Entering data science out of university: Guillaume's journey

A company is only as good as its people - and we’re proud to have some of the brightest minds in data science at Agilytic. Our employee spotlight series gives you a brief introduction to our team, who they are, what led them to their current role, and what they do inside and outside of work.

Guillaume Carton has contributed to real value-adding projects since joining Agilytic as a Data Scientist in 2021. In this spotlight, Guillaume describes finding an encouraging work environment and diversity in projects at Agilytic. He also takes us through his journey of learning and applying data skills with business engineering know-how to projects in various industries.

‍1. Hi Guillaume! Can you tell us about yourself?

I joined Agilytic directly after my master’s studies in Business Engineering at ULB Solvay. At university, I learned that I’m passionate about visualizing data and finding helpful information with data. The degree also gave me insight into business, marketing, finance, and even law. I discovered programming and started learning Python during the second year of my bachelor's degree.

At Solvay, there are a lot of clubs and student organizations. I joined the Solvay Digital Society - which aims to help students discover the data science field, like how to use Power BI and other programs through Hackathons and workshops. Companies and speakers came in to talk about the application of data science and how to use it as a tool, have an impact, and do something with an objective behind it.

I was thinking about how to bridge my love of programming and coding while still applying what I’m studying in business engineering. You can have both sides in data science - the business and the technical side.

2. What drew you to Agilytic?

Agilytic organized some events with the Solvay Digital Society about three or four years ago now. That's how I met Christophe, Agilytic's Managing Partner -at a job fair. He told me about the company, the culture, the values, and the interesting projects.

The culture and opportunities were both what drew me in to join Agilytic. It became clear that you have an impact here from the beginning, even in a junior role. During projects, you learn so much alongside colleagues who have faced many of the same challenges and you’re in direct contact with clients’ management.

3. So far, what has been your favorite project?

That’s difficult to say because the variety is comprehensive - you can go from one project to another in a completely new industry with a new technical approach.

My favorite is my first project for a telecom company. It was not the most advanced in terms of technology, mostly Power BI visuals and Python scripts, but it was still a great collaboration with the client, and easy to see the impact we made. It was rewarding to build something and see it come together - we did the programming and the core activities one step after the other to fit the client's needs. Now, the client is fully independent and satisfied. They can automatically run scripts for what used to be a very long and manual process.

4. What’s one thing you learned in the past months?

In terms of soft skills, I’ve improved in client management. Each new project can mean working with a new client, a new direction, and a new kind of relationship. Client management requires efforts to stay on the same page and keep the proper scope.

For hard skills, I’ve learned a lot in cloud technology, especially AWS. In one project, I had to run scripts and create an API that the client could implement on their website. I also notice improvements in the way I code and structure my projects.  

5. Data science is ever-changing. How do you keep up?

We place a lot of importance on knowledge sharing and internal documentation. This is something I lean on when a new project starts. Every project brings a unique opportunity to share knowledge and keep learning. For instance, Gautier and Javier have helped me succeed in what I wanted to do with AWS for a project.

It’s nice to know you’re never alone. There will always be someone, even if it’s not your manager or someone not directly linked to the project. Colleagues often take the time to check in with you and see if everything is okay to continue with the project.

6. What is your favorite aspect of data science?

I love finding ways to get insights from data. Information you didn’t know or knew vaguely can become apparent. Data science makes life easier. It makes people happier, especially in projects for workforce management/employee experience or customer experience.

7. What advice would you give to someone who wants to enter data science?

Get involved in a project or data case to put your knowledge into practice as soon as possible. Even if you need first to learn some basics and theoretical concepts, practicing will allow you to learn a lot and much faster.

8. How would you describe what it’s like to work with our team?

The first word that comes to mind is trust. From the beginning, there is trust, and people are here to help you, not micromanage you. What’s important is that the job is done, and you can do it with confidence in your own way. Overall, this creates a nice working atmosphere.

My colleagues are smart people, enjoyable to work with, and always willing to offer help. We push each other to go further, learn more, and be better. We also have fun together during social Thursdays and activities that help us build rapport, resulting in better project collaboration.

9. What’s your go-to productivity trick?

Day-to-day, I like to try to concentrate on what is a priority at the moment and not multitask. I’m more productive when I know what’s the one thing I can do that will make a difference. Also, getting enough sleep - it’s underrated!

10. We know you love to travel. What is your favorite destination you’ve visited, and why?

Definitely Taiwan, where I stayed during my Erasmus for six months. I had plenty of time to discover the country and meet many locals. The people are so nice, and the food is fantastic. You have access to mountains and nature for hiking, the sea, and the beach for beautiful scuba diving. But you also have the bustling city of Taipei, and the nightlife is great too. As an island, it’s uniquely influenced by neighboring countries like China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

11. What’s the next place on your travel bucket list?

Norway, to go hiking in the fjords and see the aurora borealis!

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Are you looking to gain skills in new languages, methods, and technologies? Do you have a passion for business and an entrepreneurial sense?

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