Interview - Davy Cielen

Managing Director of Maiton Consulting, Davy Cielen took time out at the end of the year to share his thoughts on his experience, his current work, and opportunities in Data Science

Davy Cielen is the managing director of Maiton Consulting and leads Operations Team at Foresightee, commercial manager at a professional soccer team and mentor for startups. As one of the principals of the Business Analytics Institute, Davy focuses on managing and developing data science project and solutions in various businesses and markets.

Can you give us a little background on your interest and your background in Data Science?

Sure, of course! I am a graduate from Vrije University in Brussels, took up a degree in Economics and Commercial Engineering. My banking experience and retailing lead to my study on the evolutions of technology and how valuable it is for different business sectors. Data science has always been my interest when I was a student, which later led me to write my books on Introducing Data Science and HTML5 Game Development. Understanding the relationship between these industries and the role of analytics is what data science is all about.

What opportunities do you see for Data Science in your field and market?

I am always open to a challenge. Data science offers that opportunity to work with intelligent and interesting people where the management structure allows them to make a difference. In my company, we try to even use sociocracy. Working on data science stimulates the environment with amazing opportunities to build one's career. The learning encompasses complex problems, knowledge, processes, and technology that hold people to explore more.

What is the context and the objectives of your current work?

I would say that it's not rocket science! There may be numerous challenges facing any business, yet three keys guide my actions: stay healthy, happy, and work smart. By healthy means, apply data science to help people stay fit and focused on the future. Happy is living a work-life balance and building a relationship with our clients (and colleagues). Smart for me is working with talented, humble people and technologies, helping our consumers and organization make a sound decision. Data science is a way of giving back to the community.

What specific advice can you offer students interested in developing their data science skills today?

Data science is not just the future, it is both our present and our way of life. Studying this technology provides baseline skills in developing one's knowledge for businesses, which will make a difference in the future and the world. In our company, we ensure that our candidates have an adequate grasp of data science technologies and methodologies. We test their business acumen more than their specific trade knowledge. I personally remind my colleagues that data science is a people business and will always be.

You will be facilitating the BAI/ZHAW Summer School integrative case study. What can the participants expect from this session?

Students will benefit greatly from working with field experts and real data. Most programs work with data that is designed for teaching, this lacks many of the challenges that you will find with real data. While this is great for your resumé, it leaves a big gap between the skills learned at the university and the skills desired on the job market. Having a portfolio of cases with real-world data taught by both industry experts and academics will certainly give you an edge when looking for opportunities.

In this issue :

	Managing Human and Machine Intelligence Managers needs to look beyond data and algorithms to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the essence of management .
	ZHAW BAI Summer School ZHAW and the Business Analytics Institute will once again be offering a 10-day Summer School this July 4-13 in Biarritz/Bayonne for senior undergraduate and graduate students on the Practice of Data Science in Banking and Finance
	Finance as a Service BAI and FutureGrasp propose an online webinar to help understand the opportunity and challenges of embedded finance in leveraging AI today
	AI for Management MasterClass BAI and Grenoble IAE team up to offer an ExecED module to help managers align the promise of AI with organizational visions of value
	Faculty Interview - Davy Cielen Managing Director of Maiton Consulting, Davy Cielen took time out at the end of the year to share his thoughts on his experience, his current work, and opportunities in Data Science.
	Knowing your Nearest Neighbors What is k-NN, how does it work, what are its use scenarios, and how has it facilitated innovations in facial recognition technologies?

This Newsletter has been created specifically for the BAI community to foster conversation around the use of analytics in improving business decision-making.

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