Stepping into a leadership role
Exploring the data with Ernst Kuiper
At bol.com we love to grow, in all different directions. Whether it’s by taking on a leadership position, deepening expertise or pursuing a completely new career path, our colleagues are encouraged to continuously challenge themselves and try out new things. In our ´Exploring the Data´ blog series, we catch up with Data Scientists at bol.com who have made career switches, changed directions, or explored different departments. You’ll meet people from diverse backgrounds and with a range of personalities – analytical, introverted, outgoing, chaotic, creative, and practical. But they all share a common trait: the courage to grow, to try something new, and to discover what works best for them.
A few years ago, Ernst Kuiper made the decision to switch from Senior Data Scientist to Craft Lead Data Science. Within his new role, Ernst focuses on mentoring and supporting Data Scientists, building a strong foundation for the teams and the discipline as a whole. “I never saw myself within a leadership role, so I was quite surprised that I was drawn to this position. Now I am very happy to be able to contribute to people’s lives and see that they appreciate the work I do for them.”
Analytical and pragmatic
The first word that comes to mind when Ernst is asked to describe himself is ‘analytical’. “I like to understand how the world works and data gives me the opportunity to do exactly that. I prefer to keep things simple and pragmatic, only adding more complexity when it helps me gain a deeper understanding. In daily interactions, I tend to be more quiet and observant. I appreciate people who take initiative and I am always willing to help shape their ideas.”
As an analytical person, Ernst feels that the role of Data Scientist suits him very well. “I have always been interested in modeling and data analysis, and I have a clear understanding of what it takes to excel in this field. When the role of Craft Lead Data Science was suggested to me, I had to give it some thought. I quickly realised, however, that it seemed like a logical next step in my career.”
”The idea of building a strong support system for Data Scientists including a thriving community and better technology really excited me.”
What made you decide to take on the role?
“As a Senior Data Scientist, I already had some experience mentoring my colleagues on the side. So I kind of knew what I was getting myself into. Apart from that, the idea of building a strong support system for Data Scientists – including a thriving community and better technology – really excited me. I saw it as a fantastic opportunity to help both individuals as well as bol.com navigate the world of data science more effectively.”
And the decision has turned out to be a good one. “I love being the connection between people and processes. Both bol.com as well as the people around me have grown and progressed a lot, which is very rewarding for me to see. We are making better decisions every day using the data that we have, and I am proud of the ideas and the courage that our Data Scientists are showing as they continue to improve and learn.”
A learning curve
Adjusting to a new role always takes time. For Ernst, it meant getting used to spending less time with data and coding, and more with people, processes and the organisation as a whole. “The role of Craft Lead Data Science gives a lot of freedom and there is no predetermined list of things to do. That means I need to actively think about the time I spend as a lead, which initiatives to undertake and what priorities to set. I keep learning every day, as the people around me constantly come up with new ideas and different perspectives on how to improve things. It helps us work better as a team and keeps me excited to come to work every single day.”