Significant Career Lesson From a Senior Data Scientist at Newfront Insurance
Matthew, a Senior Data Scientist at Newfront Insurance, emphasizes the significance of thoroughness in data science, stating that it allows one to confidently address stakeholders' questions by "exhausting your options" through comprehensive documentation, data exploration, and a deep understanding of the data, anomalies, and unfamiliar code. This meticulous approach ensures one can always provide well-reasoned solutions and proactively address potential concerns in projects, ultimately preventing unanswered questions later on.
Thoroughness, Data Exploration, Documentation, Stakeholder Communication, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Matthew Slodowitz
Senior Data Scientist
Newfront Insurance
University of Michigan
Mathematics, Data Science, Statistics
Insurance, Technology
Data and Analytics
Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Thorough research and work are crucial for answering stakeholder questions and justifying decisions.
2. Thoroughness includes documentation, data exploration, understanding anomalies, and understanding the dataset.
3. Exhausting options and covering all bases in projects ensures you can address any questions that arise later.
Transcript
What is one lesson you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
That's a good question. One of the lessons that has really helped me in my career is the idea of being thorough in your research and your work.
When you're thorough, it really helps when you're asked questions by stakeholders or by others. You can come back with solutions, explaining why you chose a particular route. Thoroughness includes documentation, data exploration, and understanding anomalies in your dataset.
It also means understanding any SQL you're not familiar with, pair programming with others, and similar activities. The idea of being thorough and exhausting your options is important. In consulting, we use the term "mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive."
You want to make sure you're covering all your bases when working on projects and in your role. This ensures there are never any questions later on that you can't answer.