Data is where I find my purpose. The organizing principle of my career is the desire to work on creative, impactful projects involving data and AI. But thanks to the fact that I took a non-linear career path and didn’t discover data science as an option until I had around 20 years under my belt, I honed a bunch of other skills as well. I’m a well-rounded executive leader with a diverse background. My ability to communicate effectively technical concepts and how they apply to business has helped me establish credibility and trust.

I was a slightly weird kid who would sit down with a phone book or the newspaper’s sports page and read through it, finding patterns and memorizing the contents. It never really occurred to me that that sort of activity could be a career option. That’s why I always describe data science as “the job that I always wanted but didn’t exist yet.”

My educational journey led me to major in engineering at Rice, followed by an MBA in finance and strategic management at Wharton. Throughout these experiences, I gained valuable skills and knowledge while meeting lots of talented people, but a sense of purpose eluded me.

After working in various roles, including product management for mortgage origination software, I stumbled upon the field of data science in early 2015. The moment I discovered it, I recognized it as the perfect fusion of my aptitudes, interests, and aspirations.

With renewed passion, I embraced data projects and even taught a course on data analytics. Eventually, I joined Anda Pharmaceuticals, where I delved into a treasure trove of data, aiding leaders in various departments to make informed decisions.

From 2018 to 2024, I founded and led the data team at TheVentureCity, rising to the position of Chief Data Officer. During my tenure, my team and I assisted startups and investment teams in maximizing the value of available data. This is where a colleague dubbed me “David the Data Dude,” and it stuck.

As of May 2024, I have transitioned to an advisory role at TheVentureCity, which allows me the freedom to explore new career opportunities. I am actively brainstorming ideas with various individuals, confident that I will recognize the right path when it presents itself.

In the meantime, I plan to share my experiences and insights on data science, customer analytics, startup investing, the dawning AI revolution, and general business. I also intend to follow my curiosity on some personal data projects in my free time. I love this stuff.