Chris Chin, founder and CEO of The Hidden Speaker, helps tech professionals become confident communicators. He noticed many tech professionals hit career ceilings because of poor communication skills. For example, one person wasn't promoted for 15 years due to communication skills. Another person, a skilled data engineer, was moved away from the team because his presentations were unclear. Chris believes that communication skills are essential for success in leadership positions. He also discusses the importance of concise and impactful presentations, structuring complex answers, and the art of persuasion through asking questions. In this conversation, Christopher Chin discusses the importance of effective communication in data storytelling and presentations. He emphasizes the need to simplify complex information and make it accessible to the audience. Chin provides tips for creating powerful data stories, including breaking down complex arguments into manageable pieces and focusing on clarity and simplicity in visualizations. He also discusses the use of filler words and offers strategies for reducing their use. Additionally, Chin explores the role of voice, vocabulary, and enunciation in effective communication.


Takeaways
- Communication skills are crucial for career growth in the tech industry.
- Poor communication skills can lead to hitting career ceilings and missed opportunities.
- Concise and impactful presentations are essential for effective communication.
Structuring complex answers using frameworks like PREP (point, reason, example, point) can improve clarity.
- Persuasion can be achieved by asking questions and allowing others to convince themselves.
- Break down complex arguments into manageable pieces to enhance understanding.
- Focus on clarity and simplicity in data visualizations.
- Reduce the use of filler words and pause instead.

Where to find Chris

Website: https://thehiddenspeaker.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cchiddenspeaker/


Where to find Ida

Website: https://idajohnsson.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ida-johnsson/


Timestamps

00:00 Preview
01:15 Intro
02:01 Communication and career growth
06:04 Presentation do's and don'ts
10:28 What every great presentation does
12:55 Most common presentation mistakes
15:10 Everyday communication
16:51 Sometimes, you need to interrupt people
19:13 Chris' path to good communication skills
22:32 How to give concise and impactful answers
26:30 Asking questions as a tool for better conversations
28:49 Telling stories with data
31:29 Good data visuals
35:59 Filler words
40:19 How to become a better speaker
41:47 Finding your own voice
43:31 Train your voice to be engaging
45:31 Tips for non-native English speakers
48:01 Vocabulary
50:48 Where to find Chris

Reach out to me at www.idajohnsson.com

In this episode, Roman Holowinsky, Managing Director of The Erdős Institute, shares insights and practical advice for PhD students and graduates seeking careers beyond academia. He discusses the challenges PhD candidates face when navigating the job market and emphasizes the importance of understanding and communicating their transferable skills. Roman highlights the value of career exploration, portfolio projects, internships, and networking to bridge the gap between academia and industry. He also underscores the advantages of interdisciplinary collaboration and working in diverse teams. He stresses the significance of effective communication, including crafting compelling elevator pitches, structuring concise and impactful answers, and adapting to different audience levels.

Takeaways:

- PhD students should actively explore career opportunities and attend industry seminars to understand the job market landscape.
- Building a portfolio with relevant projects and internship experiences is crucial for demonstrating employability outside academia.
- Effective communication skills, such as crafting elevator pitches and structuring concise answers, are essential for successful interviews.
- Networking, leveraging alumni connections, and seeking informational interviews can open doors to employment opportunities.
- Consider personal priorities, such as work-life balance and location preferences, when evaluating job offers.
- Utilize the human capital of alumni networks to facilitate smoother transitions from education to employment.


Where to find Roman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-holowinsky-16645480/
Erdős Institute: https://www.erdosinstitute.org/


Timestamps

00:00 Preview
00:54 Helping PhDs get jobs they love
03:53 Navigating the job market as a PhD scientist
07:11 Freedom to pursue research in the private sector
10:17 Biggest skills gaps PhD students have
14:30 PhD graduates' competitive advantage
22:49 Does your thesis need to be applicable?
24:58 Types of resumes
27:29 Communicating your skills
31:01 Where do Roman's students find jobs
32:13 Find a job that's a good fit for you
36:04 Working in multidisciplinary teams
38:08 Tips for current PhD students
40:02 Network! How to
49:29 The value of an alumni network
50:14 Where to find Roman

Reach out to me at www.idajohnsson.com

Youssef Hosni, a senior data scientist, shares insights on how to build a data science portfolio and discusses his experience in starting and running a podcast. He emphasizes the importance of having a portfolio to showcase your skills and compensate for a lack of industrial experience. Youssef provides practical steps for finding project ideas, conducting data analysis, and documenting your work. He also offers advice on starting a podcast, including the challenges and feedback he has received. He emphasizes the importance of starting and taking action, even if the quality may not be perfect initially. Youssef also highlights the value of learning from guests and their diverse experiences. He encourages continuous improvement and iteration, acknowledging that the first version may not meet expectations - this is an expected part of the process.

