Women in Data Podcast (womenindata)

This week, Karen is joined by Lizzie Harris, Senior Customer Analytics Manager at Sainsbury’s. They talk about how Sainsbury’s utilises data and reflect on career resilience. With the global pandemic and various lockdowns across the world, career resilience is likely to be helpful in 2021. In this episode, you will hear Lizzie and Karen’s experience with career resilience, ranging from accepting feedback, being at peace with one’s job title, but also falling victim of the cancel culture. 

 

Enjoy!

This week, Karen is joined by Kavya Gupta, Head of Product Analytics at Paymentsense. In this episode, you will hear about product analytics – what it is, why it’s important and how a typical team is structured. Kavya also talks about the skills that are important in a product analytics team and, having come to data from software engineering, she shares how she over comes the challenges she faces heading a team that is more technical than she is. 

At the end of the episode, you will hear from two former guests of the podcast talking about career fulfillment.

 

Enjoy! 

This week, Karen is joined by Annalisa Occhipinti, Lecturer in Data Analytics at Teesside University. Working at the interesting intersection of Computer Science and Biology, she develops critical machine learning and deep learning methodologies for cancer research. In this episode, Annalisa gives insight into how data science is supporting cancer research.  These life-saving models enable early detection as well as providing clinicians with the information they need to prescribe adequate treatment based on an individual's genomic profile. She talks about the data that she analyses, dealing with missing values and how the models are built. Working closely with businesses, she then goes on to discuss the differences between academic research and industry.  

Enjoy! 

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Show notes:  

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Annalisa’s research is funded by: https://earlier.org/ 

Annalisa’s reading recommendation: 

Google Scholar -  https://scholar.google.com/ 

Newsletters:

The batch - https://read.deeplearning.ai/the-batch/ 

Data Elixir - https://dataelixir.com/  Deep Learning Weekly - https://www.deeplearningweekly.com/ 

In this year-end special, Karen and Cecilia warmly invite you to join them in reflecting on the passing year. They explore the significance of retrospectives, sharing valuable insights and personal strategies for both personal and professional growth. Offering different structures for your own retrospective, they candidly delve into their individual journeys, opening up about mistakes, lessons learned, and memorable moments. Join them for a thoughtful and inspiring discussion as they bid farewell to 2023. 

This week, Karen is joined by Lizzie Harris for the first of a two-part episode covering redundancy and job searching. In this conversation, they share their respective experiences of going through redundancy earlier this year. They talk about what happened, how they felt, how they reacted and what they did to help cope with the stress and anxiety. They then move on to discuss job hunting, including writing their CVs with a view to encourage forward-focused conversations, rather than what they had done in the past.  Thus allowing them to pitch themselves at the right level, in a market where job titles are all over the place.

Enjoy!

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Show notes:

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Lizzie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-harris-a1499a16/

Ep.1 on Furlough fear: https://womenindata.co.uk/women-in-data-podcasts/#item7784

In this episode, Cecilia takes the reins as solo host for the first time. She interviews Jennifer Mezzio, the Global HR Data Officer at First Citizens Bank and the Strategic Community Executive Director for Women in Data in the US, who shares her inspiring journey from bank teller to data leader. Jennifer recounts her pivotal experiences at Silicon Valley Bank, where she played a crucial role in developing the HR Data Office, especially during the bank's collapse in March 2023. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and maintaining one's identity beyond the job. Jennifer discusses her impactful work in the data community, sparked by her article on women in the field and her connection with the organization's founder, Roisin. Her efforts aim to expand the community's presence in North America, mirroring its success in the UK and India. The conversation also covers how yoga helps manage stress, the significance of community in data, and the experiences of women in male-dominated industries. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on career resilience, community building, and personal growth.

This week, Karen is joined by Robin Sutara, CDO at Microsoft UK. Having started her career in engineering, working on helicopters in the US Army, she went on to pass the bar in 2 US states, before embracing data and technology.  Now, Robin is on the podcast to drive change and inspire! In this episode, they discuss how the field of data could be more accommodating to diverse backgrounds, skills, and capabilities. You will hear about the importance of ensuring diversity in new hires, as well as how Microsoft tackles the data skills gap by creating software that enables low code to no code. An avid learner, Robin also shares how continuous learning has impacted her career and how one can make space for development in their busy life. 

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Show notes: 

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Robin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-sutara/ 

** 

She recommends: 

Invisible Women: https://carolinecriadoperez.com/book/invisible-women/ 

Today, Cecilia has a very special guest: Carla Rodriguez. Carla and Cecilia go way back to our days in hospitality school, and over the years, they've both transitioned into the world of data. In this episode, they’ll dive into Carla’s fascinating journey from hospitality in the mining industry to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the data field. We'll also discuss the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry and the invaluable lessons she learned along the way. Get ready for an inspiring conversation that highlights the power of trusting yourself and embracing change.

This week, Karen is joined by Candace Ohm, Director of Product Analytics at Cardlytics. Being a first-generation college student, Candace faced a number of challenges in her journey to become a leader in data science. In this episode, she shares a story of self-discovery and of overcoming limiting beliefs that were stopping her from feeling like she belonged in a career in data. But most of all, she shares a story of courage. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes: 

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Candace’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candaceohm/ 

This week, Karen is joined by Sathya Bala, Head of Global Data Governance at CHANEL. They talk about what data governance is and how it varies from one industry to another. Sathya then shares her views on the perceptions people have of data professionals, encouraging you to create your own story and your own success. 

Enjoy! 

 

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Show Notes :

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Find My skin My Story

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myskinmystory_/ - updates on events, live interviews and more 

Email updates: http://eepurl.com/g1l5rL - subscribe to get email updates about our events 

This week, Karen is joined by Shikta Das, Associate Principal Scientist at AstraZeneca, and Dr.Tazeen Rizvi, Clinician, and Entrepreneur, to talk about the state of data and technology in healthcare. These two experts in their field bring a different perspective on the topic, Shikta, coming from the viewpoint of a data scientist, and Tazeen, that of a digital health expert. In this episode, you will hear about the role of data-driven technologies in creating accessible, more inclusive, and efficient care delivery models.  They also highlight the critical opportunities that need to be addressed to unlock the value of data and digital tools to ensure that diagnostics, digital solutions, and treatments are adequate for every segment of the population. They talk about bridging the data gap, the impact of biased data on research and diagnosis, how decentralised clinical trials can help address these issues, and much more.   

Enjoy! 

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Show notes: 

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• Shikta’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shiktadas/ 
• Tazeen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtazeenrizvi/ 

They recommend: 

• The Genetics Society:  https://geneticsunzipped.com/ 
• Patient Rising: https://www.patientsrisingpodcast.org/ 
• Mind The Gap: https://anchor.fm/mindthegap-edu 
• UC Science today: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/m773n-50f1c/UC-Science-Today-Podcast 
• Tazeen’s podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-pulse-podcast/videos/?viewAsMember=true 

How do you find career clarity in Data? How do you find the right leader? What are the questions to ask to determine that someone is the right leader for YOU? Also, how does a leader stay current after years in a role? If these are questions you ask, this podcast will help you enormously.   Antje Bustamante and Neha Wadhawan share their experiences on how they navigated their careers and eventually thrived, even when leadership wasn’t people-focused. Hear how they quiz leaders to discover if their values align with their own.   Also hear how they would deal today with inadequate leadership or bias that they encountered in the past.  You will hear surprising insights about the utility of vulnerability, openness and information transparency in leadership.   In their roles, Antje and Neha distinguish ‘management’ from what they see as genuine empowerment. 

Find out how to establish boundaries and draw your own red lines while seeking out leaders yet, at the same time, taking responsibility for your career. 

