Alexandra’s Career Change Story
Share a little about yourself.
When I was younger, my curiosity in unpicking the invisible forces that shape the world drew me to study International Relations. It was the same curiosity that later led me into data journalism and data science. Today, I’m a self/community-taught programmer and data viz geek working as a data scientist at Synthesis, a specialist in growing audiences and changing preferences.
What was your job like before transitioning into data science? What prompted you to make the transition?
I started out with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, working on international maritime affairs. This gave me an inside view of diplomacy and policy-making in a global industry. Later, as part of the strategic planning team, I researched key trends and developments that affect Singapore’s future as a maritime city.
I didn’t realise it then, but discovering journalist sites like Fivethirtyeight and the Pudding was the beginning of my career pivot. It blew my mind how they combined code, data, design, and story to uncover and bring to life the larger patterns in socio-economic, cultural, and political issues. I was fascinated and wanted to learn how I could do something similar.
What is your job like now? How different or similar is it to your previous role?
I create custom datasets and use tools from network science and natural language processing to help build a picture of people’s preferences and behaviour.
It was a huge transition in several ways: I moved from a government agency to a fast-growing company with a startup feel; from an industry with centuries of history to a new world of open data and marketing insights; from a policy role to a data science and engineering role. However, it really wasn’t a sudden switch.
So how did you go about making the transition?
Whatever I was learning on the side—computer science, Python/R, new data visualization techniques and statistical analysis—I tried to apply it in my job or personal projects. I also got more involved with communities like She Loves Data, Singapore’s Hacks/Hackers meetup group, and the Data Visualization Society.
Then came a point where I felt a need to add more structure to my learning. I took a sabbatical and went for the Metis Data Science bootcamp, with support from IMDA’s Tech Immersion and Placement Programme.
But how I found my current role was rather fortuitous. I first got to know the people behind Synthesis when I joined a data storytelling challenge that they co-organised. My entry, which re-imagined and visualized popular wedding songs as cupcakes, made an impression and I won a commendation. Shortly after, they were expanding their data science team, and one thing led to another.
What were the major challenges?
Learning to silence my inner critic when it’s not being helpful. In my first two weeks, I came close to a burnout because I thought I needed to grind it out in a new work environment when I didn’t have to. It was tough but I had to learn how to be kinder and more patient with myself.
The fact is, when switching careers, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and it’s OK. You’ve got to accept that it will take you longer to understand and figure out things that may be second-nature to more seasoned professionals.
Were there any pleasant surprises? Maybe you were shocked at how easy some things could be?
In a way, simply pursuing my interests and skilling up led to open doors. I didn’t have to search hard to land my current role. Even before entering the data science field, there were always ways to practise aspects of it in my day job as long as I kept an open mind.
In my new role, I’m fortunate that my more experienced colleagues are super supportive when I reach out for guidance or simply to bounce some ideas off them. Even though my background is non-traditional, I feel very much part of the team.
If you were to go back in time, what advice would you give yourself on this journey?
Making the switch is only the beginning. I don’t think we talk enough about what comes after the switch as well as the non-technical skills needed for a happy, healthy work life in the data/tech industry. Aspects like self-advocacy and self-care are important too.
Has volunteering at SLD helped you in your transition journey?
As a blog editor with SLD, I came to know and interviewed many accomplished brave women. Their own career transition stories inspired me and I learned from their wisdom, hindsight, and experience.
Being part of SLD also means being surrounded by other women and male allies with a can-do attitude who cheer each other on. It’s so uplifting!
Anything tips or advice you wish to tell all our readers? 3 tips you would like to share with our readers who are considering switching roles & industry?
- Don’t worry if you don’t have a passion to pursue. Instead, stay curious and focus on mastering skills. I didn’t start out with a fixed idea of what I wanted to do or have some burning passion to begin with. That used to trouble me, but eventually I learned it didn’t matter all that much.I would recommend reading Cal Newport’s books So Good They Can’t Ignore You and Deep Work. He makes a compelling case that it’s ultimately people’s skill-set and not necessarily their passion that determines their career path.
- Beyond skills, things not obviously connected to work like your social habits and lifestyle choices will shape your career transition. Guard against toil glamour and burnout. The You Got This network is a great resource.
- And remember, your job is not your career. In the words of Earl Nightingale: Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career!
A New Chapter with Loucine Hayes
Sep 07 2020 | Nikita Phavade
Meet Loucine Hayes, the head of our new chapter in Armenia! With decades of experience in international development and capacity building, Loucine has touched many lives. We’re delighted to have her as part of the She Loves Data community, and here, she shares her story as well as vision for the new chapter.
Share something about you.
I repatriated to Armenia last year after living in 14 countries and working in over 27 counties in various fields. But I’m always focusing on building communities, effective business models and functioning policies. Throughout my career, data has been the pulling thread to stitch all pieces and decisions and make a wonderful tapestry. And now I am in Armenia to share all wealth, do knowledge and experience, inspire and guide young people to make bold steps toward attaining their dreams.
How will the launch of this chapter be a milestone for Armenia?
Armenia has made strides in IT and Data science. Sometimes it has been called the new Silicon Valley. There are many wonderful opportunists for women to get engaged in this industry and make better career choices, better solutions for their endeavors in entrepreneurship and other fields. Data can guide and help them thrive. The trend is there for women to get engaged and this will open a wide gate of opportunity and inspiration not to be afraid and make a bold step. The American University of Armenia Open Education (AUA OE) has a strategic focus to increase the engagement of women in the regions. We have the infrastructure and She Loves Data has the outlet to the world of knowledge in this field and together we can bring invaluable opportunities for learning and growth in this field for women.
