How I Did It: From Psych Degree to VP of Data Science at Top Startup • Hacker News Board

Re: How I Did It: From Psych Degree to VP of Data Science at Top Startup

#21

Post by dx87 » Sun, Mar 01, 2020, 4:35 PM UTC

bcrosby95 wrote: post #9

dx87 wrote: post #5

When I was doing a cyber training exercise in the military, we had an Air Force general tell us that the best technical officers they had started out with non-technical degrees. They said that officers with undergrad degrees in things like IT, Software Engineering, and Computer Science, weren't very good at thinking outside of the box because everything they did was fairly low level and had a provably correct solutio…

As a technical person, I find it interesting that so many technical people are that way. I start to get into a motivational rut if all I'm doing is working on a list of technical things to complete. Engineering disciplines are some of the few degrees that provide you the ability to both directly solve other people's problems and have close customer contact - that was a major reason why software engineering attracted…

I think it's a learned behavior, they were mainly talking about people fresh out of college who were evaluated based on "use the fastest algorithm for a mostly sorted set of data" type assignments. I worked with a lot of people with technical degrees who learned to think outside the box, but it seemed easier to teach technical knowledge to non-technical people than it was to teach technical people that they needed to change the rigid way of thinking that had been drilled into their head for 4 years.

Re: How I Did It: From Psych Degree to VP of Data Science at Top Startup

#22

Post by azizsaya » Sun, Mar 01, 2020, 4:37 PM UTC

Fabulous post but this caught my attention: "The learning curve was steep. Pushed me 2x beyond my existing abilities. Exhilarating."

What is meant by “steep learning curve”? https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/6209/what-is-mea...

I don't mean to be rude, just that it is interesting.

Re: How I Did It: From Psych Degree to VP of Data Science at Top Startup

#23

Post by euix » Sun, Mar 01, 2020, 4:48 PM UTC

Its often the case that less technically minded people move into management.

Re: How I Did It: From Psych Degree to VP of Data Science at Top Startup

#24

Post by o-__-o » Sun, Mar 01, 2020, 4:55 PM UTC

stefan_ wrote: post #11

dx87 wrote: post #5

When I was doing a cyber training exercise in the military, we had an Air Force general tell us that the best technical officers they had started out with non-technical degrees. They said that officers with undergrad degrees in things like IT, Software Engineering, and Computer Science, weren't very good at thinking outside of the box because everything they did was fairly low level and had a provably correct solutio…

And if there is a place like no other that needs out of the box thinking, it must be the military. This sounds like a shtick. The kind of mentality that made them put STOVL in the requirements for the F-35.

STOVL was a requirement because they are replacing the aging harrier jumpjet

Re: How I Did It: From Psych Degree to VP of Data Science at Top Startup

#25

Post by syndacks » Sun, Mar 01, 2020, 4:55 PM UTC

brenden2 wrote: post #12

Getting to VP level at a "top startup" has little to do with data science, and everything to do with your ability to play the networking game. Depending on the size of the company, VP level jobs are more about management skills than technical proficiency.

Why does this community (HN) have such a proclivity for these types of bitter responses?

This comment makes wild assumptions, doesn't assume best intentions, and really just makes `brenden2` sound like a nasty person. Yet here it is, top comment on the front page.

Nice work OP! You are flexing a very unique set of muscles (technical + leadership + communication + ambition) that very few people have. You will go far in life.

Re: How I Did It: From Psych Degree to VP of Data Science at Top Startup

#26

Post by 7d7n » Sun, Mar 01, 2020, 4:56 PM UTC

levanify wrote: post #20

Awesome post! Thank you for taking the time to document down your learnings along your journey of pursuing data science. What I really like about your journey is how one thing manages to lead to another in the most amazing way. Some people attribute it to luck, but I guess in your case you really have made your own luck by taking actions to move towards your goal! Congratulations on your accomplishments thus far! I j…

On the first point: I assume you're asking for avenues to practice and demo your work. If so, personal projects are a great way.

