Hi ,
Why is it that little kids ask "why" way too often, but adult data scientists don't ask "why" often enough?
What is it that happens along the way that causes us to stop asking
"why"?
Because unlike little kids, who often ask "why" just for fun, for data scientists, asking "why" strategically is a core part of the job.
And there's a method you can apply to make asking "why" work for you.
Friend of the list and independent business coach Jonathan Stark frequently talks about the "why" conversation, which involves asking "why" until you uncover what your stakeholders truly value and need:
- Why this project and not
another?
- Why do this now?
- Why has this project suddenly become important?
- Why is data science the right solution?
- Why not just buy a solution off the shelf?
- Why not ask another team to solve the problem?
Ask "why" enough and everything should become clear.
What's more, if you come to a meeting armed with a prepared list of "why" questions to ask, you position yourself as a partner in solving business problems, not just technical ones. And that can open doors.
This is exactly what happened to Andrei Oprisan, whose habit of asking deeper questions about the business transformed him from software engineer #30 at Wayfair to a seasoned technology executive and MIT Sloan MBA candidate.
In the latest episode of Value Driven Data Science, Andrei joined me to discuss his impressive career and the power of asking
"why".
In this episode, you'll discover:
- The critical business questions most technical experts never think to ask.
- Why understanding business context makes you better at technical work (not worse).
- How to turn natural curiosity into career opportunities without losing
your technical edge.
- The simple mindset shift that helps you spot business impact others miss.
Why wait another minute? Click below to listen to it now (or find it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify).
Episode 58: Why Great Data Scientists Ask 'Why?' (And How It Can Transform Your Career)
Start making "why" work for you.
Talk again soon,
Dr Genevieve Hayes.
