Aviv Ben Arie & Liat Ben Porat

1+1=3: Hiring, Leading and Growing Diverse DS Teams

Data Science Team Leader, Data Science Group Leader – Intuit

Aviv Ben Arie & Liat Ben Porat

1+1=3: Hiring, Leading and Growing Diverse DS Teams

Data Science Team Leader, Data Science Group Leader – Intuit

Bio

Aviv is a data science team lead (formerly a principal data scientist) at Intuit. She was previously a lead data scientist at PayPal. Aviv specializes in fraud prevention and cybersecurity, with 10+ years of experience. In the past, she worked at the prime minister’s office in the cybersecurity field, focusing on protocol analysis. Aviv graduated from Tel Aviv University with a double BSc in Computer Science and Life Science while specializing in Bioinformatics and continues to collaborate with Tel Aviv University on research areas revolving around Explainable AI.

Aviv is a passionate volunteer (mentor and lecturer) and advocates for multiple Israeli organizations dedicated to promoting women in technology.

Liat is a data science group lead at Intuit and was previously a group leader at RSA. With more than 10 years of experience in leading data science teams, Liat specializes primarily in delivering high-fidelity risk models to mitigate fraud threats.

Liat’s vast experience and knowledge in AI/ML, analyzing data, and anti-fraud solutions, coupled with her experience managing data science teams, provides her with unique insights on how to build and lead diverse and rounded teams.

Liat holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from TAU.

Bio

Aviv is a data science team lead (formerly a principal data scientist) at Intuit. She was previously a lead data scientist at PayPal. Aviv specializes in fraud prevention and cybersecurity, with 10+ years of experience. In the past, she worked at the prime minister’s office in the cybersecurity field, focusing on protocol analysis. Aviv graduated from Tel Aviv University with a double BSc in Computer Science and Life Science while specializing in Bioinformatics and continues to collaborate with Tel Aviv University on research areas revolving around Explainable AI.

Aviv is a passionate volunteer (mentor and lecturer) and advocates for multiple Israeli organizations dedicated to promoting women in technology.

Liat is a data science group lead at Intuit and was previously a group leader at RSA. With more than 10 years of experience in leading data science teams, Liat specializes primarily in delivering high-fidelity risk models to mitigate fraud threats.
Liat’s vast experience and knowledge in AI/ML, analyzing data, and anti-fraud solutions, coupled with her experience managing data science teams, provides her with unique insights on how to build and lead diverse and rounded teams.

Liat holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from TAU.

Abstract

Data Science is a job title that can be rather vague. Each data scientist and company will usually have a slightly different idea of what the required skill set and even the day-to-day tasks for the role are all about. Some data scientists love theory and research, while others shine when it comes to working with business stakeholders or bottom up analysis. 

As managers or technical leaders, this diversity can be leveraged to hire and develop teams that are robust and well rounded, capable of working together to tackle any challenge with which they are faced. However, this requires careful planning and intentionality about every step, creating a hiring pipeline that caters for all flavors of the profession, developing growth plans, and allocating projects to allow each person to shine, but at the same time learning from others, being challenged, and creating different metrics for success to make sure that everyone is appreciated for what they bring to the table.

In this roundtable, we will share from our experience and lead a conversation to   how others cracked this challenge, which is common across the industry. We also hope to raise awareness on this topic so that all types of data scientists will have a fair chance to be hired and succeed. In turn, more teams will benefit.

Abstract

Data Science is a job title that can be rather vague. Each data scientist and company will usually have a slightly different idea of what the required skill set and even the day-to-day tasks for the role are all about. Some data scientists love theory and research, while others shine when it comes to working with business stakeholders or bottom up analysis.

As managers or technical leaders, this diversity can be leveraged to hire and develop teams that are robust and well rounded, capable of working together to tackle any challenge with which they are faced. However, this requires careful planning and intentionality about every step, creating a hiring pipeline that caters for all flavors of the profession, developing growth plans, and allocating projects to allow each person to shine, but at the same time learning from others, being challenged, and creating different metrics for success to make sure that everyone is appreciated for what they bring to the table.

In this roundtable, we will share from our experience and lead a conversation to how others cracked this challenge, which is common across the industry. We also hope to raise awareness on this topic so that all types of data scientists will have a fair chance to be hired and succeed. In turn, more teams will benefit.

Discussion Points

  • Data scientist role definitions – full stack data scientists vs. specialisations
  • Pure data science teams vs embedded teams
  • Data science reporting lines
  • Professional and personal development in embedded teams

Discussion Points

  • Data scientist role definitions – full stack data scientists vs. specialisations
  • Pure data science teams vs embedded teams
  • Data science reporting lines
  • Professional and personal development in embedded teams

Planned Agenda

8:45 Reception
9:30 Opening words by WiDS TLV ambassador Nitzan Gado and by Lily Ben Ami, CEO of the Michal Sela Forum
9:50 Prof. Bracha Shapira – Data Challenges in Recommender Systems Research: Insights from Bundle Recommendation
10:20 Juan Liu – Accounting Automation: Making Accounting Easier So That People Can Forget About It
10:50 Break
11:00 Lightning talks
12:20 Lunch & poster session
13:20 Roundtable session & poster session
14:05 Roundtable closure
14:20 Break
14:30 Merav Mofaz – “Every Breath You Take and Every Move You Make…I'll Be Watching You:” The Sensitive Side of Smartwatches
14:50 Reut Yaniv – Ad Serving in the Online Geo Space Along Routes
15:10 Rachel Wities - It’s Not Just the Doctor’s Handwriting: Challenges and Opportunities in Healthcare NLP
15:30 Closing remarks
15:40 End