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.
How My Childhood Hobby Predicted My Data Science Career Breakthrough
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When I was 9, I didn’t want to be a data scientist. I wanted to be a radio host. My favourite “game” involved recording episodes of my radio show using an old cassette recorder and blank audio tapes. I would bring on my family and stuffed animals for interviews, then cut to my favourite songs - sometimes sung (badly) by me. So, when I launched Value Driven Data Science three years ago, I saw it as a great way to learn from data scientists I admired, while living out my childhood dream. What I didn’t expect was how much the podcasting itself would enhance my data science skills. Conducting good interviews requires many of the same skills that make data scientists effective:
Without realizing it, I was practicing these skills every week through my podcast. This is a perfect example of how activities outside data science can strengthen the very skills we need for our careers. Actuary and data scientist Colin Priest discovered something similar through his own hobbies of dancing and swimming. In the latest Value Boost episode of Value Driven Data Science, Colin joins me to share his experiences in how seemingly unrelated activities can make you a more effective data scientist, including:
Your next career breakthrough might be hiding in your weekend plans. Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or click the link below: Episode 91: How Your Hobbies Can Supercharge Your Data Science Career Talk again soon, Dr Genevieve Hayes. p.s. I'm opening spots in my Strategic Expert Mentorship program starting in February 2026. This isn't a technical skills course. It's 1-on-1 mentorship for data professionals who want to make the move from technical executor to strategic expert. Between now and Christmas, I'm making time to talk with people who want to know more. Interested? 👉 Book Your Call Now |
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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