Episode 66: How to Think Like a Data Scientist (Even While AI Does All the Work)

The data science world has always been obsessed with tools and techniques - a fixation that's only intensified in the era of generative AI. Yet even as ChatGPT and similar technologies transform the landscape, the fundamental challenge remains the same - turning technical capabilities into business results requires a process most data scientists never learned.

In this episode, Dr. Brian Godsey joins Dr. Genevieve Hayes to discuss why the scientific process behind data science remains more critical than ever, sharing how his original "Think Like a Data Scientist" framework has evolved to harness today's powerful AI capabilities while maintaining the principles that drive real business values.

This conversation reveals:

1. Why the seemingly basic question "Where do I start?" continues to derail data scientists' effectiveness and how mastering the right process can transform your impact [01:15]
2. The three stages of the data science process that remain essential for career success even as AI dramatically changes how quickly you can execute them [11:07]
3. How the accessibility revolution of generative AI creates new career opportunities for data scientists in organizations that previously couldn't leverage advanced analytics [18:34]
4. The underrated troubleshooting skill that will make you invaluable as organizations increasingly rely on "black box" AI models for business-critical decisions [20:21]

Guest Bio

Dr Brian Godsey is a Data Science Lead at AI platform as a service company DataStax. He is also the author of Think Like a Data Scientist and holds a PhD in Mathematical Statistics and Probability.

Links

• Brian's website
• Connect with Brian on LinkedIn
• Connect with Genevieve on LinkedIn
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