Vicki Boykis — Machine Learning Across Industries

Early Career

Vicki Boykis, a senior consultant in machine learning, shares her unique journey into the field, which began with a background in economics rather than computer science. She initially ventured into economic consulting during the 2007 recession, where she honed her skills in data analytics through tasks like tracking global trade movements and internal projects. This experience laid the groundwork for her transition into data science, where she has since focused on building robust data processes and structures. Vicki notes, "The industry as a whole is trying to get smarter about replicability," highlighting the shift towards engineering challenges in data science 1.

   

Transition to Big Data

Vicki's career took a significant turn when she began working with big data technologies at Comcast, marking her transition from basic data analytics to more complex systems. This shift required her to become more technically adept, particularly as she navigated the early challenges of using Hadoop and Hive. Her experience reflects the broader industry trend towards integrating engineering solutions into data science, as she explains, "The bigger challenges now are becoming more engineering issues than analysis issues" 1. This evolution in her career underscores the growing importance of machine learning engineering in handling large-scale data.