From Communications Expert To Data Scientist: Adrian Campos
You have probably noticed that the job of a data scientist is in high demand across all industries. That’s because of their role in performing vital analysis that helps businesses grow! And one thing is certain – their importance will continue to be significant in the near future.
Data science involves using tools and techniques to extract insights and knowledge from very large and complex data sets. It’s almost like being a detective, only instead of solving crimes, you’re trying to figure out solutions to issues and uncover concealed patterns in data. Thanks to data science, you can predict future trends, optimize business processes, and make smarter decisions. From programming to statistics, data visualization to machine learning, data science is an exciting and multidisciplinary field that requires a mix of technical and analytical skills.
Adrian Campos‘ success as a data scientist at IBM is a testament to his impressive range of skills and his ability to apply them to a diverse range of projects. His technical expertise in areas such as machine learning, data analysis, and web development has played a vital role in his achievements. But where did it all start? Surprisingly, in Communications. Let’s find out how.
Adrian’s Transition From Communications Director To Data Scientist
Although Adrian Campos started his career in Communications, he soon realized the importance of data in making informed decisions. As a Communications Director, Adrian’s role was to select media purchases based on the best return on investment (ROI) during marketing campaigns and optimize communication channels for maximum reach. All decisions were based on data, and Adrian’s team relied heavily on analytics to measure success. With an analytical background in Physics/Mathematics, Adrian found it easy to make the transition to Data Science.
Adrian’s passion for data analysis is genuinely inspiring. He enjoys visualizations and believes that presenting data in well-designed dashboards can change hearts and minds. He admits he believes in the cliché that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life, and he can honestly attest to that. His enthusiasm for data science is so contagious and he is always open to helping his friends and colleagues with their projects. Adrian reviews, cleans, analyzes, models, and produces insightful visual dashboards from the vast amount of data we use and produce every day. He understands the importance of not only having precise, accurate, and valid data but also representing those insights in a visually appealing way that adds value to decision-making. With his expertise and passion for data analysis, he has truly identified and discovered his calling.
See You On The Data Side
Having a website is crucial in today’s digital age to showcase your skills and be visible online. It not only provides a platform to display your portfolio and expertise, but it also allows you to create a personal brand and expand your professional network. This big-picture thinker who tells stories with data and utilizes a data-first methodology also knows how to represent himself on the web. Adrian Campos’ website is a great example of how a data scientist can effectively use this tool to promote his work and share his knowledge. In addition to showcasing his projects and skills, Adrian also shares his expertise through his articles, such as “Three things I wish I knew before my Data Science Bootcamp,” “Communications Director Turned Data Scientist,” and “Teamwork in Data Science.” These blog posts not only provide valuable insights but also demonstrate Adrian’s ability to communicate complex concepts in a simple manner.
Streamlining Data Aggregation And Visualization For Enhanced Situational Awareness
On the list of Adrian Campos’s projects, the one about The FEMA Lifelines certainly stands out. The project aimed to estimate and categorize businesses and infrastructure in a city. According to FEMA’s seven lifelines – and understand the distribution of these lifelines.
The team, consisting of Casey Bruns, Adrian Campos, and Jacqueline Walker faced initial struggles in finding relevant data. However, they overcame it by using functions to automate the scraping of data and place it into a pandas.DataFrame. One of the most important aspects of this project was the development of a toolkit for implementing FEMA lifelines in communities. That provides detailed information on the project’s methodology and results. During the discovery period, Adrian and his team conducted some preliminary Exploratory Data Analysis. The APIs they used were excellent and allowed them to capture essential data that was almost ready to use. Moreover, the team utilized Python (and relevant libraries) through Jupyter Notebooks to scrape, clean, and organize their data. In the final step, they developed a few useful-looking diagrams. All along with eye-catching text to grab the viewer’s attention. However, they decided to take it a bit further.
So, if FEMA needs situational awareness during a given disaster/emergency, they need to enter a location and find all the lifelines available to the community.
Data Scientist’s Skills Explained
Adrian’s diverse skills propelled him forward as a Data Scientist. Let’s take a closer look at Adrian’s competencies and see which talents and abilities helped him to make the switch in the career so successfully.
-Git, Unix, & Relational Databases
These are technical skills related to software development and data management. Essentially, Git consists of a collection of command-line tools that are intended to be used in a Unix-style command-line environment.
-Machine Learning, Modeling Techniques, And Big Data
These skills are related to data science and analytics. Machine learning involves using algorithms and statistical models to enable computers to learn from data, while modeling techniques are used to create mathematical representations of real-world systems. Big data refers to the large and complex datasets that are often used in data science projects.
-Critical Thinking And Synthesis
These cognitive skills involve analyzing and synthesizing complex information, as well as using logical reasoning to solve problems.
-Communication
This skill refers to Adrian’s ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. This skill is particularly important in roles that involve working with clients or presenting complex information to non-technical stakeholders.
-Video/motion Production, Still Imagery, Audio Production, And Graphic Design
All these creative skills are related to the production of digital media content. They may be used in projects such as creating data visualizations, developing marketing materials, or producing training videos.
-Data Analysis And Python
Adrian’s ability to analyze data using the Python programming language is also advantageous since Python is a very popular language for data science and analytics due to its versatility and ease of use.
-Web Development
Adrian also has the ability to develop websites and web applications. This skill may be useful in creating interactive data visualizations or other web-based tools.
What Does The Future Hold For This Talented Data Scientist?
As far as the future plans are concerned, Adrian says that his next steps in Data Science are yet to be defined: “Data Science has now afforded me opportunities at startups developing integrated dashboards and in Data Science Marketing. Startups can definitely yield great rewards, but with that many risks. Data Science Marketing is pretty much what I used to do in my strategic role as a Communications Director, but with more detail and probably more data modeling.”
Overall, Adrian’s skills demonstrate a wide range of technical, analytical, and creative abilities. Those can be applied in a variety of roles and projects. Adrian’s story highlights the importance of continuous learning and adapting to new technologies and tools. For others interested in this career path – it’s crucial to build a strong foundation in math, statistics, and programming languages like Python.
Ultimately, with hard work and perseverance, you can transition to a new career in data science, just like Adrian did!
We are privileged to be a part of the story about your truly uplifting career path, Adrian. Keep up the good work!