 

Find Neha on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nehawag/ Find Antje on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/antje-bustamante-a44143bb/

This week, Karen is joined by Sophie Duffy, Group Head of Data and Analytics at Kingfisher. After many years in commercial data roles and in strategy, Sophie decided to pivot into a more technical role, leading a digital and customer analytics team. In this episode, she describes the thought process that led her to data analytics as well as the challenges she encountered along the way. You will hear about how her previous experience helps her lead an analytics team, the business problems addressed by her team, and how she is able to learn on the job and grow as a data analytics leader. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes  

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Sophie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-duffy/ 

This week, Karen is joined by Sadiqah Musa, Lead Analyst at TrustPilot, and cofounder of Black in Data. While DEI has been making the headlines for a while now, Sadiqah highlights the fact that, with only 3% of data professionals being Black, the work on diversity has barely started. In this episode, she talks about the impact the lack of diversity has on employees’ confidence, as well as their ability to be themselves in the workplace. People of colour will find tips to become more comfortable in a non-diverse environment, and organisations will hear about how they can become more inclusive.

Enjoy!

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Show notes:

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Sadiqah’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadiqah-musa-9b169495/

Black in Data: https://www.blackindata.co.uk/

Sathya Bala’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sathya-bala-mystory/

This week, Karen is joined by Jena Zangs, Deputy Chief Data Officer & Director of Institutional Data, Analytics & Reporting at the University of St. Thomas (MN). In a field that is constantly evolving and where job hopping is becoming the norm to upskill and get promoted, Jena chose to stay and grow in her organisation. In this episode, she shares the challenges and fears brought by this decision as well as how she has overcome them. You will hear her thoughts on "not having enough time", how she stays up to date with the latest tech development and how she is upskilling herself and teammates to stay attractive to the market. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes: 

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Jena’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenaz/ 

She recommends: 

Invisible Women: https://carolinecriadoperez.com/book/invisible-women/ 

The 5am club: https://www.robinsharma.com/book/the-5am-club 

In this episode, Karen is joined by Roshni Daswani, Head of Data Strategy and Transformation at a leading consulting firm in the UK. From navigating language barriers and cultural shifts to overcoming challenges in a male-dominated industry, Roshni shares invaluable insights and actionable advice for professionals at every stage of their careers. Join us as we explore the power of resilience, confidence-building, and effective leadership, and learn how to own your career, command any room, and achieve your fullest potential. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, this conversation is packed with wisdom and inspiration to help you thrive in the world of data and beyond.  

 

Find Roshini on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roshni-daswani-01b4854a/

This week, Karen is joined by Lizzie Harris for the last of this two-part episode covering redundancy and looking for a new job. In this conversation, they talk about the recruitment processes they went through, and how they believe they can be improved. Hiring processes are expensive, and data professionals are sparse. Can we fix inefficiencies and processes that are not inclusive?

 

Enjoy!

 

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Show notes:

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Lizzie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-harris-a1499a16/

Ep.33 on salary negotiation: https://womenindata.co.uk/women-in-data-podcasts/#item7879

For the second week of the anniversary of the podcast, Karen is joined by Ekaterina Atanasyan, General Manager at Business Intelligence Group. Ekaterina is joining from Russia and shares what having a fulfilling career means to her. Get ready to feel uplifted by her positive attitude! 

At the end of the episode, you will hear other women working in data talk about their views on career fulfilment. 

Enjoy! 

In this episode, Karen is joined by Rianna Kelly, Head of Product Analytics & Data Scientist at ZEPZ, to discuss the intricacies of onboarding experiences within data teams. 

While the onboarding period may be relatively brief in one's tenure, its significance is undeniable as it sets the scene for what’s to come. The realm of data work is notably complex, demanding a grasp of technology, data, processes, and business acumen, rendering onboarding in data teams a unique challenge.   

Throughout the conversation, Rianna uses her expertise to describe the components of a great onboarding experience and shares practical strategies to make it easier. She emphasises the significance of documentation in efficiently navigating different data products, providing essential tips to streamline the integration process. Karen and Rianna also debate the optimal speed at which to absorb new information and build connections without feeling inundated by the sea of new faces and challenges.   

 

Enjoy!

For the last episode of this summer mini series, we have a truly inspiring guest, Padma Varatharajan, who recently transitioned back into the workforce after a career break of over 20 years.

She shares her incredible journey from raising her son to becoming a data engineer at Cap Gemini. We delve into the challenges she faced re-entering the workforce, the steps she took to rediscover her passion for data, and how a supportive community played a crucial role in her success. Whether you’re looking for inspiration to start your own career in data or just love hearing stories of incredible women, this episode is for you.

This week, Karen is joined by The Very Group’s, Gemma Turner (Analytics Manager for Digital Product) and Michelle Williams (Data Product Owner). In this episode, they explore introversion in data professionals from the differing perspectives of these two leaders. While Michelle covers what it means to lead as an introvert; Gemma brings the viewpoint of an extrovert who leads a team of introverts. They talk about why careers in data analytics and engineering are particularly attractive to those of an introverted nature and how they can benefit data teams. They also share how introverts can perform and progress in their careers and how leaders can support their team members, especially when it comes to meeting participation.

Enjoy! 

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Show notes: 

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The power of vulnerability – Brené Brown 

The Ripple Effect – Dr. Greg Wells 

The power of introverts – Susan Cain 

In this co-hosted Women in Data episode, Karen and Cecilia devote an entire episode to a topic that was key in the special 100th episode: networking. The pair discuss advice for networking, understanding why networking is crucial for career advancement, building skills, and establishing personal connections. They also discuss how to reach out to find mentorship, especially with people who may be very busy.  Karen and Cecilia give practical tips on how to enjoy and gain benefit from networking events including arriving early and having clearly defined objectives beforehand.  This episode is a must listen for people who are keen to develop their soft, interpersonal, and networking skills. Don’t miss it!

This week, Karen is joined by Cathy Herbert, EVP of Customer and Partner Enablement at Arria NLG. Integrity is important to Cathy and because of this, she is passionate about building win-win solutions. In this episode, she describes her approach to ensuring the development of useful products that won’t get shelved. She highlights the importance of communication and good design, and talks about how to make a great first impression, as well as sharing what makes the difference between building a product that makes customers' lives better, and one that doesn't. 

Enjoy! 

 

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Show notes: 

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Cathy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-herbert-616846/ 

 

She recommends to follow: 

Simon Sinek – How great leaders inspire action https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en 

Geoffrey Moore - http://geoffreyamoore.com/ 

This week, Karen is joined by Bianka Pal, Data Scientist at Vodafone, and Cecilia Oliveira, Data Analyst at UniQuest. In this episode, they share their experience of starting in the field. While Bianka’s first experience was through a Graduate scheme, Cecilia had already spent over 10 years in a sales and hospitality career when she turned to data analytics. You will hear about their motivations to work in data, the steps they took to land their first job in the sector (including formal and informal training), the challenges they encountered, and their top tips for a successful transition. If you are looking to start a career in data science or data analytics, this episode is for you. It will also help hiring managers put themselves in the shoes of candidates that are new to data. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes  

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Bianka’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianka-pal-5560b1153/ 

Cecilia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliagoliveira/ 

They recommend: 

• Towards Data Science: https://towardsdatascience.com/ 
• DataTalk Podcast: https://www.experian.com/blogs/news/about/datadriven/ 
• KDNuggets: https://www.kdnuggets.com/news/index.html 
• Real Python: https://realpython.com/ 
• Cassie Kozyrkov: https://twitter.com/quaesita?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor 

This week, Karen is joined by Gráinne Gilmore, Head of Research at Zoopla to talk about data storytelling. Gráinne tells data powered stories of the real estate market on a daily basis, and in this episode, she shares her tips to deliver impactful and digestible presentations. She outlines how her career started in journalism before moving into research, and she also shares the perspective of another member of Zoopla's Research & Insight team who comes from a more technical data background.

