Data Science Strategy – Tips and Tricks for Ensuring Project Success

Overview: Data science teams have been embedded in businesses for quite some time now, but many of these groups have a larger graveyard of unfinished projects than implemented projects. What will it take for businesses to finally realize the full potential of advanced analytics instead of creating a glut of models that create expensive trivia? Join us to discover how to de-risk projects early, maximize business value, and translate to a business audience.

On May 8, 2020, Anne Marie Weber, Women in Big Data Board Member and Director, Modeling & Business Performance Analytics, TruStage, CUNA Mutual Group lead a brilliant online discussion on the role of analytics translators who bridge the technical and business users in a company to help define meaningful use cases whereby data science can answer business questions.

She addressed why the analytics translator role is key, what skills are required, the importance of building stakeholder relationships, and how to develop a use case. She also discussed how the data engineering and science liaison feedback loop can ensure data models, data and use case align, as well as and how to implement this methodology.

The data science strategy toolkit includes:
• AI Canvas (Prediction Machines): What should we do?
• One Pager: What are we doing?
• Workflow: How this will work?
• Lean Startup: Thinking about data science like an entrepreneur

Anne Marie suggests reading Prediction Machines (A. Agrawal) and The Lean Startup (E. Ries) for more best practices’ information.

Due to popular demand we will repeat this session in future. Thank you, Anne Marie!

Bios
Anne Marie Weber joined CUNA Mutual in 2019 and leads a team of senior analysts and a data science team. In this role she has built a pipeline for modeling and analytics projects from idea through implementation, and she’s working with business and analytics leaders to develop new use cases for advanced analytics. She is passionate about finding unique solutions leveraging analytics to drive business value. Previously she worked in American Family Insurance’s Strategic Data & Analytics division and their Digital Transformation Office. She’s also led analytics work for other industries, including education policy, medical devices, transportation, and machine tools. She is passionate about analytics and explaining complex topics in an approachable manner.
Her educational background includes a master’s degree in economics from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. Anne Marie lives in Middleton, WI with her husband, two children, and two Boston Terriers.

Regina Karson is WiBD US Board Secretary and Chapter Director, SAP.iO Mentor and works for F500+ companies on technical marketing and business development projects leveraging her business and technical background professionally and educationally.