The most impressive candidates can demo something they've deployed. This demonstrates the ability to apply what you've learned AND learn the rest of the stuff as needed (e.g., spin up EC2, build basic front end, maintenance, etc.). The latter is more important and gives confidence that you take ownership and likely can do the same (i.e., end-to-end with results) in the company.

On the second point: having meaning in work differs from person to person. Some people enjoy pushing the envelope (research), others enjoy staying hands-on (individual contributor, IC), while some big picture thinkers enjoy coordinating (PMs). It's helpful to think back on what gave you the greatest satisfaction and work with your leaders to be a role that lets you perform your best.

I find it most fulfilling to build data products that are useful, relative to generating tons of revenue. I would be equally happy as an IC doing the hands-on or leading a small team and mentoring them to become more effective.

Re: How I Did It: From Psych Degree to VP of Data Science at Top Startup

#27

Post by peteradio » Sun, Mar 01, 2020, 5:02 PM UTC

syndacks wrote: post #25

brenden2 wrote: post #12

Getting to VP level at a "top startup" has little to do with data science, and everything to do with your ability to play the networking game. Depending on the size of the company, VP level jobs are more about management skills than technical proficiency.

Why does this community (HN) have such a proclivity for these types of bitter responses? This comment makes wild assumptions, doesn't assume best intentions, and really just makes `brenden2` sound like a nasty person. Yet here it is, top comment on the front page. Nice work OP! You are flexing a very unique set of muscles (technical + leadership + communication + ambition) that very few people have. You will go far i…

You seem to be reading a bitterness into the comment that is not there. Apart from that your comment is also very true. The op will go very far! Big picture, networking, and management are far more valued than someone with raw technical ability who misses the above.

Re: How I Did It: From Psych Degree to VP of Data Science at Top Startup

#28

Post by quietthrow » Sun, Mar 01, 2020, 5:03 PM UTC

VP at a top startup mean very different things to different people. To somebody who values sr titles it’s Substantial. To somebody who views titles as a measure of how much and what you contribute will only view this as substantial in the context of where you operate - VP of the lemonade stand vs VP at a large company (by revenue,employees etc). Most of the experienced crowd on this site will generally take the latter view. Most of the young/fresh grad kind of people on this site will take the former view. As for yourself I would suggest you measure yourself by impact and not title.

Re: How I Did It: From Psych Degree to VP of Data Science at Top Startup

#29

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Mar 01, 2020, 5:03 PM UTC

syndacks wrote: post #25

brenden2 wrote: post #12

Getting to VP level at a "top startup" has little to do with data science, and everything to do with your ability to play the networking game. Depending on the size of the company, VP level jobs are more about management skills than technical proficiency.

Why does this community (HN) have such a proclivity for these types of bitter responses? This comment makes wild assumptions, doesn't assume best intentions, and really just makes `brenden2` sound like a nasty person. Yet here it is, top comment on the front page. Nice work OP! You are flexing a very unique set of muscles (technical + leadership + communication + ambition) that very few people have. You will go far i…

[deleted]

Re: How I Did It: From Psych Degree to VP of Data Science at Top Startup

#30

Post by mlthoughts2018 » Sun, Mar 01, 2020, 5:04 PM UTC

syndacks wrote: post #25

brenden2 wrote: post #12

Getting to VP level at a "top startup" has little to do with data science, and everything to do with your ability to play the networking game. Depending on the size of the company, VP level jobs are more about management skills than technical proficiency.

Why does this community (HN) have such a proclivity for these types of bitter responses? This comment makes wild assumptions, doesn't assume best intentions, and really just makes `brenden2` sound like a nasty person. Yet here it is, top comment on the front page. Nice work OP! You are flexing a very unique set of muscles (technical + leadership + communication + ambition) that very few people have. You will go far i…

Why do you perceive it as bitter rather than simply factual observations about employment? It is a whole discipline of social science research, eg “Moral Mazes.”

My personal goal is for my beliefs and my participation in a community to above all be accurate. If the fact-based conclusions aren’t very pleasant, that is a function of the state of the world, not the state of participation.