 

Enjoy!

The countdown has begun, and we are buzzing with excitement! 

In this thrilling episode, Karen is joined by Roisin McCarthy, the founder of Women in Data, and Chole Aboud, Partner Relations Executive for WiD, to provide you with an exclusive sneak peek into the flagship event happening on March 7, 2024. Tune in to discover details about the incredibly inspiring guest speakers, engaging workshops, hackathon, and partnerships for the day! 

If you're attending, don't forget to come say hi! See you there! 

This week, Karen is joined by Dr. Liz Wanless, Assistant Director of Analytics at Ohio University. Before dedicating herself to NLP and Sports Science, Liz competed as a professional shot putter for several years. In this episode, she starts by providing us with an understanding of the current state of sports science before sharing the lessons she learnt from her career as an athlete, and how they translate to a career in business and data science. You will hear how she was able to balance different activities at once, how she sets up process-oriented goals, the importance of rest and recovery, and how knowing her values helps her be in the right mindset to put failure into perspective. The episode finishes with an anecdote from Karen regarding how she experiences numerical reasoning tests, leading to Liz’s reflection on the need to change the way maths is taught to serve our field better. 

Enjoy!

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Show notes:

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Liz' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wanless/

 

 

This week, Karen is joined by Debbie Kerr, Data Scientist, and Yamini Krishnamoorthy, Data Analytics Manager at M&G. In this episode, they share their respective experience with getting recognition for their work. You will hear about their strategies to ensure your contribution is noticed, as well as how to avoid your career being involuntarily diverted by Glue Work. Wondering what Glue Work is? You might not have heard of the term before, but it’s very likely that some would have crept on your to-do list at some point or another.

Enjoy!

 

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Show notes:

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Debbie's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-kerr-069ba2141/

Yamini's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yamini-krishnamoorthy-1aba26127/

This week, Karen is joined by Susie Moan, Chief Data Officer at comparethemarket.com. In this episode, Susie explains the role and responsibilities of a CDO and touches on the skills and experience needed for the role. She also talks about the importance of data literacy outside of data teams and how appointing a CDO was key to instigating data led change at comparethemarket.com. Lastly, as a mum of 4, Susie shares her personal tips to become a leader while also taking care of your family and your wellbeing.  

 

Enjoy!

In August, Cecilia is taking the reins of the podcast in a mini series featuring women who transitioned into data from a different career.

For the first episode of this mini series, Cecilia speaks to Elodie Hudson. Elodie transitioned into data in 2023 from being a teacher for 16 years and also working in Science to become a Lead Data Scientist at a technology and training company for the railway industry. She has an incredible and inspiring journey about career change.

In celebration of the 100 episodes, Karen and Cecilia invited to the show Alex Smith and Lara Harris, two members of the production team. They dive into the most valuable career advice shared throughout the podcast's journey, focusing on the listeners' favourite topic: navigating a successful career in the world of data. Covering pivotal career phases, from determining your next move to resiliently facing redundancy, this episode extracts wisdom from key moments, including: 

• Episode 73: How to figure out your next step 
• Episode 62: Future-proofing your career 
• Episode 64: Establishing yourself in a new role 
• Episode 71: Redundancy and job-hunting experiences 

As a bonus, join the celebration on LinkedIn for a chance to win a ticket to the highly anticipated Women in Data flagship event in March. 

 

Follow Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-jean-francois/ 

Follow Cecilia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliagoliveira/ 

This week, Karen is joined by Melis Tufur, ex-Managing Director at MBI research and analytics. In this episode, Melis walks us through her role as a data translator. She touches on her responsibilities, on the skills that are crucial to be successful in such a role and talks about the projects that she worked on, from market research to marketing mix modelling. In 2018, HBR published an article stating that the analytics translator was a must have role and Melis tells us why that is. 

This week, Karen is joined by Wendy Lynch, founder of Analytic-Translator.com. Passionate about analytics and communication, Wendy made a career of mixing the two together, helping data analytics and business teams understand each other. It took her 20 years to realise that her role was that of a translator and in this episode, she shares her best tips to bridge the gap between data and business. She starts by talking about the strain caused by poor communication in our field, then moves on to provide a clear definition of the role of an analytics translator and how they help solve the problem. In this conversation, Wendy also highlights the crucial skills required to be a good translator and through an exercise, demonstrates how we can find answers by simply finding the time to think about the question.  

 

Enjoy!   

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Show notes:  

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Wendy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendylynchphd/  

Wendy’s online course: www.analytic-translator.com  

 Get 30% off Wendy's courses until 15th March 2023 with the code WOMEN30

Wendy’s books:  

Become an Analytics Translator: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Become-Analytic-Translator-Business-Analysts/dp/0578316803/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HI5W9CSYQ4XE&keywords=become+an+analytics+translator&qid=1664381036&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjg5IiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=become+an+analytics+translator%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1  

Get to What Matters: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Get-What-Matters-Transform-Conversations/dp/0692934359/ref=sr_1_3?qid=1664381097&refinements=p_27%3AWendy+D.+Lynch+PhD&s=books&sr=1-3&text=Wendy+D.+Lynch+PhD 

 

In this podcast episode featuring Liz Henderson, Executive Advisor at Capgemini, the focus is on navigating change and making valuable contributions to overall business transformation. Liz and Karen discuss change management and how individuals and organisations can successfully navigate change. Join to hear valuable advice for becoming comfortable with business transformation and embracing it as an opportunity rather than a threat.  By becoming champions of change, Liz believes individuals can drive positive shifts and create a culture that is receptive to innovation.  While change is a topic that touches everyone, Liz approaches it with a data hat on.  Given that around 90% of data science initiatives do not achieve their objectives, she shares strategies to mitigate risks and increase the likelihood of success in data-driven projects. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes: 

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Liz’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizhendersondata/ 

In this episode of the Women in Data podcast, we dive deep into the remarkable career of Pranjali Ajay Parse, a data scientist at Autodesk, as she shares her journey into the dynamic world of data science. This episode is a must for anybody who wishes to land their first data science role. 

 

Pranjali outlines her journey from mobile app development to the emerging world of data science which was booming across a range of industries, recounts her journey from India to the USA and explains the power of courses, education and internships to get a role. Pranjali also explains of the power of taking on leadership roles, including hers as an ambassador for women in data science with a major US college.    Listen to learn practical tips on how to land your first data science role and discover Pranjali’s unique journey into the data space and her transition between cultures. 

 

Pranjali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pranjali-ajay-parse/ 

Get mentored by Pranjali - https://topmate.io/pranjali_ajay_parse  Pranjali on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@pranjali_parse 

In this episode, Karen and Cecilia are joined by Abi Aryan, a Machine Learning Engineer and author for O'Reilly book on LLMOps. Throughout the episode Karen, Cecilia, and Abby open up about their personal experiences working in very small teams. They chat about the pros and cons and dive into the obstacles they've come across in these setups. They tackle the reality of having a smaller collective voice and the significant responsibility of being the sole data representative, which can sometimes feel overwhelming. Such challenges stress the resourcefulness and resilience required in technical roles, as data professionals must often rely on their own expertise and problem-solving skills to navigate complex challenges. 

Enjoy!

This week, Karen is joined by Elisa Morariu, Senior Customer Insight Analyst at A.S. Watson. Elisa’s background in market research along with her experience in analytics means that she is passionate about understanding the “why” of customers behaviour as well as the “what”. In this episode, she gives a glimpse of customers analytics and how mixing market research and purchase data can offer a 360 insight on customers.  

Enjoy!

