100 Episodes. One Big Lesson


In 2015, I fell in love with a job I would never have.

I’d just attended a conference where people were talking about machine learning and data science as the way of the future. I returned to the office eager to learn more and started down the data science rabbit hole - where I stumbled across an article about the recently established NYC Mayor’s Office for Data Analytics.

They were using data science to locate illegal cooking oil dumping in the city’s sewers. To coordinate emergency services after Hurricane Sandy.

Practical, high-stakes, real-world problems being solved with data.

I desperately wanted to be part of it.

Working at the Mayor’s Office of a city I’d never even visited suddenly became my dream job.

Then reality set in.

Did I really want to move halfway around the world for a job? And even if I did, as an Australian citizen, would it be possible?

So instead, I did the next best thing - I proposed turning the Actuarial and Business Intelligence team I was already managing into a smaller version of the same thing.

To my surprise, the executive of my organisation approved it.

I found out later it was because I walked into that executive meeting so visibly excited about the whole idea that everyone in the room caught the feeling and just wanted to be part of it, too.

That moment taught me something I’ve spent the last decade refining: the technical work matters, but it’s never the thing that moves people.

It’s a lesson that’s guided me through the creation of Value Driven Data Science and its first 100 episodes.

Today marks the release of the milestone 100th episode of Value Driven Data Science and in this episode, Matt O’Mara, Managing Director of Analysis Paralysis, turns the tables and interviews me about what I’ve learned along the way.

You’ll discover:

  1. From statistician to machine learning advocate and back again — and what that journey revealed [09:49]
  2. The crack in the data science skills market where significant value is hiding [18:59]
  3. Why knowing which problems to solve matters more than knowing how to solve them [24:53]
  4. The top three lessons from 100 conversations on what data science value actually means [33:49]

This episode is for everyone who’s been part of this journey. Thank you for being here.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or click the link below:

Episode 100: What Data Science Value Really Means

Talk again soon,

Dr Genevieve Hayes

Data Science Impact Algorithm

Twice weekly, I share proven strategies to help data scientists get noticed, promoted, and valued. No theory — just practical steps to transform your technical expertise into business impact and the freedom to call your own shots.

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