Why Data Scientists, Actuaries, & Engineers Get Along at Pacific Life with Rob Horrobin

Mining Your Own Business Podcast

On today’s episode, we welcome Rob Horrobin to the show. Rob is Pacific Life’s AVP of Data Science where he leads the Advanced Analytics Center of Enablement. You’ll hear Rob and Evan discuss the Center of Enablement and how it supports data science efforts across the organization. Rob describes their "Do-Partner-Support" strategy, which governs how they support internal clients while also creating possibilities for true transformation. We’ll also hear about the intersection between actuarial science, data science, and engineering, as well as the importance of varied skill sets and backgrounds in data science professions. Rob and Evan end by exploring the future paths of analytics capabilities.
Key Takeaways:

📈How the Center of Enablement supports learning and transformation
📈How experience in multiple fields can build complimentary skillsets for successful data science projects
📈 How to successfully partner with clients to implement a data project
📈Tips for those currently in or seeking careers in data science

Quotes:

💬 I was a career-switcher, I was in pre-business school where I actually did mechanical engineering in the shipbuilding industry.
— Rob Horrobin
💬 Starting with the end in mind — it's great to build a model, but you have to make sure that it's fit for its purpose. In the end, how are the folks gonna consume it?
— Rob Horrobin
💬 If an actuary's a quarterback, a data scientist is a running back and an engineer could be a tight end — very complimentary skills, but not one-to-one. Where I get really excited is when an actuary and a data scientist and a data engineer rally around a problem and say, “how do we kind of make this thing work better?”
— Rob Horrobin
Featured in this episode:

Evan Wimpey
Director of Analytics Strategy at Elder Research.
Company website: www.elderresearch.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-wimpey/

Rob Horrobin
AVP of Data Science at Pacific Life
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertmhorrobin/
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:04 Rob’s background and how he got into data science
02:53 Rob’s role in the Center of Enablement: The Do-Partner-Support Model
05:47 Scope of the team’s work and how teams are structured
11:03 Actuaries, engineers, and data scientists: kindred spirits
15:04 Advice for those considering launching a data science effort
19:04 Advice for those interested in a career in data science
21:08 Standard certifications for data scientists in the future?
27:58 Rob’s vision: How can analytics create entirely different business models?

Find more show notes, transcripts, & more episodes at:
https://www.elderresearch.com/resource/podcasts/