This week, Karen is joined by Gurleen Shabharwal, Data Science Manager at Intact in Toronto. They discuss how Gurleen successfully navigated a move from India to Canada. While data science is strongly present in both countries, the market couldn't be more different. Moreover, Gurleen’s network was limited in Canada and her culture meant that reaching out to strangers was making her uncomfortable. In this episode, she provides advice that is applicable to anyone making a career transition, both in terms of geographic area or changing field or path. She talks about how finding her ‘why’ helped to focus her search and land her first role in Canada; highlighting the importance of speaking with the right stakeholders and of being flexible. Finally, she touches on how she managed to make friends in a country that was so far away from hers.

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Show notes: 

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Gurleen’s LinkedIn

She recommends 

Cassie Kozyrkov 

Super data science podcast 

Trustworthy online controlled experiments 

 

This week, Karen is joined by Jannat Maqbool, Interim Executive Director at Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand. In this episode, Jannat starts by sharing the misconceptions about smart cities before moving to the role data plays in this field. Listen to hear about the importance of data context, how it is secured and examples of use cases. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes: 

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Jannat’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannat-m-64633/

This week, Karen is joined by Susan Walsh, The Classification Guru. In a field that gets excited by buzzwords, Susan used her sparkling personality to increase her visibility and make data cleansing fun. In this episode, she talks about how being authentic and visible helped her grow her business, along with the impact it has on the upcoming generation of data professionals. An extrovert by nature, she recognises that increasing visibility comes as a challenge to introverts and provides tips for them to do so without feeling uncomfortable. You will hear about how she keeps her content authentic despite the fear of judgment and negative experiences, as well as how the shift to in-house data analytics made organisations more aware of the challenges related to data quality, providing her with a space to start a business in the field.

Enjoy!

 

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Show notes:

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Susan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanewalsh/

Cecilia is chatting today with Karina Naminas, the CEO of Label Your Data. Karina's journey is a fascinating one, beginning with liberal arts and journalism and evolving into a leadership role in the tech industry. She started her career in customer support, took on various roles, and eventually co-founded a company specializing in data annotation for AI development. We'll explore her unique path, the pivotal moments that shaped her career, and the lessons she learned along the way.

This week, Karen is joined by Adriana Beal, Lead Data Scientist at Slalom. If you’re looking to take ownership of your career, or mentor someone who is, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Adriana shares her best advice to data analysts and data scientists who want to take the driving seat. You will also hear about why she prefers working as a consultant rather than as a full-time employee, and how to translate a business problem into a data science project. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes: 

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Adriana’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianabeal/ 

She recommends: 

• Deep Questions Podcast: https://www.calnewport.com/podcast/ 
• Behavioral Grooves Podcast : https://behavioralgrooves.com/ 
• Find your T shape: https://bealprojects.com/resources/finding-your-t-shaped-strength/ 

 

This week, Karen is joined by Zandra Moore, Co-Founder, and CEO of PanIntelligence. With only 1% of capital deals going to female-founded teams, Zandra joined a government task force to increase opportunities for women starting, growing and scaling their businesses. In this episode, she shares her journey to founding her own business, as a woman and a mother, as well as the challenges she faced along the way and what helped her succeed. She also talks about the barriers encountered by female founders in the data and tech space and what can be done to address them. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes: 

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Zandra’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zandramoore/ 

She recommends: 

• Crossing the Chasm: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986 
• Getlatka: https://getlatka.com/podcast 
• TechCrunch: https://pod.link/found  
• Datacated: https://www.datacated.com/ 

In this episode of the Women in Data podcast, Karen is joined by Niamh Broderick, Data Scientist at Monzo Bank, who shares her experience of transitioning from a manager to an individual contributor (IC). She talks about how realising she was getting her energy from working on technical challenges and coding rather than managing people lead to the change in direction.  

Throughout the episode, Niamh and Karen discuss the differences and overlaps between the role of a manager and that of an IC, as well as the challenges Niamh encountered in both roles.  This episode is a must-listen for anybody considering management roles as a way to have a broader impact 

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Show notes: 

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Niamh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niamh-broderick-69623376/ 

She recommends:

Staff Engineer: Leadership beyond the management track  

https://staffeng.com/book 

 

This week, Karen is joined by Jennifer Agnes, Managing Director at Cynozure Group for the second part of a two-part conversation. In this episode, Jennifer shares the steps to building a data strategy and how to identify and address the right business questions to ensure alignment with your business strategy. She also provides key advice to data professionals at all stages of their career. From recent grads who need to find ways to broaden their perspective as they grow and develop thinking more broadly and identifying what needs to be done, to senior managers who have to build a strategy that is in line with business objectives and create an environment that encourages sharing ideas, learning every day and iteratively and continuously creates value with data. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes 

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Jennifer recommends to read Data Means Business  

This month marks the 4th anniversary of the Women in Data Podcast, featuring a special guest, Megan Lieu, a Data Advocate at Deepnotes, LinkedIn Instructor, and Data Influencer with over 100k followers. In this episode, Megan reflects on her journey from a finance career to Data Science, highlighting her initial obsession with coding before realizing her strengths lay in communication, project management, and strategic thinking.  

Karen and Megan delve into the crucial role of Data Advocates in ensuring the usability of data products, emphasizing the importance of understanding user experience and addressing pain points for effective product development.  Additionally, they discuss the provision of valuable resources and interaction with users to facilitate the efficient utilization of products and tools. 

They talk about content creation, navigating social media, and the parallels with Megan’s advocacy role. Megan also shares insights on finding support during career transitions without an established network. 

 

Megan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganlieu/ 

This week, Karen is joined by Swathi Sudhaakar, Director of Product Analytics at Cardlytics. If you are looking to start a career in data science or data analytics or have just started working in the field, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Swathi provides some great insights on the different types of roles and shares what hiring managers are looking for, how to build the right skills and when to apply for a job. On top of that, Swathi touches on the biggest responsibilities of data scientists and analysts, including ensuring projects add value to the business and that the data is not biased. 

With the approaching reveal of the 20 in data and technology awardees, this episode ends with Angela Lillis talking about her experience as a 20 in data in 2019 at 23”36 

In this episode, Karen is joined by Raquel Seville, CEO of Dataffluent Limited. They discuss Raquel’s remarkable journey from a data analyst to an entrepreneur, highlighting her impact as a female leader in the Caribbean tech industry. While the conversation delves into the state of data in Jamaica,  the main focus is on the unique challenges women face in balancing career aspirations with personal life, addressing specific female health challenges that can disrupt career progression.  

There is no separation between being a woman and being a professional, and Raquel shares her experience going through myomectomy, severe pre-eclampsia, child loss, and multiple miscarriages. She highlights the fact that black women are much more likely to face life-changing health issues than women of other ethnicities, particularly around fertility. As a data professional, Raquel finds it difficult to just accept these as facts and is determined to discover the why as well as solutions. 

Find Raquel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquelseville/ 

This week, Karen is joined by Jackie Carter, Professor in Statistical Literacy at the University of Manchester, to talk about how to make data analytics careers accessible to all. In this episode, Jackie highlights the importance of opening the field to more diverse backgrounds as many university degrees now include courses in data analytics. She explains how social science students, for example, add value to data teams, bringing a different perspective focusing on the why of behaviours. She touches on the need to solve the diversity issue before it reaches the workplace, speaks about the barriers to entry and how to solve them. Finally, she shares her best advice for students looking to build some work experience. 

Enjoy! 

