By Shelley Wunder-Smith

Last October, about 25 students gathered virtually to discuss the unique challenges of working in data analytics as a female-identifying person. These students, all in Georgia Tech’s Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) program, heard a panel presentation from three Tech alumnae employed by Equifax as data analysts: Vickey Chang, vice president of USIS data and analytics; Xinxin Zhai, senior statistical analyst; and Kelly Cheng, USIS attributes and score quality leader.

Chang opened the conversation by describing how Equifax uses data analytics throughout the business — in the U.S. alone, the company has about 200 data scientists who work in midtown Atlanta. Chang then briefly mentioned how Equifax supports its female employees, before asking Cheng to share a little of her personal story.

“In terms of imposter syndrome, I recommend practicing what you’re feeling insecure about. When I was younger, I was shy about speaking in class,” Cheng shared. “Now I can talk in front of groups because my managers worked with me on it.”

“Everyone has a learning curve when they start a new job,” Zhai said. “Don’t try to hide that from your managers or coworkers — and don’t be afraid to ask them lots of questions. Asking questions has helped accelerate my knowledge and development in every new role.”

Other information Chang, Zhai, and Cheng provided for the attendees included:

•  Find a company that supports your growth. One way to do this is through the job-search process: If you’re interviewing with a company, interview the company back by asking your own questions about workplace culture, employee growth, and professional development.
• Don’t be afraid to seek out multiple mentors who will help you develop the skills you are working on.

• Be curious and remain open to learning. Look for ways to add new skills and knowledge through new projects, classes, and internal company roles.

  After the panel presentation, the attendees broke into small groups for further discussion. These conversations centered on topics including managing the job search, navigating a bad manager or toxic work environment, being a self-advocate, and specific interview questions that can help assess a company’s culture.

The Women’s Event was created three years ago by MSA Corporate Relations Manager Rachael Smith and MSA alumna Shannon Kehoe (MSA 19), director of artificial intelligence at Cleverbridge, a German software development company. Smith and Kehoe recognized a need for support and resources among the program’s female and female-identifying students in the male-dominated analytics industry.

“We were passionate about giving female students an opportunity to connect with mentors, so they can have vulnerable conversations about challenges women encounter in the workplace,” Smith explained. “The point is to help them network and establish a support system for when — not if — they run into an issue.”

Smith has found that while the students are often quiet to start as the event begins, once the panelists share their own stories, the students feel more comfortable detailing their experiences and fears and asking for advice about specific situations.

“We want our female students to know that they are not alone in what they feel and experience, and — perhaps most importantly — that they do not have to navigate these situations by themselves,” Smith added.