A Day in the Life of Vanessa Lopera, Data Consultant

I'm a data scientist, which involves understanding business needs, having a broad grasp of statistics and logic and being proficient in tools like Python, Spark SQL and cloud computing. Right now, I'm involved in a project where we're migrating the client's entire predictive model to a new platform.

I always start my day by reviewing my pending tasks. Tools like Jira help with that. I also have my personal agenda, where I write everything down to help me prioritize my tasks throughout the day.

Then, there are daily meetings with the client to discuss progress, data requirements and any roadblocks. I also have weekly meetings with my people lead, which are invaluable for resolving technical issues and guiding my career growth.

The best part of my days are when I'm working on modeling improvements. They challenge me to think from a different perspective, explore new data and consider various options. Sometimes, it's trial and error, but it's very satisfying when you achieve significant improvements in the predictions.

The first is Python. It's great if you want to do anything in the real world, like optimization, to have this knowledge of a programming language.

The second one is SQL because we're constantly interacting with data. This is the main language to do that.

In addition, knowledge about cloud computing is essential. Running all this in one of the cloud platforms is crucial right now because everything is migrating to the cloud. It's really rare to find an on-premise project.

In my current project, I'm working on two fronts. The first is focused on feature engineering to identify the best information that will enhance our model's performance. While doing this, I contribute to operational improvements that make the team's tasks progressively less manual.

I'm also assisting in platform migration testing, which is a huge process. It involves training multiple models, comparing results and guaranteeing we'll keep the model working on the new platform.

It's the constant evolution of the tools we use. Technology is rapidly advancing, and it can be tough to keep up and apply those improvements to our projects. You always have to be learning, and you need to have the curiosity to do so. While definitely a challenge, iIt's really quite motivating for me.

It's been a very positive experience, especially here at Kin + Carta. I always feel valued for my talent and abilities rather than my gender, which gives me confidence.

For every woman willing to work in data, I say "go for it!". I have no doubt that you will find an encouraging community like I've found. You might have some bad experiences, but if you find a company like Kin + Carta, you'll love it.

Most of the time, I start my day exercising. I love trail running, and I actually have three trail half-marathons on the calendar for this year. For me, training and exercising is crucial.

I live with three cats and a dog, so there is nothing better than taking short breaks during the workday to spend time with them. This is no doubt one of the greatest things about working remotely.

And after I log off work, I like to read and watch movies. I also really love to cook an intricate meal at home after wrapping up my day.

I greatly admire the kindness and respect of everyone I've met in the company. There hasn't been one person I've met who hasn't been kind or respectful. I also appreciate the talent here and how us as individuals are constantly being encouraged to develop. That's a crucial part of our culture - we constantly evolve. Not just the company, but the people.

I have mostly seen that the data is there - they're already collecting it. Where they need to spend more time is gathering insights from that data. It's necessary to understand the available inventory of data.

And when you’re ready to make a business decision, consider some information or metric that will help inform it. Then, try to pass that on to the data team and see how they can get those metrics for you.