Skepticism is NOT a Denial Activity | Kyle Polich

On this episode of The Artists of Data Science, we get a chance to hear from Kyle Polich, a computer scientist turned data skeptic. He has a wide array of interests and skills in A.I, machine learning, and statistics.

These skills have made him a sought after consultant in the data science field. He is also the host of the very popular data podcast, Data Skeptic, which discusses topics related to data science all from the perspective of applying critical thinking and the scientific method to evaluate the veracity of claims and efficacy of approaches.

In this episode, Kyle defines what a data skeptic is, and also goes on to give advice on how to communicate effectively with leaders and executives as a data scientist. Kyle brings a very unique perspective related to all things data, along with actionable advice!

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

[00:11:49] Probabilistic data structures

[00:15:19] How probabilitistic data structures will change the future

[18:55] Is data science more of an art or science?

[23:36] Advice for data scientists trapped in a perfectionist mindset

[30:43] Important soft skills that you need to succeed

[39:40] How to communicate your ideas with executives

QUOTES

[11:43] "…greatness is achieved by a commitment to your craft and pursuing it."

[16:42] "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. That's what good data science does to me."

[24:42] …"being able to fall down but get up fast is important."

FIND KYLE ONLINE
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-polich-5047193/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/DataSkeptic

Podcast:https://dataskeptic.com/

SHOW NOTES

[00:03:01] How Kyle got into data science

[00:05:20] What the heck is a data skeptic?

[00:07:47] What do you think the next big thing in data science is going to be the next, say, two to five years.

[00:11:04] How to be a great data scientist

[00:11:49] Kyle gives us a primer on probabilistic data structures

[00:15:19] How do you see probabilistic data structures impacting society in the next two to five years?

[00:17:19] Data skeptic mission

[00:18:39] Kyle answers the question - how do you view data science? Do you think it's more of the art or more science?

[00:21:09] We talk about principles and methodologies as it related to art and science

[00:21:52] Kyle shares his thoughts on the creative process in data science

[00:23:22] Kyle shares his thoughts on being a perfectionist when you're working on a project

[00:25:28] Do you have any tips for people who are coming from a non-technical background and they're coming up to these technical concepts face to face for the first time?

[00:26:42] We talk about the importance of being a lifelong learner and Kyle shares some advice for aspiring data scientists out there who feel like they haven't learned enough yet to even consider breaking into the field.

[00:28:47] What is your advice for data scientists who they feel like they've learned enough, and just don't even need to learn anything else to be successful?

[00:30:27] We talk about the soft-skils that candidates should pick-up, and Kyle shares advice for people who are in their first data science roles.

[00:31:03] Some insight into the purpose of your resume and how you should leverage that for your job search

[00:34:17] We talk about the pursuit of certificates versus the achievement of self-directed learning projects

[00:36:18] Tips on finding the right type of project to add to your portfolio

[00:39:13] For those people a little further along in their career, Kyle shares tips on how to effectively communicate with executives

[00:42:16] We talk about our shared love for Bill Murray

[00:43:06] How you should respond when you come across job postings that look like they want the skills of an entire team rolled up into one person.

[00:46:22] What's the one thing you want people to learn from your story?

[00:47:19] The lightning round.