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From commerce to code: How Jake Weinberg pivoted to a career in data science leadership
Jake Weinberg
Employment
Steptoe LLP, Business Analytics Specialist (Washington, D.C.)
Education
M.S. in Data Science 2023, University of Virginia
B.S. in Commerce 2018, University of Virginia
When Jake Weinberg returned to the University of Virginia (UVA) to pursue a Master’s Degree in Data Science (MSDS), he wasn’t just adding a new credential to his resume—he was intentionally reshaping his career. A double Hoo with a background in commerce and years of consulting experience under his belt, Jake came to the School of Data Science ready to turn data into impact.
Now working as a Business Analytics Specialist at Steptoe LLP in Washington, D.C., Jake is leading a team, visualizing client insights, and helping shape strategic decisions through data. As a former Admissions Ambassador, he also helped prospective students imagine their own path forward. In this Q&A, Jake shares how the MSDS program unlocked new opportunities, why the Capstone project was a turning point, and what’s next in his journey toward becoming a data-driven leader.
Q: Walk us through what you did at work today.
I worked through several projects that the team I manage has on its plate, including a statistical analysis to evaluate potential future commercial targets and a visualization of client data.
Q: What did you learn in the MSDS program that you have found most useful in your career so far? And what do you wish you had learned?
The MSDS program equipped me with all the technical skills that I needed to succeed in my position. In my role, communication of technical concepts to a non-technical audience is very important, so I found a lot of value in the Data Visualization elective, too. It would have been useful to go a bit deeper with SQL, which is commonly used in business analytics environments and is something I have spent a lot of time mastering.
Q: How did the MSDS Capstone project prepare you for your current work?
The MSDS Capstone was a great way to work through a data project for an actual client. It prepared me to go through the entire pipeline, from defining specifications, to iterating and problem solving, to delivering a professional level product. Even though I was a consultant for four years before getting my master’s, I learned that data science projects have unique considerations in a formal environment.
Q: Were there specific classes, projects, or professors that you found particularly influential in preparing you for your career?
I still find myself referencing plenty of my course materials for my job, especially the Surfing the Data Pipeline textbook and the Statistical Learning class notes. Like I mentioned earlier too, I think that the Data Viz class had a lot of real-world value.
Q: What networking opportunities or alumni resources played a role in securing your current position or aiding your professional development?
While I didn’t get my current position through any alumni networking, I was able to be referred to a number of positions by leveraging connections made possible by MSDS, which was extremely valuable.
Q: How do you perceive the impact of your MSDS degree on your career advancement and opportunities?
Having an MSDS degree unlocked a completely new career path for me that would have been much more difficult to access without it. For someone who was looking for a career pivot from consulting at the time I enrolled, the program was able to provide me with exactly what I was looking for.
Q: Was there a student experience or classmate/cohort interaction during your time at School of Data Science that stands out as particularly memorable or transformative for you?
Getting to know the rest of the cohort was the best part of the experience for me. It was a great support system for the classroom and is meeting everyone is what made the program memorable for me.
Q: As you look ahead, where do you envision yourself professionally in the next 5-10 years? Are there specific career goals, projects, or milestones you aspire to achieve in the coming years?
In the future, I hope to become a strategic data leader, working in management to use data-driven methods to influence business decisions at the highest level. I am currently managing a data team in my current role, and I hope to expand the team in the near future. Reach out if you’d like to connect!
