DataTalks.Club

Pastor Soto, a medical doctor turned machine learning enthusiast, shares his inspiring journey of balancing medicine and data science. He discusses how he leveraged live courses and public sharing to enhance his skills while freelancing on platforms like Upwork. Pastor emphasizes the importance of community engagement in learning and highlights the impact of social media in shaping his professional identity. He also shares his experiences with mentorship and navigating the intersection of healthcare and technology, all while managing a demanding schedule.

Lior Barak, a data strategy consultant and author of 'Data is Like a Plate of Hummus', dives into the complexities of rebuilding data trust. He emphasizes the shift from a reactive culture to a mindful practice rooted in Zen principles. Topics include the alarming gap between CEO data usage and self-identified data-driven status, the innovative traffic-light dashboard for clear communication, and strategies to balance maintenance with innovation. Lior highlights turning imperfect data into value and navigating the challenges of legacy systems while fostering team resilience.

Orell Garten is a freelance data engineer with a rich background in electrical engineering and simulation algorithms. He dives into his journey from academia to freelancing, sharing lessons learned from startup life and the intricacies of working with messy industrial data. Orell discusses his early challenges in freelancing, including client acquisition and project management. He emphasizes the importance of practical tools like Python and DuckDB, and offers valuable advice on maintaining a cash runway and focusing on problem-solving over perfect tech solutions.

Dimitri Visnadi, an independent data consultant and mentor with experience consulting for major brands like Heineken and Red Bull, shares insights on transitioning from corporate to freelance work. He discusses job tenure trends in tech and the implications of freelancing, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving skills. Dimitri also highlights the freedom of a lifestyle business, balancing work with personal life, and effective strategies for client acquisition. He offers valuable market insights and explores the transitioning challenges many face when leaving traditional roles.

Will Russel, a Developer Advocate at Kestra and a creator of engaging technical content, shares his journey from hackathons to advocating for developers. He discusses the pivotal role of hackathons in building skills and community, the challenges of transitioning from participant to organizer, and the importance of mentorship in tech. Will also delves into strategies for creating compelling video content and enhancing documentation. His insights inspire those eager to make complex tech topics accessible and foster a vibrant developer community.

Lavanya Gupta, a Sr. AI/ML Applied Associate at JPMorgan Chase and CMU alumna, shares her journey from software engineering to an AI researcher. She discusses how hackathons ignited her passion for machine learning and her current work benchmarking large language models in finance. Lavanya emphasizes the importance of mentorship and networking for career growth in data science. She explores the evolving roles in the industry, the impact of continuous learning, and the balance between luck and strategy in achieving success.

In this podcast episode, we talked with Eddy Zulkifly about From Supply Chain Management to Digital Warehousing and FinOpsAbout the Speaker: Eddy Zulkifly is a Staff Data Engineer at Kinaxis, building robust data platforms across Google Cloud, Azure, and AWS. With a decade of experience in data, he actively shares his expertise as a Mentor on ADPList and Teaching Assistant at Uplimit. Previously, he was a Senior Data Engineer at Home Depot, specializing in e-commerce and supply chain analytics. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Analytics at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Eddy is also passionate about open-source data projects and enjoys watching/exploring the analytics behind the Fantasy Premier League.In this episode, we dive into the world of data engineering and FinOps with Eddy Zulkifly, Staff Data Engineer at Kinaxis. Eddy shares his unconventional career journey—from optimizing physical warehouses with Excel to building digital data platforms in the cloud.🕒 TIMECODES0:00 Eddy’s career journey: From supply chain to data engineering8:18 Tools & learning: Excel, Docker, and transitioning to data engineering21:57 Physical vs. digital warehousing: Analogies and key differences31:40 Introduction to FinOps: Cloud cost optimization and vendor negotiations40:18 Resources for FinOps: Certifications and the FinOps Foundation45:12 Standardizing cloud cost reporting across AWS/GCP/Azure50:04 Eddy’s master’s degree and closing thoughts🔗 CONNECT WITH EDDYTwitter - https://x.com/eddariefLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddyzulkifly/Github: https://github.com/eyzyly/eyzylyADPList: https://adplist.org/mentors/eddy-zulkifly🔗 CONNECT WITH DataTalksClubJoin the community - https://datatalks.club/slack.htmlSubscribe to our Google calendar to have all our events in your calendar - https://calendar.google.com/calendar/r?cid=ZjhxaWRqbnEwamhzY3A4ODA5azFlZ2hzNjBAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQCheck other upcoming events - https://lu.ma/dtc-events LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/datatalks-club/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/DataTalksClub Website - https://datatalks.club/

Bartosz Mikulski, an AI and data engineer, delves into the fascinating realm of Data Intensive AI. He shares his journey from Java development to AI engineering, emphasizing the pivotal role of testing in data pipelines. The conversation explores practical strategies for testing and the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT and Cursor in development workflows. Bartosz provides insights into creating a Chrome extension for lead classification on LinkedIn, while discussing prompt engineering techniques and the impact of AI on coding practices. A must-listen for data enthusiasts!

Nemanja Radojkovic, a Senior Machine Learning Engineer at Euroclear, shares his expertise in MLOps across both startups and corporations. He discusses the balance between flexibility and stability in different work environments, highlighting the unique challenges of implementing MLOps on tight budgets. The conversation covers navigating cloud complexities, the importance of selecting the right tools, and practical career advice for aspiring data scientists. Nemanja emphasizes mentorship and the evolving landscape of technology, making compelling points for both paths.

Adrian Brudaru, Co-founder of DLT Hub, shares his journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship in the realm of data engineering. He highlights the evolution of the modern data stack and the rising significance of open-source solutions. The conversation focuses on emerging trends like AI integration and innovative technologies such as Iceberg and DuckDB. Adrian also discusses the increasing opportunities for newcomers in the field and emphasizes the importance of understanding business contexts while navigating the evolving data landscape.