Career Heroes - Paula McMillen

Tell us more about you

I went to Belfast Royal Academy, where I discovered my love for maths. After finishing school, I decided to pursue a Master's degree in Mathematics with Statistics & Operational Research at Queen's University, Belfast. After completing my degree, I landed a job as a Data Scientist at Allstate, where I've been working for the past ten years.

When I'm not working, I love to knit. There's something so satisfying about creating something beautiful and functional with my own two hands. I'm a dog lover and enjoy spending time with my furry friends. I also have a passion for learning new things, whether it's a new craft or a new recipe.

What kind of work do you do?

As a Data Scientist, my job is to analyse large amounts of data and find meaningful insights that can inform our decisions. This can involve anything from predicting customer behaviour to identifying patterns in claims data. It's a challenging and rewarding job that requires a strong foundation in math and statistics, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This is something I enjoy most about my job, because there’s always something new to learn or a new problem to solve, and I get to work closely with my team members to come up with a solution, which is always fun!

One of the things I love about being a Data Scientist at Allstate is the company culture. Our company is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment, where everyone is encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. We also place a high value on work-life balance, and we're given a lot of flexibility to manage our schedules and work remotely when needed.

How did you become a Data Science Manager?

My journey to becoming a Data Scientist wasn't necessarily a straight path. While I've always had a keen interest in art and design, I found myself naturally drawn to maths and excelled in it during my A Levels. From there, I decided to pursue a degree in maths at Queen's University, Belfast, but I had no idea what I wanted to do with it after I graduated!

In my final year, I attended a careers fair where I spoke with members of the Data Science department at Allstate and became fascinated with the field. I was drawn to the idea of using math and statistics to analyse and solve real-world problems.

That summer, I was lucky enough to join Allstate as a Data Science Intern. During my internship, I had the opportunity to travel to Chicago and learn about predictive modelling and machine learning techniques. This experience solidified my interest in data science and showed me how powerful these tools could be in solving real-world problems.

After my internship I applied for a full-time role as a Data Scientist at Allstate Northern Ireland, which I have been doing ever since.

If you could do-over, What would you do differently?

I would have started exploring data science as a career path much earlier. I was always interested in math, but I didn't realise until later on that I could apply those skills to the exciting field of data science.

One piece of advice I would give to young people interested in data science is to start exploring it as early as possible. Take classes in math, statistics, and computer science in school, and seek out opportunities to learn more about data science through internships, summer programs, or online courses.

Another thing I would do differently is to network more and build relationships with people in the field. I didn't realise until later how valuable it can be to have mentors and contacts who can provide guidance and advice. So, I would recommend reaching out to people in the industry, attending conferences and events, and seeking out opportunities to connect with others who share your interests.