QuantumBlack Voices artwork

QuantumBlack Voices

20 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratings

QuantumBlack, a McKinsey company, is an advanced analytics firm operating at the intersection of strategy, technology, and design to improve performance outcomes for organizations. Each episode we talk to the talented and diverse people building products to enable organizations to capture the transformative power of advanced analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Management Business Entrepreneurship machine learning artificial intelligence technology careers advanced analytics product development recruiting consulting strategy design
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Episodes

Meet Jiri Klein: Data Engineer

June 15, 2021 23:00 - 40 minutes - 58.4 MB

Today we're talking to Jiri Klein, one of our data engineers in London. Jiri details his journey to data engineering, from his early passion in mathematics, to mechanical engineering and forensic data analysis. At each step, Jiri describes the skills he learned that have contributed to his current career in data engineering. Jiri provides a deep-dive on the role of a data engineer, and we go on to talk about how the role has changed as the industry has evolved from one-off analytic...

Meet Jiri Klein: Data Engineer

June 15, 2021 23:00 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MB

Read more >    Listen to the podcast (duration: 40:56) >  Today we're talking to Jiri Klein, one of our data engineers in London. Jiri details his journey to data engineering, from his early passion in mathematics, to mechanical engineering and forensic data analysis. At each step, Jiri describes the skills he learned that have contributed to his current career in data engineering. Jiri provides a deep-dive on the role of a data engineer, and we go on to talk about ho...

Meet Farah Shair: Data Engineer

June 01, 2021 23:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MB

Read more >    Listen to the podcast (duration: 28:14) >  Today we're talking to Farah Shair, a data engineer from our London office. Farah's story is fabulous inspiration for chasing your passions, and not being afraid to change direction to do so. Farah's journey from biochemisty, to theatre marketing, to data engineering demonstrates how a diverse background can generate a broad spectrum of transferrable skills. We talk about the remit of a data engineer at Quantum...

Meet Farah Shair: Data Engineer

June 01, 2021 23:00 - 28 minutes - 41 MB

Today we're talking to Farah Shair, a data engineer from our London office. Farah's story is fabulous inspiration for chasing your passions, and not being afraid to change direction to do so. Farah's journey from biochemisty, to theatre marketing, to data engineering demonstrates how a diverse background can generate a broad spectrum of transferrable skills. We talk about the remit of a data engineer at QuantumBlack, and discuss how her past experiences have supported her throughou...

Meet Viktoriia Oliinyk: Data Scientist

May 11, 2021 23:00 - 33 minutes - 48.6 MB

Today we're talking to Viktoriia Oliinyk, a data scientist in our London office. We talk about Viktoriia's path to data science, and one of her recent projects at QuantumBlack. We then do a deep-dive on the topic of fairness, and why every data scientist has a responsibility to identify and mitigate societal bias found in historical data. Viktoriia is also incredibly passionate about promoting the representation of women in data science and STEM industries, and we talk about the ...

Meet Viktoriia Oliinyk: Data Scientist

May 11, 2021 23:00 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MB

Today we're talking to Viktoriia Oliinyk, a data scientist in our London office. We talk about Viktoriia's path to data science, and one of her recent projects at QuantumBlack. We then do a deep-dive on the topic of fairness, and why every data scientist has a responsibility to identify and mitigate societal bias found in historical data. Viktoriia is also incredibly passionate about promoting the representation of women in data science and STEM industries, and we talk about the work she an...

Meet Virjinia Alexieva: Product Manager

April 27, 2021 23:00 - 34 minutes - 49 MB

Today we're talking to Virjinia Alexieva. If you’re interested in the discipline of product management, you should listen to this episode. We talk about the importance of autonomy when building products, and the role leadership can play to make that a reality. We do a deep-dive on the product Virjinia is building in QuantumBlack Labs, and discuss how OKRs keep our teams on track in a highly autonomous environment. Virjinia has aspirations to build her own company, and explains wh...

Meet Virjinia Alexieva: Product Manager

April 27, 2021 23:00 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MB

Today we're talking to Virjinia Alexieva. If you’re interested in the discipline of product management, you should listen to this episode. We talk about the importance of autonomy when building products, and the role leadership can play to make that a reality. We do a deep-dive on the product Virjinia is building in QuantumBlack Labs, and discuss how OKRs keep our teams on track in a highly autonomous environment. Virjinia has aspirations to build her own company, and explains why the cultu...

Meet Philip Pilgerstorfer: Data Scientist

April 13, 2021 23:00 - 27 minutes - 39.9 MB

Today we're talking to Philip Pilgerstorfer. We talk about his path from econometrics to data science, the importance of correlation versus causation, and how MLOps is unlocking machine learning at scale. Philip's belief is that "machine learning is eating the world". This might sound a little scary at first, but further reinforces why we need practitioners like Philip who can unpack this complex discipline, and shine a light on both its potential impact, as well as its limitatio...

