In this episode, I’m joined by the remarkably versatile Akshay Swaminathan, a polyglot who speaks 11 languages and has carved a unique path from medicine to data science.

Currently an MD-PhD candidate at Stanford, Akshay's work has taken him from building clinics in Bolivia to pushing the boundaries of healthcare through data science.

Akshay's journey is not just about his professional achievements but also his personal commitment to continuous learning and making a global impact.

His transition from medicine to data science was driven by his desire to leverage technology for social good, particularly in healthcare.

We also explore Akshay's book "Winning with Data Science" aimed at business professionals seeking to integrate data science into their operations.

In short, Akshay might just be the most interesting person you’ll come across this year.

Previous episode: Ultralearning: How to Master Hard Skills and Accelerate Your Career with Scott Young

Akshay's website: https://www.akshayswaminathan.com/

Akshay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshay-swaminathan-68286b51/

My guest in this episode is Coert du Plessis, an impressive data and analytics executive, entrepreneur and general lover of life.

Coert shares his wealth of knowledge and experience gained through a career and life full of interesting twists and turns.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about:

• Coert’s journey from South African farmland to Australian board rooms
• How Coert became the CEO of MaxMine
• Why our ability to tackle climate change depends on the mining industry
• How to build and sell successful data products
• Coert’s approach to building a fulfilling and rewarding career in data and analytics
• The importance of taking risks and running life experiments, and much more.

Coert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coertdup/

My new book, 'Data-Centric Machine Learning with Python': https://www.packtpub.com/product/data-centric-machine-learning-with-python/9781804618127

My guest on this episode is Nikolaj van Omme, CEO and co-founder of Funartech.

Funartech is a Canadian company specializing in AI-driven solutions to complex industrial optimisation problems.

The company’s secret sauce is combining the two disciplines of Operations Research and Machine Learning.

Operations Research is about making the best decisions and solving problems in a structured way, using maths to optimize outcomes.

Machine learning on the other hand, is really good at spotting patterns and making predictions from lots and lots of data.

The cool part happens when we bring these two together.

ML is the detective finding clues in a sea of information, and OR is the strategist, using those clues to make the best moves.

By working together, they can tackle challenges neither could face on their own.

Find Nikolaj on LinkedIn or via Funartech's website.

Previous episode discussed in this interview: Using Data to Build a Better World with Dr Alex Antic