42. Data jobs: Interview with data & machine learning expert Catherine Lopes PhD.

Who would have thought that 2020 would be the year of data charts? That we would be glued to the daily news like never before, anxiously waiting to see more and more charts, expecting data analysts to tell us which way curves, bars, and pie charts are progressing? Be it for the number of patients with COVID-19, unemployment numbers, political and consumer sentiment, stock markets. This year has been filled with data analysis, and we are all paying close attention.

Have you ever wondered what a professional data job looks like? Why did Forbes report that data jobs are the sexiest jobs in the 21st century? And how can non-data professionals either upskill, re-skill, or learn to collaborate with data professionals?

If you are interested to find out more, you are in luck! My guest for this week's episode is a data strategist and machine learning expert. Catherine Lopes is the Head of Data Strategy and Analytics at ME Bank in Australia and the co-founder of three startups. Catherine is a business-focused data scientist and passionate educator who helps organizations increase their business performance by applying advanced analytics and improving enterprise data management. She has worked internationally across a wide range of sectors with specialties in machine learning and analytics transformation.

Listen to our discussion to gain insight into the world of data science, artificial intelligence, and ethics. Learn how you can get started in data professions, data projects, or work alongside data scientists. You'll have a rare opportunity to learn from a data expert who is also passionate about her profession and helping other data scientists thrive.

Remember, you can always reach out to me to start investing in your career progression. Check my website - there's a link below - and find out more about my services, as well as the free resources I have created just for you.

I hope you enjoy this chat with Catherine Lopez.

Timestamps to guide your listening:

07.31 - Catherine's career journey
10.58 - How to know where and when to spend energy in your career for career advancement?
15.48 - What is data science? Catherine explains her expertise and how important it is post-COVID.
17.51 - How corporate work is potentially going to change in the next 3 to 5 years, and how to adjust your skills. 
22.10 - How can professionals in humanities help data science and AI? 
27.53 - Data Science and ethics.
30.22 - Issues of data-driven problems such as bots and RPA replacing everyone's jobs.
36.20 - Is there still time for a mid-career professional to make a shift to data science? 
38.31 - Professions that can easily transition to data science.
43.04 - Catherine, the mentor, and her LinkedIn activity.
45.42 - Catherine turns data on its professionals: comparing data professions by gender, age, and other factors.
52.50 - Catherine's list of questions to ask employers.
56.03 - How is working from home for data scientists, and is it sustainable?
57.10 - Tips and advice for people looking for work.

Audio only

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Lean in videos of Catherine's presentation on Personal Branding
• Lean in Melbourne of Renata's presentation on Confidence
• Catherine's article about job questions data professionals should ask at job interviews
• Catherine's LinkedIn: follow her and look out for her charts about data science profession
• Ada's Tribe meetup
• Ada's Tribe LinkedIn Page
• Catherine posts about books to read about data
• Click here to open the transcript of this episode on our new blog.