Meet Philip Pilgerstorfer: Data Scientist

April 13, 2021 23:00 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MB

Today we're talking to Philip Pilgerstorfer. We talk about his path from econometrics to data science, the importance of correlation versus causation, and how MLOps is unlocking machine learning at scale. Philip's belief is that "machine learning is eating the world". This might sound a little scary at first, but further reinforces why we need practitioners like Philip who can unpack this complex discipline, and shine a light on both its potential impact, as well as its limitations. Philip ...

Meet Nikolaos Tsaousis: Machine Learning Engineer

March 30, 2021 23:00 - 30 minutes - 44.5 MB

Today we're talking to Nikos Tsaousis. Nikos, in many ways, defined what it means to be a machine learning engineer at QuantumBlack. You'd never guess his background was in predicting bone fractures and building kareoke software - but his unconventional past has led to him delivering exceptional work across multiple industries, and building some of our most successful products internally. If you're curious about the role of a machine learning engineer - this interview is for you. ...

Meet Nikolaos Tsaousis: Machine Learning Engineer

March 30, 2021 23:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MB

Read more >    Listen to the podcast (duration: 30:47) >  Today we're talking to Nikos Tsaousis. Nikos, in many ways, defined what it means to be a machine learning engineer at QuantumBlack. You'd never guess his background was in predicting bone fractures and building kareoke software - but his unconventional past has led to him delivering exceptional work across multiple industries, and building some of our most successful products internally. If you're curious abou...

Meet Thomas Essl: Product Designer

March 23, 2021 23:00 - 50 minutes - 71.1 MB

Today we meet Thomas Essl. We talk about his experience working in start-up, agency, and big-tech environments as a designer, and the pros and cons of each. We talk about the importance of inner sourcing, and how to scale technical assets like code as a reusable knowledge resource. Thomas also explains the importance of end-users when creating AI solutions - and how empathy for their role and needs is essential to ensuring the adoption of advanced analytics within an organization...

Meet Thomas Essl: Product Designer

March 23, 2021 23:00 - 50 minutes - 46 MB

Today we meet Thomas Essl. We talk about his experience working in start-up, agency, and big-tech environments as a designer, and the pros and cons of each. We talk about the importance of inner sourcing, and how to scale technical assets like code as a reusable knowledge resource. Thomas also explains the importance of end-users when creating AI solutions - and how empathy for their role and needs is essential to ensuring the adoption of advanced analytics within an organization. See www....

Meet Merel Theisen: Software Engineer

March 16, 2021 23:00 - 33 minutes - 31.2 MB

Today we meet Software Engineer Merel Theisen. We talk about her unconventional path from liberal arts and sciences student to software engineering. We talk about the importance of monitoring model performance when trying to predict house prices, and why a continual improvement mindset is important to maintain a diverse and inclusive working environment. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Meet Merel Theisen: Software Engineer

March 16, 2021 23:00 - 33 minutes - 48.9 MB

Today we meet Software Engineer Merel Theisen. We talk about her unconventional path from liberal arts and sciences student to software engineering. We talk about the importance of monitoring model performance when trying to predict house prices, and why a continual improvement mindset is important to maintain a diverse and inclusive working environment. Read more >    Listen to the podcast (duration: 33:59) >  

Meet Zain Patel: Software Engineer

March 10, 2021 13:00 - 27 minutes - 39.5 MB

Today we meet Zain Patel. We talk about the challenges associated with inner sourcing and ensuring quality code can be re-used across projects. We talk about why experimentation and iteration are critical to building successful products - and we discuss the amplified value that can be gleaned from ensuring everyone is involved in creative problem solving - regardless of discipline. Read more >    Listen to the podcast (duration: 27:09) >  

Meet Zain Patel: Software Engineer

March 10, 2021 13:00 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MB

Today we meet Zain Patel. We talk about the challenges associated with inner sourcing and ensuring quality code can be re-used across projects. We talk about why experimentation and iteration are critical to building successful products - and we discuss the amplified value that can be gleaned from ensuring everyone is involved in creative problem solving - regardless of discipline. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Meet Yetunde Dada: Product Manager

February 17, 2021 13:00 - 22 minutes - 33.7 MB

Today we meet Yetunde Dada, Product Manager, Engineer, and more recently, a finalist for young digital leader of the year. We talk about her background in engineering. Her evolution into a product manager. And how her team's ultimate aim is to ensure their end-users have no reason not to use their product. Read more >    Listen to the podcast (duration: 22:56) >  

Meet Yetunde Dada: Product Manager

February 17, 2021 13:00 - 22 minutes - 21 MB

Today we meet Yetunde Dada, Product Manager, Engineer, and more recently, a finalist for young digital leader of the year. We talk about her background in engineering. Her evolution into a product manager. And how her team's ultimate aim is to ensure their end-users have no reason not to use their product. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information