 

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Show notes:  

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Jackie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjackiecarter/ 

Jackie’s book: https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/work-placements-internships-applied-social-research/book253221 

Developing a future pipeline of applied social researchers through experiential learning: The case of a data fellows programme: 

https://content.iospress.com/articles/statistical-journal-of-the-iaos/sji210844 

This week, Karen is joined by not one, not two, but three data titans!  Claire Williams (Associate Partner at IBM), Holly Armitage (Principal Strategist at BAE Systems) and Richard Tate (EVP Data at DAZN Group) share what 2022 will look like for the Women in Data community.  Forming half of the Chapter Leads team, they are working to make data careers more accessible and welcoming to women. They respectively lead the Girls in Data, Career Crossroads and Allyship chapters.  Listen to find out more about their missions and what to expect in the new year. 

Enjoy!

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Show notes:

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Connect with Karen and the guests:

Karen 

Claire - Girls in Data chapter

Holly - Career crossroads chapter

Richard - Allyship Chapter

 

 

 

 

Join Karen and Cecilia in this insightful episode as they dive deep into the crucial topic of learning and development, a subject close to Karen's heart and frequently discussed in mentoring conversations. With the rapid pace of the field, navigating the vast array of skills and knowledge can often feel overwhelming, leaving us with limited time to address them all. During their conversation, Karen and Cecilia share their top strategies for approaching learning in a sustainable and impactful manner. Discover invaluable insights on effectively deciding what to learn, prioritising topics or skills, and crafting a comprehensive development plan. Moreover, gain practical advice on overcoming common blockers that hinder progress in the learning journey. Tune in and equip yourself with the tools and guidance to embark on a successful and fulfilling path of continuous learning in the dynamic world of data.  Enjoy!

Cecilia chats with Savannah Brown, who shares her incredible journey from the medical field to becoming a data and insight analyst. 

This episode promises to be filled with valuable insights and inspiration, especially for those considering a major career transition. Savannah's story highlights the power of transferable skills and the endless possibilities within the data industry.

In this episode, Karen and Dr. Nadia Zaheer tackle one of the most important topics in data: ensuring and demonstrating the value of data science work. Nadia shares practical strategies for prioritising projects using impact vs. effort matrices, the importance of quantifying results, and effective ways to communicate value to stakeholders. She emphasises the need for data professionals to understand how their work fits into the bigger business picture and contributes to revenue growth or cost reduction. She also offers advice on overcoming imposter syndrome and the importance of continuously learning and adapting in the fast-evolving field of data science. This conversation is packed with actionable tips for data professionals looking to enhance their impact and advance their careers. 

 

This week, Karen is joined by Harietta Eleftherochorinou, Head of Innovation Strategy and Ventures, at IQVIA (NYSE: IQV). Through Harietta’s career journey, they talk about how AI and technology are transforming healthcare. They then explore the topic of innovation, mentioning the three archetypes of innovation, the different ways to innovate and the five ingredients to create transformational impact through innovation. 

Enjoy!

 

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Show notes:

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IQVIA innovation hub: https://www.iqvia.com/about-us/innovation-hub

This week, Karen is joined by Sumedha Menon, Data Scientist at Google. If you ever wondered how to transition from Data Analytics to Data Science, this conversation might answer many of your questions. In this episode, Sumedha talks about her personal experience of making this transition, factors she considered and how she made non-linear career choices so she could have a more fulfilling professional journey. She also provides tips on how anyone looking to make this transition can upskill themselves and start their own journey. 

Enjoy! 

You sent us your career questions and, in this episode, Belinda Djamson, Managing Director at Accenture, Claire Thompson, Head of Data and Analytics at NatWest, and Samani Lamabadusuriya, Head of Data and Analytics at Cigna, bring you answers.

 

To help you navigate this episode, we grouped the questions in 3 parts: Starting in data, from doing to leading and leadership.  

Starting in Data  

• 2”40 What are the different paths into data science and data engineering?  And what do you advise when it comes to choosing which path one should go for?   
• 11”30What do you look for when recruiting data professionals?  

From doing to leading  

• 17”36 How to successfully transition from doing to leading? 
• 20”38 Which in your opinion is more important to invest time in obtaining - people skills or tech skills? 
• 26”08 The data industry is a very fast paced environment (new tools, new languages, new capabilities), how do you cope with this? How do you up skill and train yourselves?   
• 28”11 What do you need to do to get your career to the next level?   
• 32”46 Samani: You did an MBA a couple of years ago – could you please develop on the pros & cons of the experience, the added value, and if you would recommend people to do the same?    

Leadership  

• 38”43 How do you ensure knowledge is shared within your teams?   
• 42”29 How do you balance work and home life? Especially while WFH?   
• 49”06” Best tips 

Enjoy!

In this episode of the Women in Data podcast, Karen and Cecilia are joined by Rachel Escott, Director of Development at FIS. Rachel discusses her somewhat unorthodox journey into a data leadership role via a Danish brewery and Kent farm. The group also discuss taking a career break, particularly due to childcare commitments, and how to navigate a return to a full-time role. Rachel offers practical advice on working with a younger cohort and the advantages of leveraging corporate programmes designed to help people who have taken a career break.  Listen to learn Rachel's fascinating career so far and gain insight on how to manage career breaks and successfully return to the office after a long absence. 

 

Find Rachel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-escott/

Does Generative AI have the potential to revolutionise your business strategy? In this episode, Karen is joined by Rehgan Avon, CEO of Align AI and founder of Women in Analytics, to discuss Generative AI and how it is affecting data strategies. Prepare to unravel the pros and cons of the hype cycle surrounding Gen AI, as well as how organisations should navigate this landscape by conducting proofs of concept and tackling the task of educating their teams about this groundbreaking technology. Listen to Rehgan talk about how business and AI strategy should not be separated from each other in order to avoid the pitfalls of impulsive decisions and ineffective data practices. 

This week, Karen is joined by Sue Parker, founder of Empowered Leaders in Tech. As a data leader and an ambassador for women working in technology, Sue is passionate about helping data and IT professionals to feel fulfilled by work that has purpose and impact. In this episode, she shares her best advice to help you shape your career. With her 3D framework, Sue will walk you from understanding your journey so far, to defining your success story. 

Enjoy!  

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Show notes:  

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Sue’s reading recommendations:  

Atomic habits by James Clear 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey 

Eat your from by Brian Tracy 

How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie 

This week marks the beginning of the celebrations of the first anniversary of the podcast, and in April, we will release one episode every week. In this episode, I am joined by Sonal Goyal, Founder at Aficx and Cristina González, aspiring data professional. You will hear all about data mastering and driving value from data. As Aficx focuses on supporting companies with having clean, consistent and trusted data, Sonal shares how this is done through graphs and data science. She also highlights the importance of knowing from the start what data you should hold and why. 

Enjoy!

In this episode of Women in Data, Karen is joined by Cecilia Oliveira, new co-host of the series, as she recounts her transition from a career in sales and hospitality to the field of data. Cecilia talks about the challenges she faced as she tried to navigate a new industry and how imposter syndrome became a challenge when meeting graduates who had taken a traditional STEM route into data. 

Cecilia and Karen discuss the advantages of life skills and industry experience when starting a job in a new industry and how to use skills gained in other fields to one’s advantage. 

Cecilia's story is an inspiration for anyone who is considering making a career change or trying to transition into a new field.  

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Show notes: 

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Cecilia’s LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliagoliveira/

We mentioned the following episodes: 

Ep.79 Jackie Carter - Thinking creatively about talent pipelines into data careers 

Ep.76 Wendy Lynch - The value of Analytics Translators 

Join Karen and Cecilia as they discuss common pitfalls in data analytics and how to avoid them. From understanding the request and sense-checking numbers to documenting code and providing regular updates, they share personal stories and tips to help you refine your data analytics skills or support others in delivering impactful insights. Don't miss this insightful episode packed with practical advice! 