How can members join your chapter? How will it help them?
Members can join by filling the volunteer form on She Loves Data website or sending a letter of intent. We will also have special events and meetings to explain and encourage members to join.
It will help them to get up to date training and skills in the field as well as make career advancement or start a career in this field. It will help them to network and meet other members and exchange of experiences and support.
What three things you would like to say to the young women in Armenia?
- Be unapologetically bold when pursuing your dreams.
- Be gentle and compassionate when dealing with others.
- Embrace fun and joy in your life with every moment and every step.
What is your vision for the Armenia chapter?
Opportunity for every woman to attain a meaningful career in a data-driven world.
Share with us events or topics that the Armenia chapter will be promoting.
Career opportunities in data and connection to various industry leaders. Sub-sectors can be banking, health, education, agriculture, circular economies and environment protection.
Start-up entrepreneurship.
Coding and algorithms.
Educational opportunities.
Manupriya’s Career Change Story
Please share a little about yourself!
I am the founder of my online business “The Secret Pet Store” and a part-time social media specialist for She Loves Data (SLD). I was always passionate and excited to run my own online business. So, when my Reporting Analyst role got impacted due to covid-19 I thought that this is the best time to do what you love to do… I joined SLD to serve the community and also launched my online store.
What was your job like before transitioning into your independent firm? What prompted you to make the transition?
I always knew in my heart that I wanted to start my own business and be a renowned best social media strategist. I never saw myself working until the age of 65 and that too in a field which I am not passionate about. Plus I always wanted to do something for our loving pets <3.
Also, we all know it’s not easy to simply leave a good full-time job and start again from ground level. So I think it was meant to happen, as my role got impacted by COVID and I started my dream journey. However, I also began my travel page on IG while I was working.
What is your job like now? How different or similar is it to your previous role?
Its a lot of hard work now definitely much more than before. There are lots of uncertainty and risks however the main driving force is that I enjoy & love to do this.
I would say this is completely different from what I did before, as I am coming from a data analyst background into social media marketing 🙂 also 100% more exciting then analyst role! Hahaha
So how did you go about making the transition?
It was really tough as I changed my field, I knew I had to start from ground zero. I had to do many online courses and thanks to my friends who helped to keep me motivated on the days I was about to break-down and when I started doubting myself. Being an experienced analyst, it was a bit easy to get a similar, well-paying role but changing to a new career required me to start from entry-level roles or maybe internship
What were the major challenges you faced?
- Not enough work experience
- Time management
Were there any pleasant surprises? Maybe you were shocked at how easy some things could be?
Yes definitely. I was at the first scared and overwhelmed with social media tasks at SLD as I knew it would be read globally, but now its fun and I enjoy it. For my online store, building the whole website from scratch was one of the things that I first felt would be so tough but turned out to be easy.
If you were to go back in time, what advice would you give yourself on this journey?
I should have believed in me and should have started working towards my passion sooner. But then I am happy as its never too late!
How has volunteering at She Loves Data helped you in your transition journey?
Absolutely! SLD gave me a chance to further develop and improve my social media skills. It gave me a platform where my knowledge and learnings can be implemented.
Bonus: I gained a lot more confidence as a social media specialist 🙂
Any tips or advice you wish to share with our readers?
- Be prepared to work harder than before
- Have a schedule & try to gain as much knowledge as possible
- Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams!
Origin Story: Why We Do What We Do
Our Origin Story
It all started with a simple question: Where were the women? When Jana Marlé-Zizková and Pavel Bulowski went to work meetings or events in the tech industry, the other attendees were often men. They discovered that many women had a lot of enthusiasm and interest in data analytics and related areas. Yet, not everyone knew how to get started or access community support. This inspired the first workshop on data analytics for women in 2016. In the face of overwhelming response, one workshop led to another, and then to many more. She Loves Data was born.
As a community, we commit to the belief that women have many talents, virtues and value to bring to the table. This bears out in our very own logo, which is based off the Coxcomb chart. Florence Nightingale famously used the chart to explain the preventable deaths of soldiers during the Crimean war. She later led the sanitation reform of British hospitals. Just as Nightingale used data to create change, so too can more women become active contributors to a data-driven world. Pam Ooms, our volunteer who designed the logo, felt that Nightingale’s story fitted very well with She Loves Data’s purpose and wanted to borrow design elements from the Coxcomb chart.
What’s Next
Today, 200 years from Florence Nightingale’s time, she continues to inspires as a role model. We also find ourselves in the midst of a crisis, where the need for data literacy and digital skills is more urgent. We are forced to adapt to disruptive changes and in many instances, shift from the physical to the virtual. One silver lining is that the transition has led She Loves Data to create our first webinars, and we’re able to reach more people. At the same time, our community focus remains core.
It’s important that women building skills in tech don’t feel like they are in this journey alone. We understand that it can be tricky to build this feeling of community and sense of belonging online. There is no easy solution, but we can continue to support each other with friendly exchanges in our Facebook and LinkedIn groups. She Loves Data also continues to expand. We’re building local tribes and partnerships in places from Armenia to Vietnam so that more women can benefit from our work.
We hope you keep safe and stay strong.
