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.
Why Debate Nerds Beat Data Nerds at Business Presentations
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First of all: Time is running out to join the Data Science Impact Sprint. Doors close in 2 days. If you think this might be a good fit for you, reply with the word "SPRINT" for details. More below...
When I was in high school, there were the science nerds and the arts geeks. We lived in completely separate worlds - and I was convinced mine was superior. The science nerds did maths competitions and went on to study engineering, medicine and statistics. The arts geeks did debating and went on to study law and languages. As one of the science geeks, it never occurred to me that maybe there was something I was missing. After all, what possible use could debating be to an aspiring future data scientist? Dr Russell Walker, a data scientist and former competitive debater, used to think that way too. He kept the worlds of debating and data science completely separate - until he noticed his bosses' eyes glazing over during technical presentations. That was when he started applying debate frameworks to data science communication. And suddenly, his ideas started being listened to and adopted more often. Russell's game-changing insight? Most data scientists are taught to avoid emotion in their presentations, but that's exactly what most business audiences need. In the latest episode of Value Driven Data Science, Russell joins me to reveal the battle-tested frameworks from competitive debating that changed his career. This conversation reveals:
It's time to bridge the gap between analysis and influence. 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or click the link below: Talk again soon, Dr Genevieve Hayes. p.s. Speaking of bridging gaps and creating influence - there are only 48 hours left to join the Data Science Impact Sprint. In August, I'm teaching 3-5 data scientists, 1-on-1, how to transform their technical knowledge into business impact, moving from data order-taker to strategic opportunity creator in just 4 weeks. Reply with the word "SPRINT" for details. Doors close at 9am on Saturday 2nd August Melbourne, Australia Time (7pm Friday 1st August US EDT) or when all the places fill. |
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.
Like most data scientists, I started my career in traditional 9-to-5 roles. With bills to pay and limited experience, a regular job felt "safe". Then COVID hit. Nothing felt "safe" anymore, and my dreams of working for myself no longer seemed so insane. I finally made the leap - and never looked back. Many data scientists share similar dreams of breaking free from traditional employment, but don't know where to begin. Yet, here's what I've learned along the way: there's no single path to data...
A data scientist I know once told me of a manager who would end every team meeting with the same advice: “keep kicking goals.” What does that even mean? Which goals? With what resources? How do you even measure what a goal is? Unless you’re actually talking to a football team, “keep kicking goals” is meaningless. Yet this is what some data scientists face. Well-meaning managers who say “go do data science” without giving direction on what that actually requires. And then they wonder why...
Want to know the book that's had the greatest influence on my thinking as a data scientist? I bet you'll never guess. It's Jurassic Park (the book, that is - definitely NOT the movie). As a teenager, I read everything I could find by Michael Crichton and his message of focusing on solving the problem while ignoring all irrelevant distractions still influences the way I work. Whenever I feel overwhelmed in my work, that's what I remind myself. I've been doing it for decades and will do it for...