 

Follow Karen on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-jean-francois/

Follow Cecilia n LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliagoliveira/

This week, Karen is joined by Emma Kisby, Managing Director at CoGo. In this episode, they talk about how Emma uses her experience with customer analytics to fuel a purposeful career in the world of open banking. You will discover what open banking is, how it works and how businesses use customers' transactions history to help them make purchases that are in line with their values.   

Enjoy!

This week, Karen is joined by Sheila Byfield, who has led a successful career specialising in research and data analysis within media and advertising. In this episode, Sheila shares what she has learnt over the years as well as her frustration over the direction that the advertising sector has taken - frustration which ultimately led her to write a book called ‘In with the old. In with the new’. She talks about how promises to change the interruption model were not kept, how time pressure impacts ads’ effectiveness, and how digital advertising could benefit from learnings from the past. Most importantly, she highlights the significance of human intervention and common sense in technological and data developments as well as their applications. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes:  

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Sheila’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/old-new-Sheila-Byfield/dp/0244501955/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sheila+byfield&qid=1634586146&sr=8-1 

Reading recommendations:

• The Attention Economy by Karen Nelson-Field 
• The long and the short of it: Balancing long and short-term marketing strategies by Les Binet and Peter Field. 
• Hello world by Hanah Fry 
• Invisible women by Caroline Criado-Perez 

Podcasts recommendations

• The digital human: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n7094/episodes/player 
• Marketing Week’s podcast: https://www.marketingweek.com/marketing-podcasts/ 

This week, Karen is joined by Itoro Liney, Data Science Manager at Principality Building Society, and AI Ethics Researcher, to discuss one of the most important issues in our field: algorithmic bias. In this episode, Itoro uses a simple, yet powerful example to highlight the impact of biased data, especially when amplified by Machine Learning algorithms. You will also hear practical advice on how data scientists can gain clarity on possible bias in their data, and how to account for it. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes: 

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Itoro’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisliney/ 

 

She recommends reading:  

Radical Candor: https://www.radicalcandor.com/ 

The five dysfunctions of a team: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Lencioni/dp/0787960756 

 

We are closing the anniversary of the podcast with Bianca Partington, Head of Customer, Decisioning & Digital Analytics at NatWest. 3 years ago, with no prior experience in data, Bianca took on managing a team of over 70 data professionals.  In this episode, she shares her approach to managing data teams and provides tips for managers coming from a technical background and for those who like her, didn’t initially set up for a career in data. Whether you are an experienced manager or aspiring to be, this conversation will provide you with precious insights. 

 

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Show notes: 

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Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-jean-francois/ 

In this second co-hosted episode, Karen and Cecilia discuss cross-functional collaboration, building on episode 76 with Wendy Lynch. They talk about Wendy's role as an Analytics Translator, which particularly resonated with Cecilia - bridging the gap between technical and non-technical teams that do not always fully understand each other's work.  The pair also consider examples of when strained working relationships with other teams get in the way of good business outcomes.  How can this can be overcome, leading to greater impact and better personal relationships?  Finally, Karen and Cecilia ponder how to answer the classic question of what you do for a living to non-data experts.

This week, Karen and Cecilia speak with Tamanna Haque, a lead data scientist at Jaguar Land Rover, about her career journey from retail to automotive. Tam discusses transitioning into data science from data analytics through self-training, proving the value of data science and AI, and learning to work with larger cloud datasets. She shares insights on overcoming industry transition challenges like new data, culture, and pushback by ensuring her work spoke for itself. Passionate about cars, Tam explains how she leverages connected vehicle data to improve Jaguar Land Rover's products, customer experience, and retailer relationships. 

This week, Karen is joined by Elisabeth Yaneske, Principal Lecturer in Computer Science at Teesside University. In this episode, they talk about Elisabeth’s research that aims at curing diseases using data science. You will hear about genes expression, the advantages of using data science to model human cells rather than animal testing and touch on what working in academia means. 

 Enjoy!

 

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Show Notes: 

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Elisabeth’s website: https://www.sniffyfacesart.com/

Read on 

Computational biology: https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.2002050 

The poly-omics of ageing: https://bmcbioinformatics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12859-018-2383-z 

Protein folding: https://deepmind.com/blog/article/alphafold-a-solution-to-a-50-year-old-grand-challenge-in-biology 

This Week, Karen is joined by Wies Bratby, founder of Women in Negotiation and TEDx speaker. Over the years, Wies has helped more than a thousand of women get a job they love along with an average salary increase of 49%. In this episode she talks about the importance of negotiating your worth, and what are the steps to start doing so. 

As we are still celebrating the anniversary of the podcast, at the end of the episode, you will hear Elisabeth Harris and Cecilia Olivera talk about what a fulfilling career means for them. 

Enjoy! 

 

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Show notes: 

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Wies’ TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2WBeZH-HeY 

Wies’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/womeninnegotiation/ 

Women in negotiation: https://womeninnegotiation.org/ 

The Women in Data flagship event is approaching, and I don’t know about you, but I am super excited. Roisin McCarthy, founder of Women in Data joined me on the podcast to give you a sneak peek into the event. Inspiring speakers, workshops, robots, gigantic LEGO minifigure, etc.. Women in Data went all out, and I can’t wait. Will you be there? 

 

Register to the community and event here: https://womenindata.swoogo.com/registration/Flagship_2023

 

If you are wondering about where and how you fit into the world of Data, this episode will provide a great perspective. Anusha Adige moved from India to Scotland, and from Banking specialist to Business Analyst, and now Data and Analytics Manager. Though she came from a non-technical background, she learned to work with programmers to generate powerful business insights. Karen and Cecilia were fascinated to hear about the transferable skills of someone who is a naturally curious person. Discussions between business people and data people often get lost in translation. So, Data needs “really efficient data translators” and stories supported by numbers. 

Hear how you can develop in confidence and bring more to the business. 

Anusha Adige on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anusha-adige-474b7287/ 

 

Two data professionals get real about managing stress and finding work-life balance in a rapidly changing world. From failed meditation attempts to CrossFit obsessions, Cecilia and Karen share their personal journeys of discovering what actually works for them to stay sane in high-pressure tech careers. With candid humour, they discuss the pressures of "self-care" culture, the importance of setting boundaries at work, and their go-to strategies for decompressing - which aren't always what you'd expect. Whether you're struggling to step away from your desk or searching for your own stress-busting routine, this relatable conversation offers practical tips and a reminder that there's no one-size-fits-all solution to finding balance. 

This week, Karen is joined by Louise Maynard-Atem, Head of Data Insights at GBG. For Louise, stepping into this role was a move outside of her comfort zone, and in this episode, she shares her experience and learnings. You will first hear about fraud analytics, how it benefits businesses and how Louise moved from identifying fraud after it happened, to predicting unconventional behaviours and therefore preventing it. The conversation then moves towards stepping up into a leadership role. Louise describes how she was able to leverage her network to land her current role, as well as how she crafts it every day by balancing what she wants from the role and what the company wants from her.  

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Show notes: 

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Louise’s LinkedIn

Louise Recommends: 

Radical candor

How I built this

HBR

Welcome to another captivating episode of the Women in Data® Podcast! Today Karen is joined by two exceptional experts in the field: Michelle Conway, Lead Data Scientist at Lloyds Banking Group, and Sarah Schlobohm, Head of AI and Particle Physicist. Together they discuss the world of Machine Learning Ops.  A central theme of the discussion revolves around the lifecycle of MLOps and the concept of Machine Learning as a "solution to a problem”. Michelle, Sarah and Karen delve into this idea, stressing the importance of identifying the right opportunities for Machine Learning to truly be effective. They discuss how businesses can avoid falling into the trap of implementing ML without a clear understanding of appropriate applications.  They also highlight how Machine Learning doesn't operate in isolation but requires seamless integration with other data departments, such as data governance. This comprehensive approach ensures that ML initiatives are well-aligned with the overall data strategy of the organisation, leading to more successful outcomes.  This episode is a must-listen for anybody looking to learn more about ML Ops and the potential applications of this exciting field. 

