Success Looks Like WSDS 2019

Donna LaLonde, WSDS Executive Committee

ZigZag is one of my favorite podcasts. While catching up on recent episodes, I realized it was also the theme that emerged for me from the 2019 Women in Statistics and Data Science Conference. From the plenary presentations, concurrent sessions, and informal conversations throughout the conference, it was reinforced that productive and fulfilling research and career opportunities often do not follow straight line trajectories.

This year, we opened the conference with a plenary panel. Wendy Martinez, director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Mathematical Research Center, served as moderator. She was joined by Randi Garcia, assistant professor at Smith College; Leslie McClure, chair and professor at Drexel University; Sastry Pantula, dean of the California State University, San Bernardino, College of Natural Sciences; and Dalene Stangl, professor emerita at Carnegie Mellon University. The panel considered questions related to creating and sustaining a respectful and inclusive community. Hearing a variety of voices both from the panel and the audience, we considered many paths to this goal and reinforced that there are opportunities for all of us to contribute.

My “zigzag” theory was affirmed by the plenary address given by Dionne Price, director of the US Federal Drug Administration Division of Biometrics IV. During her talk, titled “Women in Statistics and Data Science: Honor the Past, Celebrate the Present, and Envision the Future,” Price shared examples from her career journey. She offered the advice “get outside your comfort zone.”

Later that day, Elizabeth Thompson, professor emerita at the University of Washington, gave a plenary talk, titled “The True Success Is the Journey: A Career of Research and Education in Statistical Science,” in which she shared insights gained over her career. On Saturday, Gabriela de Queiroz, senior engineering and data science manager at IBM, presented the final plenary.

Many of us who attended WSDS 2017 were delighted when de Queiroz acknowledged the inspiration for her talk came from a talk given by Donna Brogan at that conference. During her talk, “I Wish I Could: Taking Charge of Your Future and Path,” de Queiroz shared her career journey reinforcing that success does not follow a linear path.

Again this year, the formal program was complemented by participant-organized walks, lunches, and dinners. For example, around 20 folks gathered for lunch Friday to continue the discussion on diversity and inclusion. In addition to enjoying an excellent Indian food buffet, the group generated many ideas. Watch for announcements about new initiatives and opportunities to be involved.

We also had a WSDS Data Challenge in which teams explored data to gain insights and contribute to the public awareness of how to spot disinformation.

Back to my podcast listening, Episode 12 was titled, “We’re Rethinking What Success Looks Like.” Due in large part to the hard work of the planning committee and the amazing presenters and participants, success—for me—looks like WSDS 2019, and I’m looking forward to WSDS 2020. Please reach out to me at donnal@amstat.org if you have suggestions or ideas for next year.