Jul 18, 2024

They also share a passion for problem solving. Hear more from data scientists at Workhuman and ezCater. Written byMia Goulart Blood boils best in Fenway. If there’s one thing Bostonians bond over, it’s the Red Sox. Decked out in ensembles of red, blue and white, baseball fanatics flood the streets around the stadium. Fans may come from diverse backgrounds and walks of life; yet, when they gather in the tiered red seats of Fenway Park, they are all united. An equally deep-seated camaraderie is found among the teams at Boston-based Workhuman and ezCater , where team members share not only a disdain for the Yankees but also a passion for problem-solving. Whether it’s unearthing the latest application for AI or integrating data in a fresh new way, data scientists share a zest for elevating their craft. Built In Boston sat down with data scientists from both companies to hear about what makes every project feel like an electric ninth inning at Fenway. Workhuman provides cloud-based human capital management software solutions. What excites you about the work you’re doing, the technology you’re using or the problems you’re working to solve? Being at the forefront of transforming workplace cultures globally and using AI to solve pressing social issues is what excites me the most. In my role at Workhuman, we are developing AI solutions for Workhuman iQ, which enables clients to turn data into decisions through real-time analytics. This not only helps organizations enhance employee recognition and engagement but also improves decision making. Having a strong internal culture at Workhuman itself — one that supports innovation and has recognition embedded in its business — further validates the effectiveness of our solutions, for which I’m very proud of. The excitement comes from moments when I realize using AI has enabled Workhuman to better provide services and access to Workhuman insights, and enhance our business values. What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on or are working on as a data scientist at your company? Why does this project stand out to you in particular? The coolest project that I’m working on at Workhuman is the AI Assistant. Bridging AI research and product has always been my passion, and it stands out to me because I was the first to build the prototype. Being a main driver in bringing this project to production has been extremely rewarding and a great learning experience. I’m continuously advancing the AI Assistant with more advanced GenAI techniques and methods, which allow me to push the boundaries of what our technology can achieve and directly enhance user experience for our clients. What do you love most about the culture on your team or the company as a whole? How highly collaborative we are. Despite being a globalized team with members working across different time zones, we connect swiftly and adapt to each other’s schedules efficiently. For instance, I've had the opportunity to collaborate closely with engineers and designers on various parts of projects. This cross-functional teamwork not only enriches the quality of our work but also fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose, making our diverse team highly effective and cohesive. What excites you about the work you’re doing, the technology you’re using or the problems you’re working to solve? One of the most interesting aspects of being a data scientist at ezCater is that our work has clear value to the business and our growth strategy requires new solutions to business and technical problems. We are constantly evolving, and I love that there’s room to make an impact, now and in the years to come. What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on or are working on as a data scientist at your company? Why does this project stand out to you in particular? The integration of search, customer demand and catering partner supply data to generate geospatial intelligence — that is, the generation of geography-based insights into company performance. Each region has differences in consumer preferences that we need to understand to make sure we satisfy local demand. For example, we help ensure ezCater has the right restaurant partners in our network for a specific area and that we optimize the whole customer experience from search to delivery. This project allows me to touch every major aspect of the business, understand consumer behavior and inform strategy at a very granular level. “We help ensure ezCater has the right restaurant partners in our network for a specific area and that we optimize the whole customer experience from search to delivery.” What do you love most about the culture on your team or the company as a whole? I’ve had a good experience with ezCater from the beginning, starting with my interview process. Everyone was very transparent and respectful of my time, and my recruiter kept me informed at each step of the interview process. The onboarding process provided a good amount of activities that helped me to quickly understand the business as a whole and connect with my colleagues. Most importantly, I appreciate that ezCater is an employee-centered company, where our well-being is prioritized. My work-life balance significantly improved at ezCater, thanks to unlimited PTO, a generous amount of holidays and “Summer Fridays,” where we’re off at 1 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day.