Data Science & AI Lead Trainer: Chaitanya Rao’s Inspiring Journey with the Institute of Data

With a stellar education and senior roles in the Data Science industry, Chaitanya Rao is a big believer in following your curiosity.

With an aptitude for mathematics, after completing a Bachelor of Science and Engineering, Chaitanya went on to complete a Master’s and then a PhD in Electrical Engineering (in wireless communication theory), both at the California Institute of Technology.

On returning to Australia, Chaitanya’s first role was as an algorithm designer. He later felt the need to diversify his skills, which led to his next role at IBM in research, where he moved into the data area.

He worked for Telstra next, combining his telecommunications background and his experience in data science.

After receiving positive feedback about his communication style and ability to explain complex subject matter, Chaitanya decided to follow his curiosity and try teaching at the Institute of Data.

Read on to learn how Chaitanya applies his real-world experience, what he enjoys about his role as a lead trainer with the Institute of Data, and how his insights can help aspiring students complete the Institute of Data’s Data Science & AI programme.

1. What inspired you to become an Institute of Data’s programme trainer?

While working in the industry, I received positive feedback about my ability to explain complex ideas and concepts. I’ve always enjoyed teaching, so when the opportunity came up with the Institute of Data, I thought I’d give it a go.

I’d always found helping others with concepts and skills to be a good way to reinforce what I already knew and to identify gaps in my knowledge.

While it was helpful to me, what I really got a buzz out of was helping others do well.

It’s that desire to help others and support them in reaching their goals that inspires me in this role.

I’ve been working full-time as a trainer with the Institute of Data’s Data Science & AI programme for four years now!

2. Could you describe the programme you teach and its key objectives?

The big aim of the programme is to help people either upskill or to be job-ready.

We want our graduates to be effective in their jobs from an early stage and not to require months of training on the job.

Another aspect we focus on is communication skills.

Working on soft skills like communication is key.

I believe that good communication is about translating sometimes high-concept material in a way that meets your audience.

You want your audience to at least understand the basics and to come away with a new understanding of the subject matter.

3. In your opinion, what sets the Institute of Data’s programme apart from those offered by other institutions?

What impresses me about the Institute of Data’s Data Science & AI programme is the breadth and depth of the content.

The content is relevant, and we cover a lot of material.

It really prepares students and gives them a good idea of what employment in the field involves.

What the programme also does is it gives students that desire to know more.

We want students to develop that ability to learn independently.

4. What type of students do you think succeed in Institute of Data programmes, and why?

Students who do well are students who are curious.

They’re motivated, dedicated and hard-working.

They’ll be inquisitive and want to know why something is how it is.

They ask lots of questions, and they’ll engage with the subject matter.

They’ll do their research purely because they want to know more.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have a lot of technical background.

But you do need that desire to learn and to listen and to participate.

You need to ask questions and get clarification when something is unclear.

5. Could you share some common challenges students face during the programme and how they can overcome them?

One of the challenges students face is juggling the programme on top of their day-to-day commitments.

Some people have a lot going on, which might mean they worry they might fall behind.

Other challenges might be more personal, like medical issues, where people fall ill and find it hard to catch up.

In these instances, I want to assure people that the most important thing is to reach out.

Another challenge students have is a sense of doubt or lack of confidence that they’ll be able to use their skills to gain employment.

Here, it’s about intervening early and providing them with some challenges at the right level, which will, in turn, gives them confidence.

As I mentioned earlier, communication plays a huge part in their success outside of the programme.

As trainers, we don’t want a superficial level of understanding, which is why students present regularly.

Presenting material challenges them to drill down into subjects they may only understand with a certain level of depth.

By fielding questions and practising their answers, they engage in a dialogue about a problem and what can be done to improve the outcome.

6. What is the tech industry currently looking for in new graduates, and how does the Institute of Data address these needs?

Employers are looking for people who can add value, someone who can help address their challenging problems and assist them in overcoming obstacles.

Other important attributes include getting things done efficiently, being resilient, and not giving up easily.

