In this paper we present the evolution of the Business Data Analytics Graduate Certificate (BDA Certificate) at our institution, Loyola University Chicago. This certificate is a successful and expanding program that attracts a diverse group of dynamic professionals from local, national, and international populations. The program evolution described in this paper involves multiple revisions of the curriculum, additions, and subtractions of individual courses, expansions of delivery methods, and program name changes. The core principles of acknowledging the centrality of data, mandating the modeling-based course sequencing, and recognizing the proper role of software tools, are outlined and recognized as the foundation of the program's success.