At Accredian, we create accomplished and empowered Data Leaders. We groom our students to dominate the world of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and reshape their future. We value what our students bring to the table. We share their vision and support them during their journey and ensure that they carve a niche for themselves.
We’re proud to have tutored exceptional students all across India. Today, one such exceptional student, Santosh Dogra stands in the spotlight.
Student Name: Santosh Dogra
Batch: GCDAI – January 2019
Total years of experience: 18 years
Area of expertise: Stock market
Malvika: Can you start by telling me something about your professional journey so far?
Santosh: I have more than 18 years of experience in sales. I’m now handling a new responsibility of a digital channel. Overall, I have 20 years of broking experience. In broker houses, I’ve handled not only the sales, direct sales, HNI sales as well as customer service and campaign creation and other things.
Malvika: What got you interested in Data Science and machine learning?
Santosh: My area of expertise is sales. Times are changing and the goal of sales is changing with it. Sales are moving into digitization. Artificial intelligence has been changing the landscape as we know it. Since broking is one of the most process-oriented industries; where everything is defined, it also one of the most internet-dependent industries so significant changes will take place in the coming years.
There’s a lot of opportunities in not just the sales side but also business calls, streamlining the process operations and also the research side. So I feel that the stock market and the broking industry is where most applications of machine learning can happen. It has already started at some places, Zerodha uses it for account opening and automated calls.
Malvika: What do you think is the goal of Data Science?
Santosh: The goal of Data Science is it is actually a model that seems to streamline the data. To understand and process data on how it can be more simplified, how the different processes can be simplified and how to get the desired outcome. So, it is a study of the past as well as getting output from the future. How to get our desired output from the past data?
Malvika: How has Data Science evolved in the past few years?
Santosh: Since the last two years, there has been an exponential growth happening in Data Science. Everybody has started acknowledging Data Science and machine learning because it’s very much cost-effective. Everybody knows to be doing the business, they need to upgrade themselves, they cannot do what they used to.
So far relatively, if you see industrialization happened substituting labor-intensive to machine intensive structure. Similarly recently we have shifted from manufacturing to service industry and now we need our services to digitize. Every process needs to be streamlined so that every task can be defined.
Malvika: Santosh, since you’re from a non-technical background, I would like to ask you how difficult was it for you to learn Python? And do you have any advice for someone who’s not from a programming background or from a coding background on how to get started?
Santosh: I had difficulty understanding Python codes in the beginning but once I started practicing I got the hang of it pretty quickly. One of the best things about Python is that it’s more logical, and that sits well with me.
So I understand the logic now much better. As far as advice is concerned, you should understand that Python is for anybody who understands logic okay. The basic thing required is the clarity of the mind, what is expected to be done and what it is useful.
Malvika: Accredian’s vision is to grow Data Leaders of tomorrow. What do you understand by a Data Leader? And how do you think a data leader is different from a Data Scientist?
Santosh: Every Data Leader can be a Data Scientist, but every Data Scientist cannot be a Data Leader. Leadership is one of the inherent qualities which a person develops through multiple tasks. So a Data Leader has all the attributes of managing things as well as taking ownership, and giving solutions. A Data Scientist may have a solution, but he may not know how to manage the other stakeholders.
Malvika: Crafting a great resume is important for getting shortlisted for these roles. How do you think Accredian has helped you build your resume as part of the Data Science career Launchpad? Santosh: This is a very good session initiated by Accredian. Most of the people, around 70-80% of people don’t know how to build their resumes. Mostly they are from a technical background so they are devoted to certain kinds of tasks. How you have to project yourself, how you have to upgrade yourself, so how your achievements should be shown; all these questions were answered in the session. Malvika: Do you have any feedback for our team at Accredian? How has your journey so far? Santosh: I have found all the people associated with Accredian very professional and Suchit, your Chief Data Scientist, is one of the best lecturers for Data Science. He is definitely one of the top 10 lecturers in the country itself. I’m quite enjoying my learning here at Accredian.
Malvika: Thank you for the gracious piece of feedback. Have a wonderful day!