We want our graduates to be job-ready, to present ideas well, and to be great communicators.

These are the attributes a company is looking for, and having good, solid technical skills is also obviously important.

7. What resources and support does the Institute of Data provide to help students succeed in your programme?

The programme is quite immersive, and there are a lot of resources.

There are a lot of hands-on exercises, and the way the programme is structured means after the content is delivered, exercises are assigned to reinforce those concepts.

During the tasks, you’ll get the opportunity to hone skills such as attention to detail and recognising if there’s an error in the values. You might have to figure out the best way to present data visually and, later in the programme, how to make predictions.

It’s through a combination of practical exercises and project work that students will pick up and improve these skills.

You’ll also get feedback from the trainers and receive any corrective measures that may be required, which is invaluable.

In terms of additional support, the trainers will point students to resources such as online materials, videos, blog posts, and other documents.

There’s also a great student services team to help students address various issues, from time management to challenges related to handling stress and managing work-life balance.

Students are also a great support to each other. You’re not alone when you’re doing this programme, you have a cohort you can lean on and ask for support and advice.

8. Can you share a success story or two of students who completed your programme and excelled in their careers afterwards?

So, a real buzz I get from this job is when a past student comes back to me and says, thank you for helping me on this new journey.

I’ve had past students who’ve transitioned into a new field and gone on to be promoted in a relatively short time because they’ve been able to impress and be productive in that new line of work.

I get a great sense of satisfaction when I hear students’ success stories when I’ve helped them find a career that better aligns with their interests.

For example, I had a student with no previous technical experience who, before the programme, was working in the health sector.

They made very good use of the Institute of Data’s ‘Job Outcomes Programme’ (which every Institute of Data programme graduate has access to) and, from an early stage, engaged with the career support and the career coaches.

It was through this extra support and guidance that they were able to land a role even before the programme had finished.

They capitalised on their other strengths and their communication skills, and impressed with their clarity of thought.

They now have a job as a data consultant, bridging the gap between business and technical.

9. What are the most significant changes or trends you’ve observed in the tech industry recently?

This year, it’s been all about ChatGPT and associated tools, which are called large language models.

It’s remarkable how people have adopted these tools.

I think it’s made getting into this sort of area a bit more accessible. You no longer have to be as experienced at coding to be successful in this field.

In today’s environment, it is important to familiarise yourself with the latest tools and understand how to use them effectively; this can lead to great opportunities in this field.

10. In your experience, what makes the Institute of Data programme worth it for students who aspire to enter the tech field?

The programme is a really efficient way of rapidly acquiring the key skills needed to be productive in data science.

The trainers’ focus is on making you effective in the workplace. They know what it takes to be successful in that field.

So, the fact they can apply their skills and experience and impart that advice is invaluable in terms of preparing our students for the workforce.

Our aim is to prepare our students and make sure they’re ready with a realistic understanding of the challenges they will inevitably encounter.

11. What skills do graduates need to excel in the workplace?

Communication skills and a proactive mindset. To find solutions rather than wait for them to come to you. Asking the right questions is also important, as well as being open to hearing an answer you weren’t necessarily expecting.

Another important skill is adaptability. Being able to show curiosity and being prepared for the fact that your initial solution might not be the best one.

Employers want to see you demonstrate an ability to propose an alternative solution rather than staying stuck on your initial idea.

12. Is there anything else you want to pass on to potential students?

The ability to work and collaborate with others is much more important than many realise.

Learning how to work with others and see and accept and take on other people’s points of view and approaches is a real skill students will benefit from developing.

Asking for help in a working environment is a much faster and more beneficial approach than toiling away on a problem by yourself.

Don’t ever feel afraid to ask for help. Don’t feel you’re wasting people’s time.

Conclusion

Are you looking to transition into tech and pursue your dream job in tech?

Do you want to know where to start? Book a career consultation with one of our experts at the Institute of Data and start your journey with an actionable plan.

You can connect with Chaitanya and follow his professional journey on LinkedIn.