How Do You Learn Big Data?
To help you dive into the world of Big Data, we’ve gathered insights from 16 industry professionals, including CEOs, founders, and marketing experts. From experiencing “The Data Explorer” to self-teaching and joining communities, discover the top ways these leaders recommend for learning more about this ever-growing field.
- Experience “The Data Explorer”
- Explore Hashtags on Twitter
- Attend Big Data Conferences
- Utilize Online Courses and Certifications
- Learn from Reddit Communities
- Watch YouTube Channel Tutorials
- Follow Big Data Influencers
- Start a Personal Passion Project
- Purchase Books and Publications
- Follow Data Scientists on Social Media
- Pursue Internships for Practical Learning
- Learn from Your Organization’s Data
- Listen to Podcasts
- Gain an Entry-Level Position
- Take Your Data Teammate Out to Lunch
- Self-Teach and Join Communities
Experience “The Data Explorer”
One exciting way we teach all our interns to dive deeper into the world of Big Data is by embarking on a virtual adventure called “The Data Explorer.” Picture this: You find yourself in a futuristic virtual reality where you become a skilled explorer navigating through a vast digital landscape filled with data. Your mission? To uncover hidden insights and unlock the potential of Big Data.
Equipped with powerful tools and guided by expert mentors, you embark on thrilling quests that challenge your analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. You’ll analyze complex datasets, discover patterns, and uncover valuable information that can drive business decisions and innovation.
“The Data Explorer” is not just a game; it’s a hands-on learning experience. You’ll interact with other aspiring data enthusiasts from around the world, collaborate on projects, and exchange ideas. The immersive virtual environment makes learning about Big Data engaging, captivating, and memorable.
Richard Kennedy, Managing Director, Arken Digital
Explore Hashtags on Twitter
One of the best ways to pick up on discussions, articles, and views on Big Data is by searching for relevant hashtags on Twitter posted by thought leaders and experts in the field. This will allow you to get the information you need as well as gain unbiased views as you get exposed to different sources of information that can be posted in plain English that you can actually understand.
Max Wesman, Chief Operating Officer, GoodHire
Attend Big Data Conferences
One valuable way to learn more about Big Data is by attending conferences. These events provide an excellent platform to delve deeper into the world of Big Data.
By attending conferences, entrepreneurs can benefit from the expertise and knowledge shared by industry experts. They have the opportunity to engage in discussions on the latest trends, innovations, and best practices in Big Data. Conferences also offer a valuable networking environment, connecting professionals with like-minded individuals and potential collaborators.
Additionally, these gatherings provide insights into how Big Data is being successfully utilized across various industries, allowing professionals to gain inspiration and ideas for implementing Big Data strategies within their own organizations.
Luciano Colos, Founder and CEO, PitchGrade
Utilize Online Courses and Certifications
By engaging in various online courses that are readily available, you can acquire a solid understanding of the fundamental concepts of Big Data. This learning endeavor will enable you to grasp the essential terminology associated with this field and provide you with a comprehensive overview of the theoretical aspects of big data analytics.
To embark on your journey of learning Big Data, you have access to a wide range of resources such as YouTube tutorials, self-paced online courses, informative newsletters, and blogs authored by esteemed Big Data professionals. These resources can be conveniently utilized based on your preferred schedule and pace of learning.
Furthermore, obtaining certifications can significantly enhance your Big Data expertise. Numerous Big Data cloud certifications are available, and depending on your area of interest and specialization, you can plan to acquire certifications at different levels from leading cloud service providers like AWS, Azure, or GCP.
Ben Bozzay, Founder, Tech Lockdown
Learn from Reddit Communities
You can learn just about anything on Reddit, including gaining perspective on Big Data. For example, groups such as r/machinelearning or r/bigdata have thousands of followers actively discussing the subject—from interpreting insights to AI. Surf through the threads, ask questions, or consider starting a conversation with a data expert!
Lyudmyla Dobrynina, Head of Marketing, Optimeal
Watch YouTube Channel Tutorials
Simplilearn is a YouTube channel that covers almost every Big Data topic you can think of. This includes beginner-level and advanced topics.
So if you want to learn more about Big Data for free, I’d suggest watching their 12-hour video course on YouTube. Once you have a basic understanding of Big Data, dive deeper into specific topics by watching their videos on data mining, statistical dispersion, and data volume.
Channels like Edureka, Data School, and freeCodeCamp also offer insightful 10-hour courses as well as shorter, 15-minute videos that’ll answer all your questions about Big Data.
Scott Lieberman, Owner, Touchdown Money
Follow Big Data Influencers
One of the best ways to learn more about Big Data is to follow Big Data influencers who have an extensive background in the industry.
A few prominent names in the field include Jordan Morrow, Vice President of BrainStorm Inc., Benjamin Arnulf, Senior Director of Analytics at Oracle, and Vincent Granville, Machine Learning Scientist at MLtechniques.com.
These experts offer years of experience, insights, and perspectives on every facet of Big Data, and are perfect sources to follow to learn more about Big Data.
