Women in Data Podcast

How I got into data 1/5 - Elodie's Journey from Teacher to Lead Data Scientist

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.

Ep.113 Unlocking Success in Data: A Journey of Resilience and Community Impact

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.

Ep.112 Tamanna Haque - Turning Vehicle Data into Gold- A Data Scientist's Journey

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. 

Ep.111 Roshni Daswani - Empowering Career Strategies: Building Confidence

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/

Ep.110 Essential Tips for Better Data Analytics

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/

Ep.109 Rachel Escott - Data Trailblazer: Rachels Unconventional Journey

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/

Ep.108 Pranjali's Guide to Securing Your First Data Science Role

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 

Ep.107 Mastering Networking - Our favorite strategies and tips

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!

Ep.106 Megan Lieu - Navigating Adjacent Roles in Data: Data Advocate

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/ 

Ep.105 Raquel Seville - Thriving Amid Womens Health Challenges

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/