, and knowledgeable. However, be prepared for a professional, business-focused environment. Feedback is rarely provided if you are rejected, so rely on your own self-assessment.

9. Other General Tips

• Know Your Resume Inside Out: Interviewers at Amex GBT are known for "resume deep dives." If you list a skill or a project, you must be able to explain the how and why in detail. Vague answers here are a red flag.
• Brush Up on ML Basics: Even if you are applying for a standard BA role, the data suggests that knowledge of Machine Learning (regression, classification) is a significant plus. You don't need to code it live, but you should know the concepts.
• Prepare for Written Communication: Since "email writing" has been tested, ensure you can draft professional, concise, and clear business emails. This tests your ability to communicate data insights to clients.
• Be Ready for "Why Amex GBT?": Understand the business model. Know that they are a B2B travel management company, not just a credit card company. Tailor your answers to corporate travel challenges.

10. Summary & Next Steps

Securing a Business Analyst role at American Express Global Business Travel is a strong career move that places you in the center of a data-rich, global industry. The role offers a blend of technical challenge and business strategy that is ideal for analytical professionals who want to see the real-world impact of their work.

To succeed, focus your preparation on three pillars: SQL/Data fluency, Machine Learning concepts, and articulate communication. Review your past projects so you can speak to them with authority, and practice breaking down ambiguous business problems into structured analytical steps. The process may be rigorous, but it is designed to find candidates who can truly drive value.

The compensation for this role is competitive and varies by location and experience level. When interpreting salary data, consider the total package, which at Amex GBT often includes performance bonuses and comprehensive benefits. Approach the negotiation with a clear understanding of your market value and the specific technical expertise you bring to the team.

For more insights and to compare your preparation with others, continue exploring resources on Dataford.