Here I sit about to complete my 5 month immersive course in Data Science with the Flatiron School this week! Before I leave this course, I want to speak about why I decided to enter this field and change my profession at age 36.
Before I entered the Data Science world, I worked as a Pension Actuary for 11+ years. I was a consultant and moved my way through 2 very successful companies in New York City. Working in the corporate world as a consultant in NYC was very exciting at first. As an actuary I was able to use probability and statistics to analyze datasets from my clients and make sure they were complient with IRS regulations. I also worked on projects where I was able to come up with interesting design alternatives using various parameters to produce results that could be more cost effective for my clients. I worked in an office with people who became great friends, and are my friends to this day.
As my career progressed it turned more into a project management/sales type of role. I realize this is typical in consulting as companies rely on clients to make money and therefore bringing in revenue and managing people and projects becomes a key aspect of that. I was desperately trying to become the type of employee that succeeded at my company for years. Eventually, I had a revelation that what I was working so hard at trying to become was not actually who I wanted to be. I missed doing the work over reviewing the work. I missed using my math and analytical skills to problem solve over managing others to do so. I missed sitting down and crunching the numbers over traveling and presenting the numbers.
With this revelation I decided to job search.
As I was job searching I was able to take a step back and really look at what I wanted to do with my life. In doing so, I knew that I wanted a few things out of my career. I wanted a position where I was able to use my analytical and problem solving skillset using math. I wanted a position at a company where I felt like I was making a difference in the world, be that through a new innovative product or bettering our current world. I wanted a career where I could work in an office environment with others (I was working remotely before) and I wanted a career where I could limit my amount of travel (as a consultant you really travel a lot).
While I was looking at jobs and talking to friends of mine, I realized that the world of Data Science could tick off all of the items I wanted in my next career! I had a couple of options on how to pursue the world of Data Science from obtaining a job with no training to self teaching to taking a part time course, etc. I decided in the end since I wanted to leave my current position that the best course of action I could take was to save up and take a full time course in Data Science to really learn the skills in an immersive program. After doing a bit of research, the Flatiron School ticked off all of my boxes and I began my course in August.
It’s been a very rewarding 5 months and I feel incredibly lucky I had this opportunity!