Another year, another successful WiDS @AUB!
For the third year in a row, the impactful Women in Data Science at AUB (WiDS
@AUB) conference that took place on March 1 2019 at the American University of
Beirut (AUB) attracted a huge number of professionals, academics, students, and
highly accomplished speakers from the field of data science in the region and
the world. WiDS @AUB is an annual event organized by the Olayan School of Business (OSB),
and coincides with the Annual Global
Women in Data Science (WiDS) conference held at Stanford University and an
estimated 150+ locations worldwide.
WiDS @AUB is the largest hub for Data Science in the MENA
region, bringing in Arab and international female leaders in Data science to
Beirut. This year, we had a record attendance of 1600+ attendees representing
160+ organizations. WiDS success could not have been without the highly
accomplished regional and international female speakers at the forefront of
data science in the region and around the world. On behalf of the WiDS @AUB
organizing team, I would like to thank them for being an integral part of this
effort.
The conference would not have been possible without the
vision and leadership of this university. On behalf of the WiDS AUB team, I
would like to thank President Fadlo Khuri, whose leadership is propelling AUB
to shape the future of the region. Many thanks for the Olayan School of
Business leadership, Dean Steve Harvey, who has supported us every step of the
way, and whose leadership inspires each one of us to transform the business
thinking in the MENA region. Thank you
from the heart for Ms. Rasha Bohsali who is working with me on institutionalizing
this initiative, and whose commitment and drive are essential in making this
event happen; Ms. Fida Kanaan with whom I co-founded WIDS AUB; Dr. Lina Daouk,
my dear friend and colleague; and Dr. Hoda Daou, WiDS AUB ambassador, and Mr.
Rajab Ghazzaoui for working hard on planning this year’s event.
I have enjoyed incomparable support from our AUB partners,
who have been instrumental and core to the success and continuity of WIDS AUB: Thank
you for the generous support of Prof. Mohamad Sayegh, Dean of the Faculty of
Medicine; Dr. Wafic Sabra and Dr. Jihad Touma, directors of The Center for
Advanced Mathematical Sciences (CAMS); Dr. Yousif Asfour, AUB Chief Information
Officer; Prof. Hassan Diab, Vice President for Regional External Programs; Ms
Salma Ouaida, Associate VP for advancement; Dr. Shadi Saleh, Associate Vice
President for Health Affairs; Dr. Bijan Azad. Director of the Darwazah Center
for innovation, management, & entrepreneurship; Special thanks to Mr.
Martin Asser and Mr. Simon Kachar, and the entire AUB office of communication
and a big thank you from the heart to both Ms. Kitija Chemali and the entire OSB
office of communication, and to Ms. Nada Kouzi, and the entire OSB facilities
team, as they worked very hard to do an outstanding work for an outstanding
event.
I would like to especially
thank the organizations who made today possible. First, Zain group,
under the leadership of the Vice Chairman Mr Bader El Kharafi and Chief
Diversity Officer Ms. Maryam Saif, with whom we share the vision of women
empowerment for a better Arab world; The Google MENA team Joyce Baz and Selim
Edde; Ms. Hana Zebian, branch Manager at Byblos bank. I would also like to
highlight the incredible support of our community partners, Girls Got IT under
the leadership of Ms. Asma Zein, Beirut Digital District, and Dr. Mona
Zoughaib.
Finally, I would like to thank each and every one of WiDS
attendees who is supporting the mission of WIDS @AUB of advancing the knowledge
creation and dissemination of data science in the region, and encouraging young
women to join the field. The instrumental support of our attendees is core to
our success and is behind the ascending impact and reach, year after year.
Chair, WiDS@AUB Conference
Every Dataframe has a Purpose
WiDS @AUB this year presented an opportunity to
hear about the latest practical and research developments in the field of the
Data Science from leading international and regional female data scientists.
Through tech talks in the Maamari Auditorium and specialized sessions happening
in parallel to the main conference in breakout rooms, WiDS AUB 2019 was a
platform to learn how leading-edge organizations are leveraging data science
for success, and participate in discussions and dynamic exchanges of ideas. Every year, WiDS AUB aims to inspire, educate
and get educated in the field of Data Science, and increase opportunities for
women and girls in data science in the region. As Data Science is driving
innovation, driving society, and driving our future, there is more need than
ever for creative minds and dedicated talent to unlock the potential of data
analysis, especially in our MENA region. This conference is to provide our
youth with a glimpse of their future potential.
A Journey of a Thousand Data Points Begins with
WiDS AUB
From data, skills, and algorithms, to applications and
future thinking, we have taken WiDS attendees through every step of the
pipeline and beyond. Diverse topics discussed cover four sectors: business,
media, healthcare, and public. Our speakers for this year highlighted how data
creates knowledge and how knowledge has the power to change lives.
