Tiffany Teasley

I didn’t start my career in tech.

I spent twenty years teaching and transitioned into data science in my forties. I failed my first data science interview, fixed what I missed, turned it around, and got the job I originally interviewed for.

Today, I’m a working Data Scientist and AI Developer who’s been through the challenges of this path and now mentors and guides aspiring data scientists and career changers.

Credibility and recognition:
- LinkedIn Top Voice (2024-2025)
- Named one of the Amazing People at LexisNexis 
- "How I Got My First Job as a Data Scientist" Featured on Udemy and KDnuggets 

Through Data Sistah, I mentor aspiring data scientists through:
- Career coaching and clarity
- AmplifAI: guided, AI-enhanced portfolio development
- Resume, LinkedIn, and job search support

Learn more at: https://www.data-sistah.com/

Data Scientist

You should not be applying to data science jobs without a referral in 2026.
Let me explain.

I did not get hired through a referral.
But over the years, I’ve helped with recruitment where I work.

I’ve also spoken with recruiters, including some at FAANG companies.

They are overwhelmed.
Hundreds. 
Sometimes thousands of applications.

And with AI tools, the volume is even higher.

Most resumes look similar.
So how do you stand out?

Referrals.
A referral does not guarantee a job.

But it increases the chances your resume actually gets reviewed.
And that matters.

Here’s what most people get wrong:
They apply first.
Then try to network.
Do it the other way around.

Before you apply:
- Reach out to someone on the team
- Ask thoughtful questions
- Show real interest
- Have a conversation

Then if it makes sense, ask:
“Would you feel comfortable referring me?”

Now when you apply, your name is not random.
It is connected to someone inside.

That changes how your application is viewed.

This is not begging.
It is strategy.

When recruiters are flooded, you need leverage.
Referrals are leverage.

P.S. If you are mass applying without conversations, you are making it harder than it needs to be.
#DataSistah

📌 Save this if you are serious about landing interviews.
 ♻ Repost for someone applying blindly.

👋🏾 Hi, I’m Data Sistah.
I left a 20-year teaching career in my 40s to become a data scientist.
I share what I learned the hard way so you don’t have to.

Data Scientist | AI Developer | Founder, Data Sistah | Helping Aspiring Data Scientists Turn Skills Into Interviews

When I was trying to break into data science,
I thought finishing more courses would make me “ready.”

So I kept learning.
Building projects.
Working in private.

But being ready is not the same as being visible.
One thing I did not understand back then was this:

✨Open source projects count as experience.

And it is not just for experts.
You do not have to build something advanced.

You can:
↳ improve documentation
↳ add clearer examples
↳ clean up a README
↳ test features and report issues
↳ fix small bugs

That is contribution.

And contribution shows:
↳ you can read other people’s code
↳ you can communicate clearly
↳ you can collaborate
↳ you can work in a shared environment

That is real-world experience.

Because in a real job, you will not work alone.
You will review code.
You will explain your changes.
You will work on something that already exists.

Open source lets you practice that in public.

✨ If I had understood this earlier, I would have focused less on private notebooks and more on visible contribution.

Courses help you learn.
Contribution helps you grow.

P.S. Stop waiting to feel ready. Start contributing.
#DataSistah

📌 Save this if you are serious about building real experience.
 ♻ Repost for someone who thinks open source is only for experts.

👋🏾 Hi, I’m Data Sistah.
I left a 20-year teaching career in my 40s to become a data scientist.
I share what I learned the hard way so you don’t have to.

Open Source Counts as Data Science Experience

You don’t need more data science projects.


You need to understand the ones you already built.

After I failed my first data science interview because I didn’t know BERT, I didn’t go enroll in another big program.

I did 1 course. 2 guided projects.

But here’s what changed everything:

I made sure I could explain
↳ why I chose that approach
↳ what other options I considered
↳ what I would improve
↳ how it connects to business impact

That follow-up got me the job.

A notebook is not experience.
Being able to defend your decisions is.

Hiring managers don’t care if you followed steps.
They care if you can think.

Next time you finish a project, ask yourself:
Could I explain this clearly without looking at my code?

That’s the difference.