Takeaways
- Building a data science portfolio is crucial for showcasing your skills and compensating for a lack of industrial experience.
- To find project ideas, identify domains of interest, research case studies, and explore companies active in those areas.
- When starting a project, focus on complex data sets to demefonstrate your data cleaning, feature engineering, and modeling skills.
- Proper documentation, including an introduction, data description, modeling approach, and code documentation, is essential for a portfolio project. This part can really make you stand out in the job market.
- Embrace continuous improvement and iteration.

Where to find Youssef
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssef-hosni-b2960b135/
Substack: https://youssefh.substack.com/
Kaggle: https://www.kaggle.com/youssef19
GitHub: https://github.com/youssefHosni
X: https://x.com/Youssef70125494?mx=2

Where to find Ida

Website: https://idajohnsson.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ida-johnsson/
X: https://twitter.com/IdaBJohnsson

Timestamps

00:00 Preview
01:01 Intro
03:05 The importance of a data science portfolio
05:02 The value of sharing written content
09:35 Creating a Data Science Portfolio 101
16:15 Combining your interests with a specific problem
18:45 Don't get stuck in the research phase
21:43 Stand out in the crowd
29:53 Model deployment
30:41 Good documentation
34:55 Youssef's podcast
37:38 Start doing instead of perfecting an idea

Reach out to me at www.idajohnsson.com

Teresa Molina is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Research Affiliate at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics, Research Fellow at UHERO, and Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development. She also serves as an Associate Editor for Journal of Health Economics and Economic Development and Cultural Change. She received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Southern California and her undergraduate degree from Stanford University.

In this episode, she discusses her journey in the field of development economics and provides insights into finding a research topic, choosing an advisor, and publishing papers. She emphasizes the importance of time and project management in academia and highlights her research interests, including health, education, and government policies. She discusses the role of causal inference in empirical papers, the value of consulting with experts, the flow of information in policy-making, and the role of academic research in influencing policy decisions. Additionally, Teresa shares her experience using Google Trends in her research and presents findings on the effects of drug policy in the Philippines. She concludes by offering insights into the psychological journey of research and tips for applying to academic positions.

Takeaways

- Finding a research topic requires exploring multiple ideas and working on several projects simultaneously.
- When choosing an advisor, seek someone willing to invest time and provide guidance.
- Publishing papers requires perseverance and the ability to handle rejection.
- Causal inference plays a significant role in empirical papers, and understanding basic econometric tools is essential
- Consulting with experts and gaining domain-specific knowledge can enhance research outcomes
- Google Trends can be a valuable tool for researchers, providing insights into public opinion and the impact of events or policies.
- The research process can be a rollercoaster of emotions, with moments of excitement and despair, but experience and resilience can help navigate the ups and downs.
- When applying to academic positions, it is important to apply widely and seek guidance from advisors who can support and advocate for you.
- Economic research offers a fulfilling career path for those interested in making a positive impact through rigorous analysis and evidence-based policy recommendations.

Where to find Teresa

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/teresasmolina
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-molina-6862b637/

Where to find Ida

Website: https://idajohnsson.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ida-johnsson/
X: https://twitter.com/IdaBJohnsson

Timestamps

00:00 Preview
01:21 What is development economics
03:14 How Teresa got into econ
05:48 Finding a research topic
08:40 Choosing an advisor
11:24 Getting things published
13:56 Productivity systems
15:24 Teresa's research interests
16:35 Econometric preparation
18:18 Domain-specific expertise
20:50 Impact of health shocks on earnings
24:42 Long-term implications of early life shocks
29:49 Impact of research on policy
32:17 Drug policy in the Philippines
37:26 The psycological journey of creating
41:00 Tips for people applying for academic positions

Reach out to me at www.idajohnsson.com

In this episode, Jai and I discuss the nuances of building a career in data science. From his start as a product manager to his current role leading a team, Jai provides a detailed overview of the data science landscape. He discusses key topics such as a data science career trajectory, managing remote teams, the distinction between analytics and data science, and predictive versus causal modeling. The video also includes practical advice for job interviews, insights on individual contributor versus manager roles, and thoughts on Python, R, and generative AI's impact on the field.

Where to find Jai:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaibansal/

Where to find Ida

Website: https://idajohnsson.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ida-johnsson/
X: https://twitter.com/IdaBJohnsson

Timestamps:

00:00 Preview
00:58 Intro
02:08 Product manager as a first job
03:25 Data science career trajectory
05:08 Managing a team
05:37 Thoughts on remote work
08:58 The role of a competent manager in a remote setting
09:55 What Jai and his team work on
13:39 Jai's team
14:38 Common interview mistakes
17:28 Common interview questions
22:02 Thoughts on IC vs. manager work
24:36 Is analytics the same as data science?
26:03 Predictive vs. causal modeling
28:14 Advice for junior data scientists
29:17 Python, R, and generative AI
32:28 Jai's career plans
33:18 Centralized vs. embedded data science teams
35:33 Navigating the job market

Reach out to me at www.idajohnsson.com

In this episode, Ali and I discuss his journey from completing a PhD in medical science to building a thriving career in the biotech industry. As the founder of Trulitica, Ali now uses his experience to coach other life sciences PhDs on successfully transitioning from academia to biotech.

