Natalie Mendes born and raised in Melbourne, intended on a TV and entertainment career to host music programs. She grew up with a passion for 80’s British pop, Motown dancing and Statistics. Switching from an Arts degree to an Applied Statistics and Computer Science degree specializing in Psychology, her life took a different direction towards football statistics, fire risk modelling, credit risk and more recently earning a title of CEOA – Chief Excitement Officer for Analytics. She heads up the Analytics capabilities for SAS Australia / New Zealand and sits on the industry advisory board for Latrobe University as she has a passion to help new graduates thrive in this discipline. She is an enthusiastic evangelist for the application of analytics and is motivated about using this to interrupt the digital disruption.
Who cares about sports and data? Not just athletes, coaches and fans. It turns out that many companies outside of sporting organisations are also associated with the sports industry. For example, financial services organisations are actively involved in sports sponsorships. Retailers sell fan merchandise. Telcos build social engagement strategies around
While men still outnumber women in the analytics field, there are plenty of opportunities available for women. At a recent Chief Data and Analytics forum, I was encouraged to see a well-balanced number of senior executives presenting about the business of analytics. Speakers included 12 women and 14 men, which indicates a
Recently, I was talking to a director of analytics from a large telecommunications company, and I asked her, “Do you think we have a skills shortage?” She replied, “NO, I think we’re just looking in the wrong place.” I wanted to hear more as this analytics expert may have just
When I walk into my local chicken shop I always feel that Mary, the owner, has roasted chickens, prepared salads and put on extra rice pudding for my family’s Friday night meal. Mary welcomes me with open arms, greets me and my son by first name and always has an
In guest lectures I give at universities, I often refer to the Harvard Business Review report which states that being a Data Scientist is the sexiest job of the 21st century. Naturally, this always seems to capture the students’ attention, and drives their enthusiasm to sit up and listen carefully.
In guest lectures I give at universities, I often refer to the Harvard Business Review report which states that being a Data Scientist is the sexiest job of the 21st century. Naturally, this always seems to capture the students’ attention, and drives their enthusiasm to sit up and listen carefully.
