Everyday People #001: Dr. Leihua Ye, PhD at Walmart Explains Data Science

Host Max Berry of the Everyday People podcast speaks with Dr. Leihua Ye, Senior Data Scientist at Walmart.

They explore data science, experimentation, AI, and the evolving landscape of technology and society.

Leihua’s LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/leihuaye

Leihua’s Medium → https://leihua-ye.medium.com/

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Part 1: The Journey into Data Science

1. Introduction: Max introduces Dr. Ye, summarizing his academic background and transition to industry. (0:00 - 1:30)

2. The PhD Experience: Dr. Ye discusses the challenges, motivations, and lessons from his doctoral studies. (1:30 - 5:00)

3. Passion for Quantitative Analysis: Dr. Ye shares what inspired his interest in data science, with a focus on understanding human behavior and social phenomena. (5:00 - 8:00)

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Part 2: The Art of Experimentation

4. AI and Its Social Impact: Max and Dr. Ye explore how AI, particularly Large Language Models, impacts social science research and data collection. (8:00 - 11:00)

5. The Evolution of Social Media: They discuss the influence of social media on human behavior and its potential effects on mental health. (11:00 - 15:00)

6. Defining Experimentation: Dr. Ye explains experimentation in the context of online platforms and product development. (15:00 - 18:00)

7. Levels of Testing: A discussion on experimentation, from small interface changes to major overhauls. (18:00 - 20:00)

8. Merging Quantitative and Qualitative Data: Dr. Ye emphasizes the importance of combining metrics and human feedback for actionable insights. (20:00 - 24:00)

9. Data Science as an Umbrella: Dr. Ye clarifies how data science integrates analytics, inference, algorithms, and experimentation. (24:00 - 27:00)

10. Attribution Analysis: Dr. Ye explains how to trace the root causes of specific outcomes using attribution analysis. (27:00 - 29:00)

11. Embracing Simplicity: They discuss how simple, well-understood methods often yield the most impactful results in data science. (29:00 - 33:00)

12. The Value of Teaching: Max and Dr. Ye discuss how teaching and creating content deepen understanding and engagement. (33:00 - 37:00)

13. Tailored Content Creation: Dr. Ye outlines his approach to crafting platform-specific content for LinkedIn, Medium, and Substack. (37:00 - 40:00)

14. The Future of Content Consumption: A debate on whether knowledge-focused platforms could surpass entertainment media. (40:00 - 43:00)

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Part 3: Adapting to an AI-Driven World

15. Pandemic Challenges: Dr. Ye reflects on the impact of the pandemic on his PhD and job search journey. (43:00 - 46:00)

16. Academia vs. Industry: Insights into the pace, rewards, and satisfaction differences between academia and industry. (46:00 - 49:00)

17. Leveraging AI Tools: Dr. Ye discusses how he uses AI tools for coding and writing, while noting their current limitations. (49:00 - 54:00)

18. Clarity in AI Interaction: A conversation about the importance of clearly defining problems and outcomes when working with AI. (54:00 - 57:00)

19. Evolving Role of Data Scientists: Dr. Ye predicts AI will shift the responsibilities of data scientists by replacing specific tasks, not entire roles. (57:00 - 1:00:00)

20. Embracing Technological Cycles: They recognize the inevitability of technological change and the need for human adaptability. (1:00:00 - 1:02:00)

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Part 4: Looking Ahead

21. Connect with Dr. Ye: Max encourages listeners to follow Dr. Ye’s work for more insights. (1:02:00 - 1:03:00)

22. Closing Thoughts: Max concludes with an optimistic view of the future and thanks the audience. (1:03:00 - 1:03:30)