Our journey on March 1 started where all inquiries start, at
Google. Our Keynote speaker, Dr. Cassie Kozyrkov, Chief Decision Scientist at
Google Cloud, NY, presented the 10 tips on making data science useful. Through
microwaves, data engineers, and slices of toast, our distinguished speaker illustrated
the complex machine learning and AI algorithms: Algorithms that start learning
about us from our clicks and requests and that have led the entertainment giant
Netflix inside more than 1 million homes, creating a personalized experience to
every user. Dr. Becky Tucker, our distinguished senior data scientist at
Netflix, CA, USA, discussed how Netflix knows you more than you know yourself. From Amazon, Dr. Maryam Fazel-Zarandi, a
senior machine learning scientist at Amazon (Alexa), MA, USA, discussed how
natural language understanding is invoked in Alexa to replicate our sense of
hearing.
From the US, our regional speakers coming from Hearts &
Science, MBC Group, and Zain Group, talked about how our region is integrating
and adopting data science to drive business growth and client engagement. Laura
Chaibi, Head of Market Intelligence and Syndicate Digital Data at MBC, Dubai, explained
some of the difficulties faced in data collection and measuring key indicators
in the MENA region. Only a small number of clients and companies have undergone
digital transformations in the MENA region explained Dana Sarkis, Head of
Marketing Science and Growth Strategy at Hearts & Science, Dubai. The MENA
region needs a push to start building their business on the data that is being
provided and not be scared to rely on it. “They need to accept uncertainty,”
explained Tamara Albsoul, Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing Team
Leader, at Zain Group Jordan.
From improving lives to saving them, the digital healthcare,
moderated by Associate Dean and Professor Samia Khoury, MD, AUBMC, took place in the afternoon, to get a glimpse
of how the future of healthcare looks like with breakthroughs and developments
in AI. WiDS AUB this year had AUBMC and Epic talk about the incredible
partnership that resulted in digitizing all the healthcare records at AUBMC. Jutta
Williams, Senior Program Manager at Google AI, CA, USA, explained the latest
developments and applications in streamlining the healthcare process and what
we have learned so far that will drive future innovation. Dr. Maria Gabrani, Manager
of Cognitive Healthcare and Lifesciences at IBM, provided a glimpse of the
future with predictive medicine and personalized healthcare, and walked us
through a live demo of IBM Watson for Oncology on stage. Dr. Jumana Antoun, MD,
AUBMC walked us through the AUBMC Epic implementation and presented a roadmap
to physician and patient engagement. We also had Epic represented through Leela
Vaugh, Product Manager, WI, USA.
A Path to Data Science: How Do we get into Data
Science from my Field and Shine?
WiDS @AUB this year highlighted the field of data science to
all age groups and experience levels. We addressed the question that many ask,
“How do we get into data science from my field?” Our talented speakers advised,
“You become whatever you can become if you have enough curiosity and passion”, Dana
Sarkis (Hearts & Sciences). “There
is no perfect CV that has all the requirements for a data scientist” mentioned
Tamara Albsoul (Zain). To those with second thoughts who are scared to get out
of their comfort zones “Re-invent yourself … don’t be afraid to take your
career in different directions” advised Jutta Williams (Google AI). Worrying
about climbing the organizational ladder? Becky Tucker had a simple note on
that, “When you’re enthusiastic you will shine.”
Data, Data, and more Data: Representation,
Purpose, and Optimization
During WiDS AUB, data took center stage of all
the talks. Best techniques to analyze, study, and optimize datasets. According
to the Google Cloud Chief Decision Scientist Dr. Cassie Kozyrkov, “The world
represented by your data is the only world you’re going to succeed in.” We tend
to tread carefully when it comes to our healthcare data; “In the area of
healthcare and life science, anything we do with data, we have to do with a purpose”
insisted Dr. Maria Gabrani (IBM), Manager of Cognitive Healthcare and
Lifesciences at IBM, as she reiterated
the importance of utilizing healthcare data with a goal in mind. With the right
purpose in mind, we wonder what data science would be in 10-20 years. Jutta Williams,
senior program manager at Google AI reassured us, “As long as there is a
learner, these algorithms will get better.”
We would like to thank all our attendees for making this
event a great success, and are happy to share with them the impact of this
year’s conference:
Resources
MSBA Program
“You are all welcome to data science,” said our keynote
speaker, Dr. Cassie Kozyrkov, Chief Decision Scientist at Google Cloud, NY. IF
interested in pursuing a career in Data Science, we invite you to join The Master in
Business Analytics (MSBA) program offered at AUB OSB. The MSBA Program is
intended to prepare the next generation of experts in business analytics.
Graduates of the program will develop advanced proficiency in executing
applying business analytics to challenging business problems in various
industry domains..The program aims to help meet the growing industry needs in
the MENA region in particular and the world at large for business analytics
professionals with the required data science skills and expertise.