Top 5 tips to find yourself in the future of data science

I just finished listening to the latest episode of our Find Yourself in the Future series and I have to tell you – if you’ve ever thought a career in data science was out of your reach or “too technical”, you’re going to want to check this session out.

Our host, Yasmeen Seddeek, Junior Technical Advocate for Learn with Cisco, sat down with two of the brilliant minds driving data science at the Cisco Networking Academy: Amy Guimond and Tashia Avery. Hearing the “how” and “why” behind their journeys was inspiring! Here are my top takeaways from their interview.

1. Data science careers are real.

One of the most refreshing parts of the interview was hearing that neither Amy nor Tashia started out in a traditional computer science role. Amy started out as a preschool teacher with a background in psychology, while Tashia spent years in academia as a research faculty member.

The message was clear: Your unique background is a strength. Whether you’re coming from the social sciences, education, or a different field altogether, these transferable skills—like understanding human behavior or knowing how to teach—are a valuable addition to helping you become a great data scientist.

2. A PhD is not required.

Despite both guests having doctorates, Tashia was “loud and proud” about one thing: data science is a field that doesn’t require a doctorate. In today’s market, it’s about your skills, curiosity and problem-solving ability. You don’t need decades of college education; you need the right basic training and a willingness to get your hands dirty with data.

3. The detective part. Share the storyteller.

Amy and Tashia described data science as a big umbrella that covers everything from the messy work of cleaning data (which Amy jokes is 80% of the work!) to the shiny work of visualization.

They framed the role beautifully:

detective: Searching for clues in data and looking for patterns.

Narrator: Translating these patterns into a story that helps leaders make better decisions.

4. AI skills = data science superpower.

We cannot talk about the future without talking about AI. Amy and Tashia see AI not as a threat, but as a multiplier. They shared how they use artificial intelligence to automate the world, repetitive tasks—like reformatting hundreds of rows of data or writing boilerplate code—so they can focus on high-level strategy and critical thinking.

As Amy said, “AI won’t replace your job, but someone using it will.”

5. Advice for the next generation

If you’re looking to get hired, Amy and Tashia shared exactly what they look for in candidates:

• Curiosity: Asking “why” and “what if?”
• Communication: Can you explain a complex model in plain English?
• Portfolio “to do”: Don’t just show a certificate. Show off your GitHub repository (an online portfolio of your code and projects) or highlight a project where you solved a real-world problem.

Are you ready to hit the road?

The session concluded with some fantastic course recommendations for anyone ready to take the first step. Whether you’re ready to start, change, or advance your career, Cisco Networking Academy will help you:

• Introduction to Data Science: No prerequisites, just a great way to find out if the data science path is right for you. In this 6-hour course, you’ll explore the fundamentals of data science and discover how machine learning is shaping fields such as business, healthcare, and education. Try five practice labs that will give you a real feel for data science tasks – whether you’re ready to dive deeper or simply explore your options, this is a great place to start.
• Data Analytics Basics: For those ready to go beyond the basics, this course focuses on the “bread and butter” of the role – cleaning, analyzing and visualizing data. These are essential skills that Amy and Tashia mentioned they use every day. You will query data using SQL and enhance your data presentations with powerful BI tools such as Tableau, creating an analytical portfolio complete with analysis of popular datasets.
• Data Science Essentials with Python: This project-based course takes you from writing your first Python code to analyzing and visualizing real-world data using industry tools like Pandas and Matplotlib. With 15 guided projects, interactive activities and an AI assistant to help you learn faster, you’ll create portfolio-ready work to share with colleagues and employers.

There’s a lot more gold in this interview – including tips on how to find advice for your career and how to manage ‘impostor syndrome’ in big meetings.

I recommend you watch the entire recording. It is a master class in how to move inquisitively and confidently in a modern technological environment.

Watch the full session | Data Science Decoded: Life as a Data Scientist

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