P.S. Are you building projects or building understanding?
#DataSistah

📌 Save this if you’re serious about getting hired.
 ♻ Repost for someone collecting projects but not reflecting on them.

👋🏾 Hi, I’m Data Sistah.
I left a 20-year teaching career in my 40s to become a data scientist.
I share what I learned the hard way so you don’t have to.

You don’t need a data science title
to start building data science experience.
You need direction.

If I had to start over today with zero experience, here’s exactly what I’d do over the next 30 days.

Week 1: Choose a lane.

Not five lanes.
Not “anything in data.”
One.
Analytics. Dashboards. NLP. LLM workflows.

Then I’d read 5 job descriptions in that space and look for patterns.

What skills keep showing up?
What tools are repeated?

That becomes the focus.

Week 2: Build one serious project.

Not three rushed ones.
One thoughtful one.
Use data that reflects a real problem.

And I’d document:
• What problem I’m solving
• Where the data came from
• Why I made certain decisions
• What didn’t work
• What I’d improve next time

That’s how you show thinking.

Week 3: Make it visible.

Write about what you built.
Explain your tradeoffs.
Share what confused you and how you worked through it.

Add it to LinkedIn.
Put it on your profile.
Turn it into a short case study.

Quiet work doesn’t get seen.

Week 4: Start conversations.

Reach out to a few professionals in that lane.
Not asking for a job.
Asking for perspective.

Share your project.
Ask what you could strengthen.
Ask what skills matter most where they work.

By the end of 30 days, you won’t just have watched tutorials.

You’ll have:
↳ A focused direction
↳ A real project
↳ Something public
↳ A few new connections

That’s experience.

When I was transitioning out of teaching in my 40s, I tried to learn everything at once.

It slowed me down.
Focus moves you forward.

P.S. Thirty focused days can shift your confidence more than six scattered months.
#DataSistah

📌 Save this if you need a clear plan.
♻ Repost for someone who feels stuck and needs structure.

👋🏾 Hi, I’m Data Sistah.
I left a 20-year teaching career in my 40s to become a data scientist.
I share what I learned the hard way so you don’t have to.

30 day plan to build real data science experience 

If you want data science experience, stop learning randomly.


In my first data science interview, they asked me about BERT.

I didn’t know it.
That moment showed me exactly what I was missing.

So I closed the gap.
After that interview, I completed the Udemy course:

“Learn BERT – the most powerful NLP algorithm by Google.”

Then I completed 2 Coursera guided projects:
→ Fine-Tune BERT for Text Classification with TensorFlow
→ Sentiment Analysis with Deep Learning using BERT

But finishing them was not the win.
The win was this:

I made sure I could explain
- Why BERT mattered.
- When to use it.
- How it compares to other models.
- What the tradeoffs were.

Then I followed up with the same hiring manager.
That follow-up changed everything.

Most people try to build experience by learning “everything.”

The faster way?
Find the gap.
Learn.
Close it.
Show your growth.

That’s how you build experience that actually counts.

P.S. If you just got rejected, don’t get discouraged. Study the gap.
#DataSistah

📌 Save this if you need direction.
 ♻ Repost for someone who thinks rejection is the end.

👋🏾 Hi, I’m Data Sistah.
I left a 20-year teaching career in my 40s to become a data scientist.
I share what I learned the hard way so you don’t have to.

David Alto

This space… "YOUR HEADLINE" is the place to attract Recruiters/Hiring Managers | 500+ LinkedIn Client Recommendations | 👉 Jobseekers get better jobs quicker by working with me | Macro Influencer | Outplacement Services

I have helped 278 middle management & C-suite professionals land new careers over the past 8 months. 

Removing the frustration that jobseekers have while applying for job after job, and only getting those darn rejection emails, is what makes setting that alarm for 5am (or sometimes 4am) all worth it.  

I have also been there and done that over and over...

-	I've been that frustrated jobseeker 
-	doing all the wrong things
-	applying for hundreds and hundreds of jobs 
-	getting Ghosted for months and months 


Until I learned… 

-	what to do... but more importantly what not to do
-	how to properly network on LinkedIn 
-	it’s all about applying for targeted jobs 
-      you must have a resume that gets past the ATS 
-	how to get noticed and land that new career 

My previous experience as a Hiring Manager - Grass Roots Recruiter – and Decades of Interviewing have allowed me to craft resumes that tell “your story”.

