My Experience Training with Sonic Analytics (Part 2)

Why did I dive into data analytics?

It fits my personality, hobbies and skill sets. I am curious in nature and love to learn new things.  I love editing videos, photos and creating infographics and graphical representations. And data analytics made me combine all of these hobbies in data analytics.

It enables me to be creative, analytical and communicative all at once. There is no wrong and right approach. I can be my own self. As long as I get the right data, visualize and verbalize them well, I’m good to go.

Data analytics gave me a sense of purpose. I think in this generation, being an effective analytics talent is what the world needs. I do not mean to disregard other jobs. I just want to be realistic about the present and the future.

More and more businesses will build their companies using online platforms requiring more data analytics talents.

If businesses do not adapt to the demands of the society, they will most likely fail. As a student and future professional, I need to prepare for these changes. Although I have a background in dealing with data, I need to learn timely business intelligence tools and to train myself to be a better data storyteller.

SONIC ANALYTICS can help analysts and aspiring individuals who want to learn data analytics. The company conducts trainings to help increase effective and efficient analysts in the Philippines and meet the demands of the society when it comes to data enthusiasts.

EXPERIENCE

Last September 25 and 26, I attended the training of Sir Dan Meyer regarding Data Management and Data Visualization. In a span of two days, I was able to have an overview of how data analytics works and how to use business intelligence tools to tell a story. Moreover,  I was also assigned to tasks like to welcome the guests and to assist Sir Dan in helping the participants to use Tableau since I also need to fulfill my duties as a business analytics trainee.

At first, I was really intimidated with the participants when they introduced themselves. I never thought that the people whom I say “Good Morning/ Hello” to are CEOs and various kinds of analysts in their respective companies. This really reflects that the demand for analytics talents in the Philippines is greater than the supply. When I talked to some of them, they said that companies have sent them to have trainings with Sir Dan and some of them personally wanted to learn to help their companies.

I have 5 major takeaways that I want to share with you:

1. Data Visualization is just half the job. We need to interpret the data correctly and relay the information such that a grade school student can understand the story behind the data. This is in order to create an impact to various kinds of people and encourage decision-makers to make relevant changes in their businesses. Just be simple and precise!

2. Learning data science and analytics is all about experimentation. We shall be ready for mistakes along the way. We must continuously attend trainings in order to guide us and persistently practice on our own to obtain mastery.

3. Companies are enchanting because people like them and trust them. As part of a company, we want to reflect the enchantment our companies have to give to the customers. Without the right strategies to be enchanting, people will not believe us leading to a low profitability and a bad reputation. We can be enchanting as analysts if we can deliver the data persuasively and we can work well with other people.

4. Being an effective data scientist is a combination of being mobile when it comes to changes in technology and being adaptable in dealing with people.

5. There are three types of analytics which include descriptive, predictive and prescriptive. How do we use them properly? Descriptive analytics can be effectively utilized if we want to know what happened to have insights in present trends. For example, we want to know about the profits in each month from 2015-2017. Secondly, predictive analytics is used to develop projections and provide information what might happen in the future. Expected sales can be best represented by predictive analytics. Lastly, prescriptive analytics is used to know what to do. We can use this especially if we want to build a model out of multiple sources and include many variables.

SONIC ANALYTICS: FIRST TRAINING, FIRST INTERNSHIP

Sonic Analytics really provided me a brand new experience. Although I love dealing with data and graphical representations before I become an intern, I felt more impactful when I started my training.

I got to help the participants how to navigate Tableau and had to work with wonderful people.

I was able to apply what I learned in the past and at the same time acquire new skills that will be beneficial for me in the future.

I look forward to the trainings and more involvement that I can get from the company.