How is big data changing the way business captures customers?
Data science now has a front seat. Consider the success of ‘Moneyball’ and of election predictions. We’ve gone from targeting customers to building data products to benefit customers – like Google’s self-driving car.
What excites you most about the field?
The ability to improve people’s lives, as in forecasting Hurricane Sandy. People are also using data to better track their health. There are advances in genomic analysis, too.
What concerns you most about this field?
We’re in an arms race against those who would breach security systems. There are very sophisticated data products out there. We need to better discuss privacy and the appropriate use of data by the government.
Best way to prepare the data scientists of the future?
Students need a great foundation in math, statistics, computer science. Domain expertise is also required. They also need to have another multidisciplinary area – biology or physics, for example.
Tell us something we don't know about a data scientist’s job.
The most powerful skill of a great data scientist is the ability to create a narrative. Data by itself is cold. It’s the human that makes it come alive and be useful.