Let’s face it… searching for a new career should not be stressful but it can and will be without the right tools. And those tools better be sharp…

So, what are those tools???

1)	Resume 
2)	LinkedIn 
3)	Networking 

I will provide you those tools and teach you how to keep them sharp for your entire working career. 

Allowing you to go from rejected to recruited.

Identifying what my clients' strengths are while probing my clients for what they really enjoy doing allows me to craft “their story” and I know how-to best position jobseekers by leveraging LinkedIn and getting you noticed by recruiters. 

And jobseekers get better jobs quicker... by working with me.

➡️ Need a new Resume - Improved LinkedIn Profile - Influencer Coaching???

➡️ Live in the United States?

➡️ Book a Free 15 min discover call: https://calendly.com/davidalto-altoadvance/15-min-free-call-with-david

If you live outside the United States, please message me on LinkedIn to schedule.



👉 I also provide custom video's over on Cameo: 
https://v.cameo.com/e/aKgJiLuCzXb

For a limited time, I’m now on Cameo — bringing my signature energy and career humor straight to your screen.

You can now book me for:

🎂 Birthday shoutouts

🏆 Career milestones

🎓 Celebrating that new degree

🔥 Roasting your friend’s LinkedIn profile (because we all know someone who needs it)
🚪 
Or even a custom video to help you quit your job — gracefully (or not 😏)


Let’s make it fun, memorable, and totally YOU.

💡 Head over to my Cameo page to grab yours before my schedule fills up!

👉  https://v.cameo.com/e/aKgJiLuCzXb

Resume Writer - Job Coach - Career Coach - LinkedIn Coach - Job Search - Executive Coach

While developing my leadership/management/recruitment skills over the decades I have become proficient in the following:

▶️Resume Service

▶️LinkedIn profile makeover

▶️Resume Scanning Confidence

▶️Social Media Content Creation

▶️Coaching -Executive & Group Coaching

▶️Interviewing Skills/Coaching Specialist/Talent Specialist

▶️Resume & LinkedIn group Speaking Engagements


Our positioning statement - Advancing business with personal solutions.


Individual

Group

Enterprise


If you're not LEARNING, you're not truly EARNING 💰
If you don’t SHARE, how much do you really CARE 🤔

To Live - To Love - To Learn - To Leave a Legacy

When I wake up every morning I choose to live by these principles for the entire day & then repeat the next day with as much passion as the day before.


Visit our website for a detailed list of our services


I hope you make this week......your BEST WEEK EVER! 👊


Always looking to connect with others to grow my connections, learn, share and provide advice and guidance.

AltoAdvance LLC
Book a Free 15 min discover call: https://altoadvance.kartra.com/calendar/15minDiscoveryCall

Check out my book on Amazon: "The Fear of Confidence"
https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08SVZHSBY

Two dogs. One ball. A pool of water… and a full strategy session 😂

Watching this made me laugh—but it also hit a little close to home.

How often do we approach problems at work the same way?

We gather, we talk it through, we throw out ideas, we circle back… and eventually, someone takes the leap and just goes for it.

The best teams don’t always have the perfect plan right away.
They collaborate. They communicate. They challenge each other.
And then—they act.

Because progress doesn’t come from one person having all the answers… it comes from people coming together, thinking it through, and moving forward.

Sometimes solving the problem is less about who’s right… and more about working together until something works.

Now the real question…
Are you the one talking about the plan—or the one jumping in to get the ball? 🐾

This space… “YOUR HEADLINE” is the place to attract Recruiters & Hiring Managers | 👉535+ LinkedIn Client Recommendations | Jobseekers land interviews quicker by working with me | Outplacement Services | Macro Influencer

Sometimes the coolest things look complicated… until someone breaks them down step by step.

That straw trick is a great reminder: when you slow it down and explain the why behind each move, everything suddenly makes sense.


Your resume should work the same way.

If a recruiter has to “figure out” what you do, you’re already losing them. Clarity beats complexity every time.

