#88 Data Science Consulting from Home with Nic Ryan – Founder & Data Scientist

Nic originally trained as an actuary through the University of NSW, Australia. After a few years he found himself naturally being pulled towards data science through his passion for data and statistics. He gave in and made the switch to data science many years ago and has never looked back! Nic has worked in just about every role you can think of in a data science team, from excited newbie to quickly managing 3 teams across 2 countries. Because of his unique beginnings, Nic has had the opportunity to work in diverse industries such as insurance, banking, agriculture, and online advertising and is therefore comfortable turning his hand to any industry. He has worked with some of the largest banks and insurance companies in Australia all the way down to small startups of 4, always helping them to drive value with data. Nic is passionate about the data science community and regularly produces content aimed at inspiring the next generation of data scientists. He is a regular speaker at data science events. Enjoy the show! We speak about: [00:20] How Nic started in the world of data [09:45] Nic’s experiences as a consultant [16:15] The decision to homeschool his kids [20:45] When Nic started his company [23:20] Staying hands-on with his team [25:50] Starting a business with his wife [30:50] What to do if monthly reports are taking too long [37:20] Bouncing between city and country [45:15] Appetite for trying new technology [49:50] Do you see companies in Australia doing remote work? [55:00] Nic’s proudest moment in his career [56:30] What are the biggest challenges in the data science space? [59:30] Where do you see data science going in the future? [61:00] What are you talking about at your meetup? [62:00] Do you have advice for data scientists? [65:45] What advice do you have for a younger Nic Ryan? Thank you to our sponsors: Fyrebox - Make Your Own Quiz! RMIT Online Master of Data Science Strategy and Leadership Gain the advanced strategic, leadership and data science capabilities required to influence executive leadership teams and deliver organisation-wide solutions. We are RUBIX. - one of Australia’s leading pure data consulting companies delivering project outcomes for some of the world’s leading brands. Visit online.rmit.edu.au for more information And as always, we appreciate your Reviews, Follows, Likes, Shares and Ratings. Thank you so much for listening. Enjoy the show!