You’re an AI professional who’s not a data scientist. How can you still get promoted?

You surely do not need expert data science skills to be promoted. You need independence, a broader view of the problem to solve, good technical skills, good domain knowledge (of the company, not about AI!) and good management skills. You can build these skills through work, projects, or your personal life. None of them involve data, actually. They involve humans and creating a great product that solves an existing problem. You get promoted by understanding the managers' and CEO's vision and problems and helping fix them.

Promotions have nothing to do with what you are not. It has everything to do with what you are and what you bring to the table that adds value to your clients businesses. In many organizations, you may still not get promoted. But, that is not your problem to worry about. Learn the domain in and out, be able to understand the context in which you are applying AI and there would be enough jobs in the world for you

Input from a domain expert is the game changer for building an AI product. Ability to distill knowledge and produce pointers in the right direction significantly reduces time to production/market. In an industrial setting such guidance simplifies prioritization of research and development activities and increases your business value as a facilitator.

Domain Expertise: Deepen your understanding of the specific industry or domain your AI projects are applied to. This allows you to better communicate the practical impact of your work to stakeholders. Volunteer for Challenging Projects: Actively seek opportunities to work on complex, challenging projects that push your boundaries and allow you to showcase your versatility and ability to learn new things. Proactively Discuss Career Aspirations: Have open and honest conversations with your manager about your career goals and aspirations. Seek their guidance and feedback on the areas you need to strengthen to achieve your desired career path.

Deepen your understanding of the industry or field in which you work. Stay updated on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. This knowledge will make you more valuable to your organization and increase your chances of promotion.

Today AI is ubiquitous. Most of the GenAI work is being done with neural networks and there are a lot of material on the basics of neural network. Learning the simple lifecycle of AI projects - how and why each steps is done, tools used and frameworks available should be sufficient to manage AI projects.

While you may not be a data scientist, it is still important to have a solid understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles of AI. This will allow you to effectively communicate and collaborate with data scientists and other AI professionals, enhancing your overall effectiveness in your role.

Gaining a foundational grasp of data science and AI equips you with the literacy to navigate the burgeoning landscape of technology, enabling a better understanding of its mechanics, applications, and implications in your field. This knowledge fosters informed dialogue, sharpens strategic thinking, and demystifies the data-driven decisions shaping our digital world, without the necessity of mastering its complexities. It’s about empowering yourself to engage with technological advancements confidently and contribute meaningfully to conversations and initiatives at the intersection of your expertise and the evolving realm of AI.

Continuously educate yourself on the latest trends, advancements, and technologies in the AI field. This demonstrates your commitment to professional growth and keeps you at the forefront of innovation within your organization.

Advancing your career can hinge on grasping foundational data science concepts. There are a multitude of resources you can utilize. This knowledge enriches your skill set, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Emphasize continuous learning through online courses, workshops, and industry literature to stay abreast of AI and data science trends. Showcasing this initiative and expanded expertise can spotlight your value, opening doors to promotion and broader responsibilities.

Technical skills alone are not enough to excel in your career. Developing your soft skills, such as communication, leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork, will set you apart from others and make you a more well-rounded professional. These skills are highly valued in any organization and can contribute to your promotion.

While there are many brilliant engineers, the need of the hour is people who can run AI projects within budget and time. This involves stakeholder communication where the results and progress needs to be communicated without jargons. This skill will remain valuable for a significant period of time

Invest in developing your leadership and management skills, even if you're not in a managerial role. Take on leadership opportunities within projects or teams, demonstrate your ability to inspire and motivate others, and showcase your potential for leadership roles.

Meeting people, understanding how they solve problems, reading good blogs can be very valuable. Many people would have travelled the same path as you and gaining insights on the dos and donts will be critical for success.

In my experience Networking is a must have skillset as we grow in career. But networking alone won’t take us anywhere. Networking helps us to connect with experienced folks or colleagues of same level who would have different way of solving problems and delivering solutions. One can work hard to get to a level but with networking one can learn to do smart work and grow professionally. More the nodes in your network mesh, the smarter you are :).

Building relationships with colleagues, mentors, and industry professionals can provide valuable opportunities for learning and growth. Attend industry events, join professional associations, and participate in online communities to expand your network. These connections can help you gain visibility, access new opportunities, and receive recommendations for promotion.

Its valuable, but many at first may find it awkward or something that can always be tried later. The thing to realize is - if we can push little by little and go past the comfort boundary - there’s a whole new world with people who experimented and share first hand experience along with dos and dont's - this vantage and information sometimes can be really impactful. Meeting people, discussing ideas how to solve problems, sometimes how to think differently - all acts as a growth catalyst and can increase the odds of success.

Collaborate with colleagues across different departments and teams, fostering strong working relationships and building a network of allies and supporters. Actively participate in professional networks, industry events, and conferences to expand your connections and visibility in the field.

Even if you are not a data scientist, you can still showcase your work and achievements. Create a portfolio that highlights your contributions to AI projects, such as process improvements, automation initiatives, or successful collaborations with data scientists. This tangible evidence of your impact can demonstrate your value to the organization and support your case for promotion.

To ascend in the AI field, curating a robust portfolio is essential—it’s your professional narrative in tangible form. This collection, encompassing projects to presentations, crystallizes your technical prowess, domain expertise, and collaborative acumen. It’s not merely a display of past achievements but a testament to your ongoing impact and potential, serving as a powerful beacon to current and prospective employers. Effectively showcased through platforms like GitHub or LinkedIn, your portfolio is the key to unlocking opportunities, earning recognition, and illustrating your readiness for advancement.

Focus on delivering tangible results and driving impact through your work. Whether it's improving processes, increasing efficiency, or solving complex problems, demonstrating your ability to deliver value to the organization can significantly enhance your promotability.

A portfolio is a living document to represent you and your work. Its the best way to showcase skills, current impact, past achievements, collaborations experienced to get where you are. Good ones also talk about what didn’t work or went terribly wrong - and learnings from them. Github, Medium and LinkedIn are some popular choices to start with.

Seek out additional training or certifications to enhance your AI knowledge and skills. Look for opportunities to take on challenging projects or lead cross-functional teams. Demonstrate your ability to adapt to new technologies and embrace continuous learning. Finally, communicate your career aspirations to your managers and seek their guidance on how to progress within the organization.

Promotion in Al roles beyond data science depends on demonstrating expertise in your specific role, contributing to Al project success, and honing soft skills. This could involve optimizing Al model performance as an Al engineer, executing product vision as an Al product manager, addressing ethical issues as an Al ethics officer, or advising on Al strategies as a consultant. Success also relies on effective teamwork, continuous learning, and leadership abilities.