A few resume best practices to simplify and strengthen your message:

Lead with outcomes, not tasks. What changed because you were there?

Use numbers to tell the story (revenue, growth, time saved, efficiency, customer impact).

Write in plain language, not internal jargon. 

If a 10-year-old can’t understand the role, a busy recruiter probably won’t either.

Group related experience so your career progression is obvious at a glance.

Make your top value clear in the first third of the page. That’s your “hook.”


When you break your experience into clear, easy-to-follow pieces, your value becomes impossible to miss.

Are you making your resume easy to understand… or making recruiters work too hard to get it?

Watching someone ride a sled down a track—twists, turns, speed changes—against the snowy backdrop of Finland feels a lot like the job search.

You don’t control every turn.
You don’t always see what’s coming next.
And sometimes, the pace feels faster—or slower—than you expected.

But here’s the truth about a job seeker’s journey:

➡️ Every dip teaches resilience
➡️ Every climb builds momentum
➡️ Every unexpected turn sharpens clarity
➡️ Every pause gives you time to adjust your strategy

Too many professionals think their career path has to be perfectly straight to be “right.”

It doesn’t.

What matters is staying on the track, learning as you go, and trusting that each section of the ride is preparing you for what’s ahead.

Your resume shows where you’ve been.
Your cover letter explains the journey.
Your mindset determines whether you enjoy the ride—or fight it.

🎯 So here’s the question:

Are you gripping the rails in fear… or leaning into the ride and trusting your momentum?

Sometimes, the most memorable careers are built on the boldest turns.

Watching a machine play the guitar in public is a powerful reminder of where the world of work is heading.

Yes, AI and automation will make some roles obsolete.

Just like machines replaced certain factory jobs, switchboards, and even some accounting tasks.

But here’s the part most people miss:

AI isn’t only a job taker. It’s also a career accelerator for those who know how to use it.

The professionals who will win in this new era are the ones who learn how to:
• Use AI to work faster
• Make better decisions
• Analyze data more effectively
• Communicate more clearly
• Automate low-value tasks
• Focus their time on strategy, creativity, and leadership


Just like a guitarist who uses technology to enhance their sound, not replace their talent, your value grows when you learn to work with AI instead of competing against it.

The future doesn’t belong to those who fear AI.

It belongs to those who learn how to leverage it.

How are you leveraging it in your job?

Picture a 3D printer crafting all sorts of fidget spinners—custom shapes, colors, and designs. It’s fun and automated! But your resume? 

That’s a different story. 

ChatGPT can certainly help generate content ideas—but it can’t replace the insight of a professional who looks at your resume holistically. 

A human expert asks the right questions—about what you’ve included and what you might have overlooked—ensuring your value shines. 

So, when was the last time you had a conversation about what truly sets you apart?

While most kids are rocking nursery rhymes, this little one is headbanging. And honestly? That’s a perfect lesson for the job market.

Being different isn’t a weakness.
It’s often your biggest advantage.

Too many jobseekers try to sound like everyone else on paper. Same buzzwords. Same templates. Same “responsible for” bullets.

But the candidates who stand out?
They lean into what makes them them.

That’s where your cover letter comes in.

A resume shows what you’ve done.
A cover letter shows who you are.

It’s your chance to:
	•	Share what drives you
	•	Explain why your path looks different
	•	Connect your experience to the role in a human way
	•	Let your personality come through (professionally, of course)

Just like this kid vibing to Metallica, authenticity turns heads.

In a sea of sameness, don’t mute yourself.

🎶 So let me ask you:

If your cover letter had a soundtrack, would it sound like everyone else—or like you?

Watching our neighbor’s dog sprint up and down a Maui beach—leaping through the sand, chasing nothing but happiness—made me smile.

But it also made me think about something I see every day with jobseekers.

A lot of professionals are working hard in their job search…

Yet still feel like they’re running in circles.

➡️ Applying to dozens of roles
➡️ Tweaking resumes without a clear strategy
➡️ Guessing what recruiters want
➡️ Following outdated advice
➡️ Feeling exhausted but not closer to an offer

Just like running on soft sand, effort alone doesn’t always equal progress.

