From Engineering to Data Analytics: Alok Tiwari's Professional Journey

"Analytics is not just about the data; it's about the insights we derive from it to make impactful decisions," says Alok Tiwari, Director of Analytics at Ola Electric. ?

He has a decade of experience, which has taken him on a journey through Analytics, System Engineering, and Digital Marketing across various companies like Flipkart, Disney+ Hotstar, and Ola Electric. ?

His Career and Learning:?

Alok's career began in 2010 while pursuing an MBA in Marketing. He joined Fidelity Investments as an intern where he was given a Pre-Placement offer. This combined with his inclination towards statistics led him to a career in analytics. ?

Alok’s Growth in Analytics:?

• ?Technical Skills in Analytics:??

Alok stressed the need for integrating technical skills like Python, R, and Big Data with domain expertise for a successful analytics career.?

• Navigating through Diverse Domains:??

He switched from Disney+ Hotstar to Ola Electric where he dealt with user-generated data and challenges involving product and user event data.?

• Challenges faced:??

Alok faced challenges in product-centric analytics concerning feature adoption and functionality assessment. He overcame it with a thorough domain knowledge by aligning analytics with engineering processes.? ?

• Programming Fundamentals of Data Science:??

He stressed the value of programming skills in data structures. His example of an algorithm design for a scooter’s charging time shows that the transition to data science requires strong programming knowledge.?

Career Progression and Corporate Pressure:?

Transitioning from a junior to a senior role and managing a team in a corporate environment can be overwhelming. To navigate this, Alok suggests two main points that help deal with pressure and stay focused.?

• ?Articulation:??

As a leader of a data team, Alok says, articulation is the key. Being able to summarize helps the individual in guiding the team better. Learning problem-solving skills helps summarize effectively and keep a team on track.?

• Exploration:?

Exploration has played a vital role in Alok's journey. With experiences across various domains, he gained valuable insights into the challenges faced by different industries. He says the experience from diverse backgrounds enabled him to decide what to prioritize and what to ignore. He added that individuals can learn this over time.?

Additionally, Alok stresses that the initial 6 - 8 months are the most crucial. During this period, people can quickly gain domain knowledge and learn the technical aspects from a course or even through sheer experience. ?

Skills for aspiring Data Analysts:?

Alok underscores two important factors he looks for in a candidate irrespective of the role:??

• Problem-solving?
• Analytical problem-solving?

According to Alok, even at the initial level, people would have different thinking approaches to problem-solving. He likes to see how a candidate approaches a problem based on their experience level.?

Looking Ahead:?

According to Alok, the learning journey never ends. Continuously solving new problems and reading extensively helps him widen his horizons. The time spent with data allows him to apply insights to various challenges. He added that while career paths change, the personal goal to deepen problem-solving and advance analytical techniques shouldn’t. ?

The key takeaway??Reading and upskilling yourself is the key to success.