Graduate School
How I got to my “current state” has certainly been a journey (I won’t go into all of it - but if you’re interested, please ask!). I quickly fell in love with Economics and data in general while working with economists to design, implement, and analyze experiments that mimicked the effects of affirmative action. This led me to applying to PhD programs. During my studies, my schoolwork as well as my research focused a lot on using causal inference techniques to tease out causal effects. I loved working with data so much, I started taking machine learning, statistics, and computer science courses.
WeWork and Learnings
After my fourth year of graduate school, I accepted an internship at WeWork to work as a research and applied scientist. This was my first real exposure to the tech world, and I loved it! A major part of my job was to assist in optimizing prices of office rental units. We used natural experiments, real experiments, economic theory, and machine learning to inform our analyses and price setting. Although my tenure there was less than a year (and most of it was during the start of covid), this experience taught me a lot about my ideal job. First, I learned that I wanted to work on things that were meaningful and impactful. Secondly, I loved my coworkers and genuinely enjoyed going into work - I learned that culture as well as who you work with is super important.
Capital One
After my fifth year of graduate school, I graduated with a PhD in Economics as well as a Master’s in Computer Science (focusing on Machine Learning). I went on the job market to find a job where I could do meaningful and impactful work. I chose to accept an offer at Capital One after talking with the hiring manager multiple times as I believed that it fit what I was looking for. If you want to know more about my job market experience, you can read this post. I worked at Capital One starting in June 2021, where I enjoyed tackling open-ended business problems that didn’t have obvious solutions.
Toyota
After Capital One, I joined Toyota North America as a People Data Scientist. This role was on a much smaller team, which meant I wore many different hats. In addition to analytics and modeling work, I was heavily involved in scoping problems, working directly with stakeholders, and helping shape strategy. I enjoyed the autonomy and the chance to see work move quickly from idea to action, and the experience helped me grow a lot as a practitioner.
Workday
I currently work at Workday as a People Data Scientist, where I focus on high-impact projects with quick turnaround times. My work involves designing analyses, building models, and telling clear data stories that inform real business decisions. I enjoy the pace and the opportunity to work on problems that matter while partnering closely with cross-functional teams.
Non-work Life
My wife Lynn and I have four children: Kate, Emma, Danny, and Matty. Lynn and I are both from California, but we have lived in multiple states, including Washington, Utah, Texas, Virginia, and now California. When I am not working, I love doing the following things:
- Playing with my kids
- Going on dates or just spending time with the wife
- Playing and coaching soccer
- Kayaking
- Applying Machine Learning models to everyday problems (like esports prediction)
- Playing and creating video games (when I actually have some time)