In this new year episode, Karen is joined by Roisin McCarthy and Payal Jain, respectively co-founder and Chair of Women in data. They reflect on what 2020 looked like for WiD, the challenges they faced, the wins they had. They also discuss their plans for Women in Data and Girls in Data in 2021. And, if you have been wondering what happened to the Twenty in data awards for 2020, you won’t be disappointed as Roisin reveals what they have been up to. 

 

Enjoy!

 

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Show Notes:

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Find the Twenty in data and technology here: https://womenindata.co.uk/about/twenty-in-data-technology-2019/

 

This week, Karen is joined by Neha Wadhawan, Director of Credit Risk at American Express. Neha moved from risk analytics to customer analytics and back to risk when joining her dream company. In this episode, they talk about how Neha was able to successfully establish herself as a leader in an area she didn’t specialise in, but also in a company where other leaders joined as graduates and have a long tenure. Along with a structured approach to building strong relationships with stakeholders, you will hear about Neha’s objectives for her first 3 months at Amex, her approach to learning, and how she keeps her team engaged and motivated.  

Enjoy!

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Show notes

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Neha’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neha-wadhawan-7099848/

She recommends:

• HBR articles
• LinkedIn learning

This week, Karen is joined by Diana Akanho, Managing Consultant - Data and AI Advisory at Capgemini. Before moving to Capgemini, Diana was feeling stuck in her career. She wanted to change roles, but was unsure of what she wanted to do next. With the help of a mentor, Diana took a pragmatic and structured approach to dealing with the issue. In this episode, she reflects on her journey to ‘getting unstuck’ and finding her next role: from experimenting outside of her day-to-day to having an ‘aha!’ moment when she understood the skills that naturally come to her.  

Enjoy! 

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Show notes 

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Diana’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-akanho/ 

 

She recommends: 

HBR: https://hbr.org/ 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/ 

Karen recommends: https://www.amazingif.com/listen/exploring-and-applying-for-a-new-job/ 

This week, Karen is joined by Alison Williams, Head of Data Management and Governance at Dunnhumby. From a university degree in History, to leading a team of 140 data professionals, Alison has faced many challenges in her career. In this episode, she shares how she came to realise that her unconventional way of approaching data-related problems is her strength. She also discusses the importance of understanding different personality profiles and ways of thinking to improve effectiveness and collaboration across teams. 

Enjoy!  

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Show notes:  

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Alison spoke about: Insights personality test 

She recommends to listen to: 

• Hub & Spoken: https://www.cynozure.com/hub-spoken/ 
• Customer Insight Leader: https://www.customerinsightleader.com/the-customer-insight-leader-podcast/ 
• HBR - Ideacast: https://hbr.org/2018/01/podcast-ideacast 
• HBR - Coaching Real Leaders: https://hbr.org/2020/12/podcast-coaching-real-leaders 

This week, Karen is joined by Gelareh Taghizadeh, Lead Data Scientist at Beamery and an active member of the Women of MENA in technology community. At the time of the recording, Gelareh was working at Cogx, and in this episode, she gives a detailed explanation of how Artificial Intelligence and Natural language processing are revolutionising the podcasting industry. You will, for example, hear about how graph-based summarisers enable snippet identification. You will also hear about the role cloud computing and deep learning played in improving algorithms’ performance, allowing the integration of NLP in our daily lives, as well as the top skills needed to make a start in data science and NLP. Gelareh closes the conversation by explaining how through knowledge and idea-sharing, and by showing what’s possible, London’s NLP community helped her nurture her passion.

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Show notes

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Connect with Geraleh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gelareh-taghizadeh-247b3435/

 

 

This week, Karen is joined by Holly Smith, Senior Solutions Consultant at Databricks. They share their respective experience working from home and how they feel about going back to the office. On top of that, you will find tips to help you make the return to the office work for you. From managing your time and reviewing your priorities, to reinventing your commute and defining how you will use your time in the office, this conversation will hopefully help you shape your post lockdown routine. 

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Reading recommendations: 

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Atomic habits by James Clear 

Decisive how to make better choices in life and work by Chip Heath and Dan Heath 

This week, Karen is joined by Natasha Joslin, co- founder of We Are Mojo, a data agency that helps businesses use their data to accelerate growth. They discuss the growing importance of data literacy within businesses, along with the best approach to using data analytics to answer business questions. 

Enjoy!

 

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Show Notes:

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Find Tash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-joslin-9b72296/

This week, Karen is joined by Macarena Estévez, Partner for Analytics & Cognitive at Deloitte Spain and recognised by LinkedIn as Top Voice for Data and Analytics in Spain. In this episode, they talk about what “Choose to challenge” means for Maca. They also discuss leaving a well-paid and secured job to start a business focusing on data and mathematics, along with some applications of mathematics in business. Maca’s philosophy of life is inspiring and I hope you will as you will be glued to her words as I was. 

Enjoy! 

 

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Where to find Maca 

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On her website: https://macarenaestevez.com/ 

On her blog: https://inteligencia-analitica.com/ 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MacarenaEstevez/ 

This week, Karen is joined by Nicole Ramsden, Chief Data Office Lead at JP Morgan. Throughout her career, Nicole has worn various hats in many locations, but when she was appointed to build a new data function for JP Morgan, she found herself leading outside of her comfort zone. In this episode, hear how she overcame these challenges to build a high-performing chief data office while ensuring a diverse talent pipeline. 

 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes: 

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Nicole’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-ramsden-71731224/ 

She recommends 

Gallup’s strength assessment: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=uk_branded_cs_ecom&utm_term=gallup%20strengths&gclid=CjwKCAjw8JKbBhBYEiwAs3sxN405VarwaMjnMwlVHNPcMn7p2C6a0rrBD3NBIKMbHc2OQAhsOVrEUxoCE8EQAvD_BwE 

JP Morgan’s reading list: https://www.jpmorgan.com/news/jpmorgan-launches-23rd-annual-summer-reading-list  

A race for tomorrow: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58950517-race-for-tomorrow 

CEO Excellence: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/ceo-excellence 

In this episode of the Women in Data® podcast, hosts Karen and Cecilia explore a crucial and often overlooked aspect of achieving success in the data space: workplace visibility. They dive deep into effective strategies that can help individuals stand out and leave a lasting impact among their colleagues. They also provide valuable insights on the art of self-promotion, guiding listeners on how to confidently share their accomplishments, projects, and contributions without coming across as boastful. 

This episode serves as an invaluable guide for anyone looking to increase visibility in the data workplace, whether you are just starting out or seeking to advance your career. You can expect actionable strategies and practical tips that will empower you to excel and make a significant mark in the industry. Tune in to gain invaluable insights and unlock the power of workplace visibility in the data field. 

 

Enjoy!

Hear about Wuraola’s veracious appetite for learning and where and how she finds online tools to develop her understanding of data science. In this episode, Karen and Cecilia are joined by publisher and technical instructor, Wuraola Oyewusi, who describes her journey in Data. Two take-aways are ‘curiosity is not language dependent’ and ‘the internet is generous.’ To acknowledge the online sources and teachers who helped her with free content, and to give back to the community, Wuraola publishes inspirational content on Linkedin and YouTube. After listening to her speak here, you will want to explore further to find her videos that range in topic from data visualisation, delivered in Yoruba, to How to Switch to a Tech Career. 

Find out how to combine available self-help content and structured courses to enjoy learning and plan your development in Data. 

