“Bring Data Science to Women– Not the Other Way ‘Round”

Wisdom and advice on the true potential for Women + Data Science

The Women in Data Science conference comes once a year, in the spring. It has grown in stature and popularity across the globe every year since its inception in 2015. The program’s goal is to inspire and educate data scientists worldwide, regardless of gender, and support women in the field.

We asked Daphne Kis, CEO of WorldQuant University (WQU), to keynote our host Ambassador event. While her speech echoed a ring of tough love on this topic, it was an important, thoughtful message that deserves a wider audience. I’ll attempt to summarize her remarks.

Daphne Kis, CEO of WorldQuant University, speaking at the Women in Data Science event at the University of Central Florida 3/4/19, #WiDS2019

She introduced her long history in the tech field and the role she played in helping shape the industry we enjoy today. She talked about the essence of what we mean when we discuss data science and its career implications.

But central to her keynote address was this question:

“I’m going to challenge everyone in this room to answer one simple question before they leave here today…

What’s the point? What are you going to do with these skills?”