Data scientists have many career opportunities. They could even be a CEO someday.
One of the reasons they have so many opportunities is their breadth of skills. There are a lot of skills that data scientists need to learn. These include knowing how to create a docker registry and use Hadoop. Some of these skills could be invaluable in earning a career as a CEO.
There are many examples of data scientists turned CEOs. Shashi Upadhyay is an interesting case study on the career direction of data scientists. After earning a PhD in physics from Cornell, Upadhyay accepted a position at McKinsey Consulting. He used his knowledge as a data scientist to conquer numerous sales and marketing problems for countless McKinsey clients. His career trajectory did not in there. He left his position to start his own company – Lattice Engines.
His story is an inspiration for other data scientists. However, some skeptics might be tempted to think that he was an outlier. That is a matter of perspective, because the career path of the typical CEO has changed over time. However, he is far from the only data scientist to become a CEO.
In past years, business development was the average first job of a CEO. However, today the average first job is a consultant. The second most common first job for CEOs is software developer, which is very similar to data science.
Data scientists develop countless analytics and problem-solving skills, which make them ideal for executive positions. Upadhyay was not the first data scientist to rise to the role of CEO and he will not be the last.
But is a career in data science a reasonable path to the top-level job in any organization? There is growing evidence that more and more data scientists will join the ranks of tomorrow’s CEOs.
Data scientists could continue joining the ranks of CEOs
Vivek Kumar of Analytics Insight has talked about the transition from a position as a data scientist to a chief executive officer. Kumar pointed out that most data scientists that become CEOs do so by founding their own companies.
However, this is not the only path for them. Data scientists could also be promoted from within an existing organization.
Outside of the technology sector, this may not have been quite so feasible in previous years. Traditional organizational models discouraged large organizations from promoting engineers without managerial experience. They could rise to middle-level management positions as supervisors of other technical employees. However, higher-level management roles were typically reserved for managers with a background in traditional disciplines, such as finance, law or sales.
This may no longer be the case today. For one thing, traditional organizational hierarchies are starting to dissolve. This change is impacting companies in various ways. One of the changes the new order has brought is that it enables employees to find new ways to rise through the ranks.
Data scientists have an easier time becoming CEOs. However, they need to understand the competencies that are required. Technical skills are valuable, but they become less important at higher levels of the organization. Bill Gates used to complain that he could no longer write code when he was the CEO of Microsoft. This is one of the reasons that he stepped down to focus on technical endeavors within the company.
As a CEO, former data scientists will need to assume different responsibilities. Their ability to attain and keep the position depends on their ability to show that they have these skills.
Skills that data scientists will need to become CEOs include:
- Conceptual competencies. CEOs must be able to look at the big picture. They need to know what is best for the organization as a whole.
- Ability to inspire. CEOs tend to be charismatic and persuasive. These interpersonal communication skills are something that many engineers lack. However, many engineers also possess them.
- Willingness to adapt. CEOs must be responsive to changes in the market and regulatory environment. This is a key advantage that data scientists may have over professionals with more conservative backgrounds. Technology changes much more quickly than accounting rules or the law, which means that data scientists are used to evolving with the times.
Many data scientists are fully qualified to be CEOs. However, they are going to approach the responsibilities from a different perspective.