Brian Lee, Co-founder and CEO, Arena Club
Start a Personal Passion Project
One effective way to learn more about Big Data is through practical experience. Engaging in personal projects, contributing to open-source Big Data projects, and pursuing internships or industry projects are valuable avenues for gaining hands-on experience.
By working with real datasets and utilizing tools like Apache Hadoop, Apache Spark, or cloud-based platforms, you can explore data processing techniques, data visualization, and machine learning algorithms.
These practical experiences provide a deeper understanding of Big Data concepts, challenges, and best practices. Actively engaging in real-world scenarios allows you to overcome challenges, develop skills, and solidify your knowledge in the field of Big Data.
Josh Amishav, Founder and CEO, Breachsense
Purchase Books and Publications
One way to learn more about Big Data is to explore books and publications that delve into the concepts and techniques of Big Data. Some recommended books for beginners include Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think by Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Kenneth Cukier, and Big Data: A Very Short Introduction by Dawn E. Holmes.
These resources can provide you with a solid foundation in understanding the fundamentals and real-world applications of Big Data. Engaging with online communities and forums focused on Big Data can also be valuable. Participating in discussions and asking questions can greatly help.
Joe Li, Managing Director, CheckYa
Follow Data Scientists on Social Media
One engaging way to learn more about Big Data is by following data scientists on social media. Twitter and LinkedIn, for instance, are platforms where many data scientists and industry experts share their insights, latest findings, and trends in the field. By following these professionals, you get a regular feed of digestible, real-world insights into Big Data.
Additionally, these social platforms provide an opportunity to interact and engage with these experts and their communities. You can ask questions, share your thoughts, or even get involved in debates.
This hands-on approach can give you practical knowledge and a deeper understanding of Big Data concepts that can be difficult to grasp through traditional learning methods. You’ll also build relationships with people in the field that can potentially lead to a job or collaboration opportunity.
Juliet Dreamhunter, Founder, Juliety
Pursue Internships for Practical Learning
Transitioning from tech to marketing, one practical approach I discovered for understanding Big Data is through hands-on experience, specifically by doing an internship. I recall the time when I secured an internship at a renowned data analytics firm during my early days in the marketing sector.
Even with a tech background, the depth and expanse of Big Data were something I only truly began to appreciate through practical engagement. The direct exposure allowed me to understand the nuances of data collection, analysis, and application in real-world scenarios. It was there I saw how data-driven insights could effectively drive marketing strategies.
Josh “Snow” Elizetxe, Founder, Customer Feedback
Learn from Your Organization’s Data
The best way to learn about big data is by exploring your organization’s data. This learning method is experiential, providing you with key valuable insights into how big data works in the real world. Learn what type of data your company generates and how stakeholders process, store, and secure it using the tech tools you have access to.
By doing so, you’ll see a bigger picture of your company’s big data and be able to identify the major contributors, sources, workflows, and even risks and vulnerabilities.
Campbell Tourgis, VP, Sales and Marketing, Wainbee
Listen to Podcasts
My favorite way to learn more about big data is by listening to podcasts. It feels good to hear from really smart people who are excited about the same things you are. Plus, you can listen to them anywhere—while you’re driving, cooking, or even working out.
One of my favorite podcasts is “Data Skeptic,” where they break down complex topics into engaging chats. Another one is “Big Data Beard,” where they discuss the latest trends and news in the field.
So, if you’re keen to dive into big data, just pop in your earphones and hit play!
Irina Poddubnaia, CEO, Founder, TrackMage
Gain an Entry-Level Position
If you’re able to get an entry-level position in a related field, there’s no better way to learn more. By surrounding yourself with Big Data employees, you’ll have front-row access to learn from actual working professionals. If you’re struggling to get a Big Data job without experience, try looking for related roles, like database manager.
Kirkland Gee, Co-founder, Perfect Extraction
Take Your Data Teammate Out to Lunch
If you want to learn more about Big Data, ask an expert. Head over to your IT department and see if a data analyst, database manager, database administrator, or security engineer would be willing to talk to you.
Offer to take them out to lunch for their time. While you probably won’t become an expert after your conversation, you should leave knowing a lot more than you did that morning.
Liza Kirsh, Chief Marketing Officer, DYMAPAK
Self-Teach and Join Communities
To gain deeper knowledge, it is essential to identify gaps in your existing understanding. A valuable approach is to select a dataset that interests you and begin applying your current knowledge to analyze it. By successfully revisiting fundamental concepts, you can then proceed to learn new ideas and promptly put them into practice.
Should any doubts arise during the implementation of new concepts, join public forums like Reddit, Quora, Kaggle, LinkedIn, Discord, or Facebook communities that actively discuss Big Data. They will not only help in solving doubts but will also provide exposure to diverse queries and the corresponding answers provided by others.
Moreover, these communities serve as a valuable resource for staying updated on the latest trends and tools in the field of Big Data, thereby facilitating more efficient and effective learning.
Shilpa Kabre, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager, WebPipl
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