Not Your Typical Tech Story
Working with data is my favorite thing to do. I have a passion for solving problems with technology and it comes from my background, working for Wells Fargo for 15 years.
However, you wouldn’t have known that was my destiny when I was 25 and just out of college.
Originally, I was a teacher.
Let me tell you how I actually got started. I do not have a typical tech story background. I do not have a degree in IT or computer science. I do not have an engineering background, or a math background. I actually have a Bachelor’s in History and a Master’s in Education.
The way I got started was really kind of a fluke. I was happily teaching at college in California, and during the middle of the school year, the school went bankrupt. I was out of a job and I had to find a job to pay the bills, and at that point I wanted to find something short-term that I could do for a few months, and then eventually I would get a new job, going back teaching when the new school year started.
So, I applied for a job in Wells Fargo as a customer service supervisor, in their call center. I started that job thinking I would do it for a few months, but before I knew it, I had spent 15 years working for Wells Fargo. As I mentioned, do not have that techie background, I’m not a data scientist by education. This is important because I am probably more like most of you reading this book. I just learned how to use data, I learned how to use technology, and basically, I am self-taught when it comes to big data and artificial intelligence.
It definitely helps to have that kind of background in technology and IT and computers to be a true data scientist, but to get more value out of your data, it’s not a requirement.
Besides learning a lot about technology, I have learned as much by setting up my own business. I have been an entrepreneur for about 10 years now and have a lot of insight into how to apply data and A.I. to setting up new businesses. I have been working with companies to help them level up their employee’s data skills, and when it comes to using technology.
Helping companies start to do big data projects, to work with their data to be able to start moving towards things artificial intelligence is just the latest area I am have added to my general expertise.
It is my hope that knowing my story will inspire you to get started as well, and if you have already started maybe this will help you level up. The bottom line is companies need to be investing both financially and as far as talent, into technologies like artificial intelligence to be successful in the age that we live in now. Technology is only going to continue to hyper accelerate, so if you are not already looking at AI, it’s almost too late.
Daniel Meyer heads Sonic Analytics, an analytics firm with offices in Manila, the San Francisco Bay Area and Ocala, FL. With over 20 years in Big Data, Dan is one of the most sought-after public speakers in Asia and offers big data coaching and analytics training seminars on both sides of the Pacific. Dan has also recently joined the Powerteam International family as a small business analytics resource speaker.
Sonic Analytics(www.sonicanalytics.com) brings big data analytics solutions like business intelligence, business dashboards and data storytelling to small and medium sized organizations looking to enhance their data-driven decision-making capabilities. We also advocate the use of analytics for civic responsibility through training, consulting and education.
As citizens of this great democracy, we need to look at the data (analytics), plan a course of action (strategy) and share our data-driven viewpoints (presentation). This approach to a data savvy work force starts in school. So, we started an internship program to empower our youth to use Analytics, plan Strategy and Present their insights… ASP!
When not training current and future analysts, you can find Dan championing the use of analytics to empower data-driven citizenship by volunteering his expertise with schools and non-profits dedicated to evidence-based social progress like Saint Leo University’s Women in STEAM 2020 Conference.
