InfoTrust is a company that is filled with the most amazing people—and one of those people is Shasnika DeMel. DeMel is an advanced analyst, but she isn’t only an analyst—she is involved in so much, including being a speaker at the upcoming Toronto Womxn in Data Science Conference on April 27-28, 2022. I had the pleasure to sit down with DeMel and learn more about her career, her favorite hobbies, and how she got involved in the Toronto Womxn in Data Science Conference.
Q: How’d you get started in your career as an advanced analyst?
A: It all started when I first joined InfoTrust as a digital analytics consultant. In that role, I was focused on both descriptive analytics and diagnostic analytics where I was implementing Google Analytics (GA) and using GA and Data Studio platform to help businesses understand customer journey and intent across their digital platforms, as well as helping businesses understand “why” things are happening on their digital platforms and troubleshoot issues. It is here where I developed my passion analyzing data and solving analytical problems. I wanted to progress into working on predictive and prescriptive analytics, so I pursued a master’s degree in advanced analytics that helped build the foundational knowledge of creating machine learning to solve business issues. After I graduated, I joined the discovery team as an advanced analyst and started working on applying data science and machine learning techniques to help businesses achieve ROI.
Q: What’s your favorite part about being an analyst at InfoTrust?
A: Ahhh … that’s tough because there’s so many reasons. Here are a few:
- Working with businesses in different industries
- I always loved puzzles and as an analyst I’m always solving for different problems
- The thrill of finding a solution to a problem that I spent weeks/months trying to solve
- Seeing the solutions we provide helps solve business needs shows that I have made an impact on business leaders who are using the solutions to change how their companies run
- Educating clients on the process and implementation
Q: How’d you get involved in Toronto Womxn in Data Science Conference?
A: I attended last year’s Toronto Womxn in Data Science Conference and was inspired by the experience and knowledge shared by the guest speakers. It provided a great community to support women in data at various points in their career. They sent an email to the community for guest speakers and among hundreds of applicants I was one of the few applicants selected to present.
Q: Can you tell us more about this event and what you will be presenting on?
A: The conference is catered to data professionals looking to keep up with the latest trends and build community. There are talks, panels, and workshops accessible to a variety of skill sets. There are keynote speakers such as AI researcher Dr. Timnit Gebru; co-founder of ODAIA Helen Kontozopoulos; Data Scientist Siphu Langeni from Shopify; and more.
My presentation is to showcase consulting as a career choice that data scientists can consider in their career journey. My key focus will be on the process a consultant goes through with a client, from gathering requirements to building a model and finally activating the models to show measurable impact. I will provide examples of some of the consulting work I’ve done, highlight the opportunity to work across different industries, and share some tips for professionals to keep in mind if they are considering this route.
Q: Let’s mix the questions up a bit and learn more about you. What’s your go-to Starbucks order?
A: My favorite order, and what I consider a treat for every now and then, is a nitro cold brew with sweet vanilla cream.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of being an advanced analyst at InfoTrust?
A: Hiking, traveling to different places, trying out the local cuisine authentic to the city, and doing my best to replicate the same recipe at home.
Before you go: Join DeMel and more than 100 amazing InfoTrust team members and apply for an open role today! And, if you want to attend the Toronto Womxn in Data Science Conference to see DeMel present and learn more about data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, click here!
