Preplaced Exclusive: Career Story of Mentor Ekta Shah

Meet Ekta Shah, an amazing mentor who's super passionate about helping people like you reach their goals.

With over 7 years of experience in the industry, Ekta is a true expert in a variety of fields, including SQL, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks, and Natural Language Processing (NLP). 

She knows the ins and outs of these areas and can provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to excel in your chosen field.

Currently serving as an Associate Architect - Machine Learning at Quantiphi, Ekta stays on the cutting edge of innovation, ensuring that her mentorship is up-to-date and relevant.

Ekta is also a Visiting Professor at SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), where she combines her practical industry experience with academic excellence. 

Beyond her technical expertise, Ekta understands the importance of your mental well-being. She believes that being in a good state of mind is essential for success. 

1. Can you tell me a little bit about your current job role and responsibilities?

Currently, I'm working as an Associate Architect - Machine Learning at Quantiphi Analytics. 

My day-to-day work revolves around the machine learning domain. 

Our company collaborates with client service-based companies, and my main responsibility is to understand the requirements and use cases they provide and then develop solutions within the Machine Learning and AI field. 

Basically, we cover the entire data science life cycle in our work.

2. Can you share your career journey and how you got to where you are today?

Well, it's been quite a journey from where I started. 

I completed my engineering in Information Technology back in 2016. 

Like many other engineers, I also had a passion for software development and a strong desire to create applications that could make a positive impact and help people.

That was my goal all along and what led me to pursue engineering in the first place. 

After graduating, I got a job through campus placements and worked as a Software Engineer for 2 years. 

During that time, I had the opportunity to work closely with data, which piqued my interest and made me think about its potential applications. I was also looking to further my education.

In 2018, I began searching for courses that could help me pursue a Master's degree while also exploring data-related subjects. 

That's when I decided to pursue M.Tech in Data Science from NMIMS. This decision opened doors for me, and I gradually transitioned into a role focused on Machine Learning.

It's been a fulfilling journey so far, and I'm grateful for the opportunities that have come my way.

3. What have been some of the most significant challenges you've faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?

One of the most significant challenges I encountered in my career was completing my Masters's during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

At that time, the job market, especially in the field of Machine Learning (ML), was severely impacted and there were very few available positions. 

Despite this hurdle, I had the opportunity to complete an internship and was looking for a job where I could apply my skills. 

Fortunately, due to my strong profile and qualifications, I received a job offer sooner than I had anticipated.

Another challenge is a persistent lack of gender diversity and equal promotion opportunities for women in many industries. 

While the ratio of men to women in tech is still far from achieving a balanced 50/50 representation, it is even lower than the 33% benchmark seen in top KPIs for business managers and leaders worldwide. 

This imbalance is something that the industry needs to address.

I have also faced the need for adaptability due to the rapid adoption of Data Science, ML & AI. 

You need to be very much ready to adapt to any and every kind of change that would come your way and be ready to learn new things.

Overall, these challenges have shaped my career journey and pushed me to actively contribute towards promoting diversity and embracing technological advancements in the industry.

4. What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in your field?

I always get this question from mentees - how to break into this field? 

My advice is to first gauge whether you are interested in this domain. Because it may look fancy from the outside but when we actually look at the core, it is driven by technical and numerical skills.

It is highly influenced by a lot of statistics and a lot of coding perspectives as well so jump into the field once you are aware of its nuances. 

My second piece of advice is to ace your fundamentals. In this field, there are 5 to 6 core skill sets which you need to be proficient at. 

This is something that cannot be compromised on as they are exactly what interviewers are seeking in candidates.

5. How have you continued to develop and grow in your career?

Well, I believe there's one success mantra that truly stands out, and that's adapting to the changing times. 

Even if your educational background may not align perfectly with the current industry practices, it's important to have the flexibility to switch your mindset accordingly. 

Once you embrace the data analytics mindset, you become ready to tackle any problem that comes your way.  

If you know ‘x’ technology and your client requires ‘y’ implementation you should be able to grasp it in no time.

By adopting this mindset, I have been able to develop and grow in this field.

6. Can you share a particularly memorable or rewarding experience from your career?

One particularly memorable and rewarding experience in my career was when I finally secured a job after the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

I knew that to achieve my set goals, I needed to move on from that place and explore new opportunities in research. I was determined to find a job that would provide me with complete job satisfaction.

During my search, I came across an opening at Quantiphi for the role of a Senior Machine Learning Engineer. 

Making the switch from Viacom to Quantiphi turned out to be the right decision. Over the past two years, I have sailed smoothly through this job and found the perfect workplace that aligns with my aspirations.

This journey has been incredibly rewarding for me. 

It has opened up numerous opportunities and helped me grow both personally and professionally.

I feel fulfilled and content in my current position, and I'm excited about what the future holds.

7. Why did you decide to become a mentor?

When I was a student, my dream profession was engineering. 

However, I always felt a deep desire to teach whenever I looked at my teachers.

I have immense respect for this profession, and I am forever grateful to the teachers who have shaped me into the person I am today. 

The idea of becoming a mentor was always lingering at the back of my mind.

In 2020, an opportunity presented itself when I was offered a position as a visiting faculty at NMIMS. 

I took this chance to dive into teaching and see if I could connect with young individuals, bringing my experience and knowledge to their fresh minds. I realised that mentoring was the perfect way to make that transition.

Since then, I have been on a fulfilling mentoring journey, and I have no intention of stopping. 

Being a mentor keeps me motivated and allows me to reach a wider audience, helping them achieve their goals.

8. How have you benefitted from mentors in your life?

I owe a great deal of gratitude to the mentors in my life who have played a significant role in shaping who I am today. 

From the teachers who guided me during my academic journey to the mentors I encountered in my corporate career, I have been fortunate to have people to rely on and learn from at every stage. I'm still in touch with most of them.

Throughout my journey, I have consistently aimed for lofty goals, always striving to reach new heights. It is thanks to the unwavering support and guidance of my team leads and managers that I have been encouraged to explore the best version of myself. 

I am truly grateful for the mentors who have invested their time, knowledge, and faith in me. 

The lessons I have learned from them, I aspire to pay it forward by becoming a mentor to others, just as I have been fortunate to have mentors in my own life.

9. What’s been your favourite mentorship success story so far?

One of my most memorable mentorship success stories involves assisting a group of students in cracking their interviews during the placement season. 

I was assigned three to four mentees and dedicated myself to helping them become better candidates. 

We conducted several mock interview sessions, and witnessing their improvement through each session brought me immense satisfaction. 

When they finally secured placements, it was an incredibly happy and fulfilling moment for me.

10. What is the best advice you’d like to give your mentees?

It's simple: Follow your dreams. 

When you're truly passionate about something, you have the inner drive to make it happen. 

So, my advice to you is to hold onto that fire within you and go after what you truly desire.

11. How do you balance the responsibilities of being a mentor with your own professional commitments and personal life?

I often find myself running out of time, but teaching is something I'm truly passionate about. 

Regardless of how busy I am or the workload I have, I always make time for it. 

It's a venture that my brain naturally prioritises. Whenever I have something scheduled, I ensure I carve out time for it. 

Sometimes, I have to make small compromises here and there, but I believe in sailing through and improving each day. It's all about finding that delicate balance and getting better at managing it over time.

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If you're looking for a mentor who is not only knowledgeable but also dedicated to your growth and success, connect with Ekta.