I am a Data Scientist and recently I moved into a managing role. The job entails working on and overseeing Data related projects including Data Science POCs for Sales, Data Science solutions for the clients, Data transformation and/or Data warehousing/BI and Reporting solutions, Data Analytics and Visualizations.
I have always loved math and had very analytical mind. My love for math, problem solving and analytical approach to that, made me choose engineering for my career. After my undergraduate studies, there was a slowdown in the electronics engineering industry for a brief while and the jobs were hard to come by. So, I took a job in IT consulting, but I didn’t have a lot of passion for the job. I did learn software development and did enjoy the coding part, but I also missed applying the core engineering concepts that I learnt in Electronics and Communication.
When I took a break after 5 years in IT, to focus on my family, I decided to go back to do my Masters in ECE again. I completed my master’s degree in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Signals and Systems. While working on my thesis, I came across Deep Learning and really enjoyed applying Advanced machine learning algorithms and Deep Learning to traditional concepts like Channel Estimation etc. This knowledge of Machine Learning algorithms combined with my previous software development experience, I naturally gravitated towards Data Science, which was best of both worlds, for me.
I naturally gravitated towards Data Science, which was best of both worlds, for me.
The variety of domains in which Data Science can be applied, newer and challenging use cases that one can solve using math and ML algorithms. From the traditional use cases, in which data science finds its applications like insurance, logistics and other optimization problems, to identifying and predicting disease, recommendations, fraud detection to applications in social sciences like human behavior, all the way to the newest applications around social media analytics like sentiments and emotions, and topic modeling.
There are innumerable ways where and how data science can be applied, and the new challenges that you face every day are the best part of my job.
“New software skills and tools can always be learned easily later but understanding First Principles is of utmost importance.”
Communication is the key. Whatever is the issue, if you understood your task, or you did not understand, if you are facing some workplace issue, personal issue, or if you’ll be missing your deadline, or if you don’t feel challenged enough or are demotivated – be it ANYTHING, if communicated at the right time, to the right people, it can be solved.
Many challenges, internal as well as external.
Expectations at home and at the workplace. Expectations of being on top of all the things at home and at the workplace sometimes can be overwhelming. You have to set the expectations straight, don’t be hard on yourself, no one can be a superwoman. Remind yourself of this and you’ll be thankful to yourself.
There's guilt that you are not able to spend enough time with kids – I know that we have been conditioned to think that we must do everything for our kids and even having a little time for ourselves makes us feel guilty. But taking some time out for ourselves and our hobbies, and passions will rejuvenate us and teach the kids to respect our time and space.
Not being able to understand how to use a specific tool/software – Everyone doesn’t need to know everything. Seniority in workspace doesn’t mean that we must know it all and cannot ask for help. When we don’t know how a specific tool works, be shameless and ask for help.
When we don’t know how a specific tool works, be shameless and ask for help.
Going back for my Masters as a full-time student with two kids at home and completing the program with a GPA of 3.8. It showed me that I can DO it.
Stepping into a managerial role, when there was a need, and there was no top leadership for us, last year. It taught me many things including, one of the most important being- thinking on your feet.
It changes every day! It’s like change is the name of the game, technology-wise.
The technology these days is very fast changing and evolving.
Another important thing that changed very drastically is the way we work. Working from home for the last 2 years, adjusting to the new normal, has been a challenge. It has blurred the line between work and family time, created new standards for meetings, and has emphasized the need for a strong work ethic and a disciplined routine.
Men or women – be it anyone, technical change is inevitable in my field, since as I said, it is fast evolving. The only way to sustain it is having very strong first principles. The rest is aided by internet, you can look up a lot of tutorials, videos and learn things.
I feel women are as well suited as anyone else in Data Science and Analytics. They don’t need to spend hours learning new skills/languages/technologies to cope with the job. I can’t stress enough that having a strong understanding of the first principles and a strong work ethic will take you to places.
A strong understanding of the first principles and a strong work ethic will take you to places.
