The article narrates a personal journey from facing infrastructural challenges in Nigeria to becoming a dependable data science professional.
Challenges included dealing with power cuts, unstable internet, and lack of a dedicated workspace, leading to unprofessional appearances during meetings.
The author invested in a stable WiFi network and home office, emphasizing the importance of setup for professionalism.
Learning collaboration tools like Slack and communication skills was initially a culture shock, but the author adapted through observation and practice.
Emphasis was placed on understanding that coding proficiency comes through repetition and practical application, learning to code like a craftsman.
The cost of isolation and communication breakdowns highlighted the importance of overcommunication and sharing progress incrementally with the team.
Self-management in a high-performance culture was crucial, requiring documenting workflows and seeking help effectively when facing challenges.
Transitioning from a data analyst to a software-oriented thinker involved training in software engineering and understanding real systems and tools beyond data models.
Professionalism was described as more than just performance metrics, focusing on project structure, business objectives alignment, and constructive feedback acceptance.
The article concludes with insights on competence, stability, communication, coding proficiency, and the value of feedback in the journey towards becoming a reliable data science professional.