Wuraola Oyewusi on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/wuraolaoyewusi/  Wuraola Oyewusi on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@wuraoyewusi 

Ever wondered how transferable skills can shape your career path? Karen spent some quality time with the remarkable Sumathi Thiyagarajan, VP of Business Strategy and Analytics for the Milwaukee Bucks, to discuss this exact topic. Sumathi has lived the reality of transitioning across industries, from healthcare to academia, and finally making her mark in the world of sports and entertainment. In this episode, Sumathi shares her journey and her strategies to build credibility, emphasising the power of transferable skills in data and highlighting the often-overlooked non-technical skills that have proven instrumental in her career so far. The conversation then takes an inspiring turn as Sumathi shares her personal experiences as a woman of colour navigating data and analytics leadership, and how her position at the top allows her to bring diverse talent and perspectives to the organisation. Get ready to be inspired, challenged and empowered.

In this Women in Data® episode, Karen is joined by Salla Franzén, Investment Manager at Navigare Ventures. Together, they delve into a captivating discussion about the crucial role of leadership in shaping successful data-driven organisations.   Salla and Karen highlight how essential it is to maintain a sense of wonder in the world of data. Salla shares her perspective on finding delight in the intricate web of data work and how cultivating this enthusiasm can lead to innovation and learning. The pair also discusses how to provide an environment that encourages individuals to step out of their comfort zones, enabling them to discover their potential and excel in their roles. Salla stresses the importance of creating an atmosphere characterised by kindness, humbleness, and curiosity – values that not only foster collaboration but also drive continuous improvement.  Tune into this Women in Data® episode and discover how to lead with purpose, infuse joy into data work, and inspire teams to excel in data-driven organisations.   

Ever experienced a lack of clear expectations about what was required for you to progress at work? You're not alone. 

Lack of role definition is a common pain point in the data industry, likely due to its dynamic nature and a general lack of data literacy within organisations. Listen in as Karen and Cecilia explore how this uncertainty can make data teams feel more like a service team than a valued asset, and the critical role of leadership in providing clear career guidance.  Moving forward, they shift their focus to stress management and how a lack of control and support at the workplace can dampen motivation among data professionals. They then share some tried and tested strategies to regain control and chart a way forward. Lastly, they craft a comprehensive personal development plan, emphasising the importance of setting clear goals, involving your manager in the process, and regularly reflecting on your strengths and aspirations. Listen to this episode for these insights and more! 

 

This week, Karen is joined by Jennifer Agnes, Managing Director at Cynozure Group for the first part of a two-part conversation. In this episode, Jennifer shares how she moved from risk management to a career in data. She then moves on to talk about how to build and maintain a strong network. You will hear about two different ways of building your network: communities and 1 on 1 meetings. You will discover the role played by networking communities, like the CDO Hub and how they benefit members who invest time in them. You will also find some advice on how to approach 1 on 1 networking conversations and make the relationships last over the years. Towards the end, Jennifer covers how she blended her desire to give back and help others build a network and grow in their career with her day-to-day role.

 

Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn

This week, Karen is joined by Alina Timofeeva, Associate Partner at Oliver Wyman. Originally from Russia, Alina was raised with the intention of becoming a housewife. However, she had different aspirations and gave herself the means to make them happen. In this inspiring episode, she shares her advice to get you where you want to be. You will hear about her move from Graduate to Associate Partner as well as tips to raise your profile and get that promotion. 

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Show notes: 

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Reading recommendation: Unapologetically Ambitious by Shellye Archambeau 

Podcast on salary negotiation: Women in Data - Ep.33 Wies Bratby - Negotiate your worth 

 

We are trying something new!

In this special episode, Karen and Cecilia engage in a brief conversation about their summer experiences and share some valuable lessons they've learned. They then shift the discussion towards what you can expect on the podcast in September.

Enjoy!

In this episode, Karen is joined by Tori Tompkins, Senior Data Science Consultant at Advancing Analytics and founder of Girls Code Too, which she runs in collaboration with Girls in Data to create curriculums that inspire the next generation of data and tech professionals.    During the conversation, Tori discusses her training in forensic computing and the journey that led her to the data science and machine learning fields. She also details the work that Girls Code Too and Girls in Data to do get more young women into the field. Tori also gives tips on how to balance maintaining a side hustle and giving back to the community, all while working full time.   

Enjoy! 

 

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Show Notes 

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Tori’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tompkinstori/ 

 

We mentioned: 

Squiggly career on Stress tolerance: https://www.amazingif.com/listen/stress-tolerance/ 

Girls code too https://girlscodetoo.co.uk/#about 

Girls in data: https://girlsindata.co.uk/ 

 

Tori recommends  

AI weirdness: https://www.aiweirdness.com/ 

November will be an incredible month on the Women in Data podcast with 3 new episodes coming out. In this month's update, we talk about where we are at with the mentoring competition and introduce the episodes to come.

85% of the jobs that will be available in 2030 have not been invented yet! How do we make career decisions today and plan for the future? In this episode, Karen is joined by Sarah Victor, Co-Head of Data Governance, Chief Data Office, Corporate & Investment Bank at J.P. Morgan, who shares strategies that she deployed to navigate an unconventional career path that led to Data. When you move from India to the USA, switch from Engineering to study for an MBA, and start a new role in the Finance sector: what are the risks, and how do you make informed choices? One suggestion is to listen to a diversity of ideas.  

Discover more insights as Karen and Sarah cover a range of predictability, from becoming too comfortable in a job, to learning how to get comfortable being uncomfortable. 

 

Sarah Victor on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-victor-a381703 

This month, we're making waves with an exciting competition that could land you a 45-minute mentoring session with one of our industry's finest. In this month’s update, we share the details of the competition, look back at last month’s data conferences we attended in London and South Africa, and talk about what’s to come on the podcast in October. You will hear about Big Data London and BI and Innovation Fest, but also about the upcoming episodes on data leadership with Salla Franzen and ML in the real world with Michelle Conway and Sarah Schlobohm.

 

Follow Women in Data on LinkedIn to stay updated on the competition.

This week, Karen is joined by Veerle Van Leemput, Managing Director at Analytic Health. With a background in data science, Veerle always knew that she wouldn’t be satisfied by working full-time for an employer. Starting as a graduate with a company where she was the only data scientist didn’t help and,  she felt like she had to do things independently to grow. That was until she met Greg, her business partner. In this episode, Veerle shares her journey from employee to freelancer to managing director. You will hear about her motivations, how she made it happen, the challenges she faces, and her best tips to succeed as a freelancer or as a data scientist managing a small business. There is something for everyone in this installment - from newcomers trying to find their first role to individuals trying to find clients, price themselves, and find projects.   

Enjoy!

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Show notes 

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Veerle's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veerlevanleemput/

She recommends The art of thinking clearly:https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AJP267G/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

This week, Karen is joined by Natalia Lyarskaya, Chief Data Officer at ZestMoney. With a background in applied economics, Natalia made her career in the financial technology sector as a data scientist and later on, as a data leader building data science teams and capabilities. In this episode, she talks about her excitement at working with start-ups and being at the foundation of something new, as well as of her experience building data science teams from scratch. Not only will you hear about the challenges she overcame building and leading distributed teams, but you will also get her insights on how companies can get the most value from their data scientists, and her best tips as to how to align data science work with business objectives while ensuring data scientists and business leaders understand each other.  

Enjoy!

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Show notes 

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Natalia's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nlyarskaya/

This week, Karen is joined by Nicki Tinson, founder of Empowered Analyst, and Professional Development Expert in Data Analytics. In this episode, they talk about the stigmas surrounding part-time working, especially for individuals in a leadership position, and why Nicki prefers the term reduced hours. You will also hear, step by step, how Nicki was able to work reduced hours without making a salary sacrifice. 

Enjoy! 

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Show notes  

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Nicki's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/empoweredanalysts/