When it comes to building a career, every data scientist is running their own business - it’s just that most of those businesses are solo operations with one client: their employer.

Think about it. To succeed in data science, you need to:

• Market your skills internally;
• Find opportunities for new projects;
• Manage stakeholder relationships;
• Deliver value and try to ensure repeat “customers” (in the form of more interesting work).

The are all skills required to succeed in solo consulting.

The only difference is that solo consultants know they’re running a business and act accordingly.

Most data scientists, on the other hand, don’t realise this and too many fall into the trap of believing their employer will magically take care of their career development, putting them on the right projects and ensuring they get proper training.

But unless you’re part of a formal graduate program, that’s rarely going to happen.

This insight, which hit me after launching my own solo consulting business, is exactly what Danny Ruspandini and I explore in the latest episode of Value Driven Data Science.

Danny has seen this from every angle - as an employee, as a business owner with staff, and now as a solo business owner who coaches other solopreneurs.

In our conversation, Danny breaks down:

1. How to become the go-to person for specific problems in your organization [07:11]
2. The “secondary sale” technique that gets your projects approved even when you’re not in the room [14:49]
3. Why focusing on one “shiny object” accelerates your career faster than juggling multiple priorities [19:06]
4. How to find your signature service that makes you indispensable [23:00]

The data scientists who thrive are the ones who take control of their professional destiny - just like business owners do.

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

​Episode 86: Why Every Data Scientist Is Already Running a Business​

Talk again soon,

Dr Genevieve Hayes