Podcasts SDS 476: Peer-Driven Learning

3 minutes
Data Science

SDS 476: Peer-Driven Learning

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Welcome back to the FiveMinuteFriday episode of the SuperDataScience Podcast!

This week I’m discussing the benefits of peer-driven learning.

In episode 466, I talked about what separates a good data scientist from a great one. The most important data science skills, as we’ve learned throughout this podcast, are communication and willingness and ability to learn. In response to episode 466, I received a tag on LinkedIn with a great story to share.

While managing a group of data scientists, the writer realized that peer-driven learning activities — where colleagues teach each other — improved specific targeted skills as well as bonding, safety to fail, the opportunity to help others, and more. As a result, some of these team members have become mentors to others based on their skillsets. This improved communication and the maturity and self-worth among the people in the team. The result was a fearless and more innovative team. That’s a huge return on investment.

If you feel you have a relevant story to share about this or anything else discussed on the podcast, please feel free to tag me on LinkedIn or Twitter!

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Podcast Transcript

(00:06):
This is Five-Minute Friday, on Peer-Driven Learning.

(00:19):
Back in episode #466, released at the end of April, we discussed what separates a good data scientist from a great one. You may recall from that episode, as well as from countless guests we’ve had on the program that the two most important data science skills sought by hiring managers are communication and knowing how to learn.

(00:40):
Recently, Laura Rodriguez — who is VP of Analytics at ForwardKeys, a Spanish firm specializing in travel data — posted on LinkedIn and tagged me that she thoroughly enjoyed the aforementioned episode #466 on good versus great data scientists and she had a related, inspiring story that I am delighted to share with all of you.

(01:03):
Laura wrote that while building and managing a great group of data scientist at her company ForwardKeys, she realized peer-driven learning activities — where colleagues teach each other — not only achieved the obvious, such as improving specific, targeted skills like communication, but also brought other benefits, including: bonding, a space with freedom to fail, the opportunity to shine at our best abilities, and the opportunity to help others improve.

(01:33):
Laura went on to say that as a result of these peer-driven learning activities, some of the data science team members are now mentors to others in a variety of skills. This cross-skill mentorship capacity is not in the data scientists’ formal job descriptions but has now become a meaningful part of each team member’s uniqueness.

(01:54):
Thus, this peer-driven learning not only improved communication with stakeholders, such as clients, investors, and less-technical team members, but also increased the overall maturity of the team. While helping their data scientists communicate more effectively, the company got in return a more innovative team overall that is fearless to share new ideas and proud to belong. Now that is a huge return on investment for spearheading a peer-driven learning program.

(02:24):
What a great story with clear lessons for all of us. If you too have a relevant, inspiring story to share, like Laura please do tag me in a post on LinkedIn or on Twitter; I’d love to hear it. Perhaps it will even inspire me to discuss your story on the SuperDataScience show.

(02:39):
All right, that’s it for today’s episode. Thanks for listening and I’m looking forward to another round of the SuperDataScience podcast with you very soon.

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