Forging a Career in Data Science

Interested in what a career in data science can look like? Here, we’re joined by two members of the School of Data Science Advisory Board: Heidi Lanford, co-founder of NavAlytix AI and former Chief Data Officer at Fitch Group, and Kane Geyer, Principal at PwC and most recently the leader of the U.S. and Global Chief Data Office. In conversation with Reggie Leonard from UVA’s School of Data Science, they share perspectives shaped by decades of experience leading data and AI initiatives across global organizations. Our Guests Heidi Lanford is an award-winning global executive with a track record of transformative leadership and operational expertise. She is the co-founder of NavAlytix AI, a technology startup that is focused on the adoption, impact and outcomes of AI. She was most recently the pioneering Chief Data Officer at Fitch Group (parent of Fitch Ratings), a Hearst Company. She joined Fitch from Red Hat (IBM), where she led their enterprise data, analytics and AI strategy. She has earlier executive leadership experience at Avaya, WPP and PwC, across the Americas, Asia, and Europe, in both B2B and B2C companies. Heidi is a frequent keynote speaker on AI strategy and transformation. She holds a BA in mathematics and statistics from the University of Virginia. She is a strategic advisor to Domino Data Labs and several other early-stage AI companies. She was previously an advisor to HearstLab, which provides investment and services to early-stage, women-led technology startups. Kane Geyer is a Principal at PwC where he has spent his career working with clients and internal stakeholders to transform businesses by integrating leading-edge decision-making capabilities and building high impact data and analytics teams. In his current role as leader of the U.S. and Global Chief Data Office, Kane oversees the evolution of the enterprise data and knowledge strategy to design and develop analytical capabilities for commercial and internal purposes. Serving in this capacity has been a phenomenal learning experience in leadership, collaboration, and navigating the complex risk and regulatory facets of delivering analytics capabilities at scale in a global marketplace.  Prior to leading the Global and U.S. CDO, Kane served clients in PwC’s Consumer Markets vertical where he led multi-disciplinary teams across data, analytics, and technology competencies to deliver enterprise scale decision capabilities. Over a 20-year career, he built a fabric of experiences that invited him to see the world through business, technology, and operational eyes. Serving early in his career as analyst, engineer, and architect and later as strategist and operational leader yielded a sound professional foundation shaped by diverse perspectives and business challenges.  The lessons learned over the course of a rewarding career have been many. Some were learned early and matured into core professional values and guiding principles. Others were harvested by taking calculated risks and learning through failure. The privilege of joining the School of Data Science Advisory Board presents a great opportunity to share some of those lessons and knowledge to help others navigate the path forward.  Kane graduated from the University of Virginia in 1998 with a B.A. in Environmental Sciences. Following the ethos of living a lifetime of learning, he pursued graduate studies at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University where he earned an M.B.A. in 2010. Kane enjoys balancing his professional life and aspirations by maximizing his time outdoors and traveling. He currently resides in Connecticut with his wife and two children.  Stay connected with UVA Data Points and UVA School of Data Science Catch all our latest episodes of UVA Data Points here: Chapters (00:00:43) - Meet the Board of the University of Virginia School of Data Science(00:01:58) - What's Your Career Story on Your Resume(00:03:13) - How to Get Out of Your Start Job(00:05:50) - Getting Out of Data Science Boot Camp(00:10:44) - Choosing the Right Path for Your Career(00:14:38) - The Emergence of Data Science(00:21:49) - Heidi on Quick Wins and Low-Hanging Fruit(00:25:23) - How to Start a Business with Data and AI.(00:29:35) - How Did You Build a Startup With No Full Time Employees?(00:30:56) - Kane on Data Science and the Future(00:33:05) - Bluefin Tuna(00:33:24) - Quantum Intelligence: The Power of Data(00:39:44) - The Future of Decision-Making Is AI(00:42:16) - Citizen Data Scientists and Vibe Coding(00:46:30) - What Advice Would You Have For Your Younger Self?