5. Betsy Barton

Betsy Barton discusses her career trajectory from Astronomy to Data Science, including time at a hedge fund and as a DS Manager before starting her own company. She goes in depth about AI tools that can be built on LLMs and imagines their intersection with robotics. She shares how she has adapted the vision for her company Infiniscape and their social media app Kyndr. She also converses about the emotional barrier to leaving Academia and Astronomy.

Links:

• Betsy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-barton/ 
• Renaissance Technologies: https://www.rentec.com/Home.action?index=true 
• Kyndr: https://kyndr.com/ 
• Executive Coach: https://www.danamahina.com/ 

Credits

• Intro Music: Tonight At Eight by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com (no relation)
• Outro Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com (no relation)
• Co-Hosts: Jeffrey Silverman and Joseph A’Hearn
• Recording: Jeffrey Silverman
• Editing: Joseph A’Hearn
• ATDS Podcast Logo: Joseph A’Hearn
• Thumbnail Headshot Image: Betsy Barton
• Thumbnail Design: Joseph A'Hearn

Timecodes

• 0:00 - Intro
• 0:50 - Astronomy Background
• 1:46 - Post-Astronomy Trajectory
• 4:13 - Hedge Fund (Renaissance Technologies)
• 8:30 - Transition to Data Science Manager (Walmart)
• 9:36 - Working with an Executive Coach
• 13:38 - Starting a Company (Infiniscape)
• 16:15 - Discerning the Type of Company to Work for
• 17:53 - More About Infiniscape and AI Tools
• 30:07 - Advice for Interviewing for Data Science Roles
• 34:10 - Infiniscape Projects and the Kyndr Social Media App
• 41:45 - Emotional Barrier to Leaving Academia and Astronomy
• 48:54 - Outro

#Astronomy #DataScience #Transitions #Podcast #ATDS #Astro2Data