Expect to learn:

• The key differences between working in academia vs. industry as a life sciences PhD
• Why biotech is an attractive career path for many PhDs and how to determine if it's the right fit for you
• The most important skills and mindsets PhDs need to develop to excel in biotech roles
• Insider tips on networking, crafting a winning resume, and acing job interviews in the biotech field
• Strategies for identifying the right biotech companies and roles to target based on your skillset
• How to bridge the knowledge gap between academia and industry and position yourself for success
• The importance of developing a strong peer network and continuously learning from industry trends

Whether you're a life sciences PhD considering a career in biotech or just curious about the industry, this episode offers insights and practical advice from someone who has successfully navigated this path. Tune in to learn how you can leverage your scientific expertise to make a real-world impact and build a fulfilling career in the world of biotech.

Where to find Ali

Website: https://www.trulitica.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alidivan/


Where to find Ida

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcGBjKfzdALl_FQVcA4b8TA
Website: https://idajohnsson.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ida-johnsson/
X: https://twitter.com/IdaBJohnsson

00:00 Preview
00:50 Intro
03:25 Why life science PhDs end up outside of academia
06:52 Real-world impact in the private sector vs. academia
08:27 Supply of and demand for scientists and their skills
12:53 What not to put on your resume
15:04 Economics vs. life sciences PhD training
16:46 Main challenge job candidates encounter
19:27 Job market research and networking
25:37 Biggest predictors of success in the job search
31:00 How much money do life science postdocs make
34:30 The academia-industry knowledge gap
35:58 How Ali got into coaching
38:40 How Ali's approach differs from others
43:06 Questioning ideas and conclusions
45:52 Causal inference
50:13 Applicability of PhD skills in everyday life
52:54 The value of your peers

Reach out to me at www.idajohnsson.com

Julia Arpag is the CEO and co-founder of Aligned Recruitment. In this episode, we discuss the state of the job market, and Julia provides insights into which professions are in high demand at the moment. She shares tips for job seekers, including the importance of networking and personal connections. Julia also offers advice on resume writing, optimizing your LinkedIn profile, and navigating the job application process. She highlights the significance of enthusiasm and energy during phone interviews and emphasizes the value of authenticity and personal branding on LinkedIn.

We also dive into Julia’s entrepreneurial journey and the success of Aligned Recruitment.

Takeaways

- The tech industry job market is still active, with more job opportunities available than there are people looking for.
- Networking and personal connections are crucial in standing out in the job market.
- For tech sales positions, employers look for candidates with a track record of staying with a company for at least three years and the ability to run sales processes effectively.
- When applying for jobs, focus on roles where you are a good fit and highlight relevant successes, even if you don't meet all the requirements.
- Authenticity and personal branding on LinkedIn can help build connections and attract potential clients or employers.

Where to find Julia

Website: https://www.alignedrecruitment.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-arpag/


Where to find Ida

Website: https://idajohnsson.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ida-johnsson/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcGBjKfzdALl_FQVcA4b8TA
X: https://twitter.com/IdaBJohnsson

Timestamps

00:00 Preview
00:30 Intro
00:43 State of the job market
03:08 Roles in high demand
04:10 Tech sales - how to get a job
05:36 Dealing with resume gaps
07:52 Do you need a college degree
09:37 AI tools in software engineering
11:15 Successful job search: what to do
13:11 Getting referrals
15:33 Phone screen what recruiters look for
16:59 Surprising mistakes candidates make
19:24 Optimizing your resume and cover letter
23:13 What to ask about salary
24:01 Hybrid vs. remote work
26:29 Julia's client base
29:25 Julia's path to entrepreneurship
33:51 Running a successful business
39:53 Final thoughts

Reach out to me at www.idajohnsson.com

Rachel is an applied scientist at Uber. We discuss her transition from academia to tech and the value of an economics degree in the industry. Rachel shares her experience with remote internships, the challenges of onboarding virtually, and the importance of being resourceful. She also talks about the lifestyle in tech, the potential for job insecurity, and the need to adapt to the industry's volatile nature. She provides insights into the role of an economist in tech and how to overcome imposter syndrome.

We discuss the choice between being an individual contributor and pursuing a management track and the qualities to look for in a manager. Rachel also shares her favorite interview strategies and tips.

Where to find Rachel

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-alexis-lee/

Where to find Ida

• Website: https://idajohnsson.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ida-johnsson/
• X: https://twitter.com/IdaBJohnsson
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcGBjKfzdALl_FQVcA4b8TA

Timestamps

00:00 Preview
00:48 Intro
00:54 Path to Econ PhD
05:41 Path to Tech Job
12:03 The Value of an Internship
13:50 Remote Internship Challenges
17:25 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
22:26 What Rachel Does at Uber
26:08 Do You Need an Econ PhD for Causal Inference at a Tech Company?
32:12 Tech Lifestyle Pros and Cons

Reach out to me at www.idajohnsson.com