In this episode of Data Career Transformations, Bolaji interviews Millie Symns, a senior Business Intelligence analyst at JustWorks.

Millie shares her journey into the data field, emphasizing the importance of mission-driven work and the intersection of data and education. She discusses her current role, the challenges of communicating data insights to non-technical stakeholders, and the significance of mentorship in the data community.

Millie's insights on data literacy, measuring business impact, and the value of collaboration highlight the evolving landscape of data careers.

Chapters:

• 02:48 Millie's Journey into Data
• 05:36 The Intersection of Data and Mission-Driven Work
• 08:19 Millie's Data Origin Story
• 11:06 Current Role at JustWorks
• 13:47 Career Path and Previous Roles
• 16:32 Stakeholder Communication Challenges
• 19:09 Data Literacy and Its Impact
• 24:29 Understanding Data Through Personal Experience
• 28:18 The Pressure of Quick Answers in Data
• 29:10 Navigating Business Context as a Data Analyst
• 32:29 Celebrating Small Wins in Data Projects
• 35:51 Measuring Business Impact of Data Work
• 39:45 The Importance of Mentorship in Data Careers

Takeaways:

• Millie's journey into data began with a passion for education and access to resources.
• She emphasizes the importance of mission-driven work in the data field. Millie's first job involved education evaluation, which shaped her data career.
• She transitioned from nonprofit to corporate, bringing her mission focus with her.
• Millie values the role of data in solving collective issues rather than individual problems.
• Her current role at JustWorks involves helping stakeholders make data-driven decisions.
• Millie highlights the challenges of communicating data insights to non-technical stakeholders.
• Data literacy varies across industries and impacts the quality of stakeholder requests.
• Measuring the impact of data work is challenging but essential for data professionals.
• Mentorship is crucial for growth in the data field, both as a mentor and mentee.

Speakers:

• Guest: Millie Symns, Senior BI Analyst at JustWorks
• Host: Bolaji Oyejide, Community Manager at dbt Labs

 

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