The SAS Academic Program Interview Series with Benn Blumenthal

“Always get to know your data first: SAS Visual Analytics rocks!”

Read Benn Blumenthal journey

Starting with a Computer Science Diploma, Benn Blumenthal student journey recently included a Master of Data Science, Machine Learning, Statistics and Big Data at James Cook University. Benn’s professional career journey includes being a Software Developer to today, being a Machine Learning Engineer. Hear Benn’s story and shared experience.

Going back to the very beginning – when did you first start thinking about becoming a data scientist/data analyst/etc.? Were there any skills or talents you had when you were younger that led you in this direction?

?Throughout my 20-year career as a software developer, data has always been at the core of most companies I worked for.?I have always been amazed to see how essential data was in an organisation’s ability to make the right kind of decisions, and that the most crucial part of this process was the correct interpretation of that data.?

My interest in data science started to grow a few years ago, around the time when I started working as a software developer for an energy company. Many of the projects we were working on were data centric and I felt that what we were doing was just skimming the surface of what was possible. I wanted to learn how to leverage more of the data we had and to build greater products.

My background in software development has inadvertently been preparing me for the role I have today. My knowledge of software engineering principles along with how to work with data has become the basis for my knowledge and has made the transition into my current role easier.

?The demand for data scientists has increased quite a lot and this allowed me to take the opportunity and make a career change into this field.

Why did you apply to study at James Cook University and specifically the Master of Data Science program?

James Cook University was one of the first universities offering a Master of Data Science Program at the time, and the degree included subjects that I found interesting in studying and then applying directly in my work. The program was also delivered online and structured in a way that made it convenient and manageable to fit in while working full time.

How did studying Master of Data Science affect your thinking about what you will do once you graduate?

?I knew that the key to making a successful career change to a role in data science would require a formal education in the field, as most organisations require a postgraduate degree in data science or a related field.??I was therefore relatively confident that upon completing the degree I would be able to secure a role in the field.???

A highlight of this degree was the real-world projects that we got to work on as a team. This helped me to understand the importance of clear communication within a data science team as well as with the project stakeholders, and it’s a skill that is vital in my current role as a machine learning engineer.

At what point did you learn about SAS? Did you take any SAS-oriented courses in college or grad school?

Although many of the organizations that I have worked for used SAS, my first hands-on experience with SAS was in the Master of Data Science program.

What other advice would you give to a university student thinking of applying to James Cook University and specifically the Master of Data Science and SAS Academy of Data Science?

If you are interested in a career in data science, machine learning or big data, then the Master of Data Science program at James Cook University is a great place to start your journey into one of the most rewarding careers.

Tell me about your current job. What skills do you get to use? What do you like about it?

I currently work as a machine learning engineer, and part of this role includes building models to solve industry-specific problems, deploying them into production and then maintaining them. We are a small team, so we draw skills from a variety of disciplines such as data engineering, data analysis and machine learning dev ops. What I enjoy most about my work is adding the kind of value to our products that have a tangible impact on the value we provide to our clients.

Looking back on your entire education/career path, were there any roadblocks or problems you encountered? Anything you’d do differently?

I’d say I’m pretty happy with the path that my career took, starting with becoming a software developer.?This was probably the best choice I could have made as it provided me with so many opportunities and has motivated me to constantly continue to learn and improve. This has helped tremendously in my studies as it gave studying a real purpose.

?If I could have changed anything, I would have chosen a particular domain early in my career and stuck with it. Having a vast domain knowledge in your work provides you with a deeper understanding when analysing data and helps you to define problems more accurately and precisely.

I have been lucky enough not to have too many roadblocks or problems in my career, but it was initially difficult to change the perception of hiring managers who wanted me to continue working as a software developer and so were more reluctant to place me in a new role.?As my skills and confidence increased however, this became less of a problem.

Where are you now in terms of your career journey? Are you a life-long learner? If so, are there things you’re working toward now?

After graduating and working as a machine learning engineer for some time now, I feel my learning has just started. Every project brings its own unique challenges and researching and experimentation is an ongoing process. This industry is moving at a phenomenal pace and continuous learning has become part and parcel of my career.

What qualities do you think are the most valuable in an aspiring analytics professional? How have these qualities been nurtured by studying at the SAS Academy of Data Science?

Having an eye for detail while keeping the bigger picture in mind is important. You need to understand your objectives so that you are able to deliver them without getting lost in the?details. At the same time you need to ensure you have not overlooked or misinterpreted?anything.

The Master of Data Science program helped me develop these skills when working on?assessments. It was crucial to understand what was expected to be completed for the?assessment while managing your time to get it done efficiently and accurately.

What other advice would you give to a university student thinking about wanting to learn about SAS?

Find your inspiration and stay motivated. It will be challenging at times but in the end, the outcome is very rewarding.

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