The job market has its own terrain:
	•	ATS systems
	•	Keywords and alignment
	•	Clear positioning
	•	Strong storytelling through resumes and cover letters

Once you understand the landscape, your energy starts working for you—not against you.

That’s where I help jobseekers:
✔️ Clarify direction
✔️ Build resumes that actually get read
✔️ Craft cover letters that tell your story
✔️ Create a focused strategy so you stop spinning your wheels

🎯 So here’s my question:
Are you making progress in your job search… or just running hard and hoping it works?

If you’re ready to stop running in circles and start moving with purpose, I’m always happy to help.

🎢 Have you ever noticed how a rollercoaster looks fun… until you’re strapped in and climbing that first hill?

There’s excitement.

There’s anticipation.

And there’s that moment where your stomach drops and you think, “Why did I agree to this?”

That’s exactly how the job market feels for a lot of professionals right now.

One minute you’re confident.

The next you’re questioning everything.
Applications go out.

Responses don’t come back.
Then suddenly—an interview, a pause, a twist you didn’t expect.

Just like a rollercoaster, the job search can feel overwhelming if you’re riding it alone.


But here’s the difference assistance makes:

➡️ You understand the track ahead

➡️ You know when to hold on and when to lean in

➡️ You stop panicking at every drop

➡️ You move with intention instead of fear

Having the right support doesn’t remove the ups and downs—it helps you navigate them with confidence.

That’s what I do for jobseekers: 

I help them understand the ride, prepare for the turns, and stay focused on where they’re headed—so the process doesn’t feel so intimidating.


🎯 So let me ask you:

Are you white-knuckling your job search right now… or would a guide make the ride a lot easier?

When you hear the mesmerizing sound of a glacier underwater, it’s a reminder that the most profound things aren’t always visible on the surface. 

Similarly, a well-crafted cover letter dives beneath your resume’s facts. 

It’s where you reveal what hiring managers don’t know yet—your motivations, your passions, and how you align with the company’s mission. 

It’s your opportunity to show how your unique story makes you a perfect fit. 

So, what’s something about yourself that your resume doesn’t reveal, but would make you stand out in a cover letter?

Who do you know here on LinkedIn that you would like to promote their services?

Tag a friend that provides value to the #linkedin platform and lets allow them to share what it is that they do and even a link to their services. 

Who are you willing to promote today?

#personalbranding #entrepreneurship

No alternative text description for this image

These vodka bottles are impossible to ignore. Unique shapes, bold designs, and instantly recognizable on the shelf.

That’s exactly how you want to show up in an interview.

Most candidates talk about the same skills, use the same phrases, and answer questions in very similar ways. The ones who stand out are the ones who know how to position their uniqueness — their story, their results, and the specific value they bring to that role.


A few interview tips to help you stand out:

-Lead with impact, not duties. Share what you changed, improved, grew, or fixed.

-Tell short, clear stories using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

-Connect your experience directly to their problems, not just your past roles.

-Show personality and confidence, not just qualifications.

-Ask thoughtful questions that show you’re already thinking like someone in the role.


Just like these bottles, you don’t want to blend in on the shelf — you want to be the one they remember.

Would you like a copy of my Interviewing Guide to help you position your story and stand out in your next interview?

#bestweekever #jobseekers

Why Your LinkedIn Profile Photo Matters

Your photo is your first impression—before anyone reads your headline, summary, or experience.


❌ What not to do:

• Cropped wedding or vacation photos
• Group shots where people can’t tell who you are
• Sunglasses, hats, car selfies, or low-resolution images
• Poor lighting that makes you look tired or unapproachable


✅ What works:

• A clear, professional head-and-shoulders shot
• Neutral background and natural light
• Confident, approachable expression
• Attire that matches your industry level


People connect with people, not profiles.

Your photo sets the tone for credibility, trust, and approachability.

#tech #money #careers #bestweekever #maui #hawaii

🌞 Happy Social Saturday, everyone! 🌟

Let’s do something powerful together today…

👉 If you’re seeing this, drop a comment and share WHY you’re on LinkedIn.

Are you here to:
• Land your next opportunity?
• Grow your business?
• Build your personal brand?
• Learn and connect with others?

Whatever your reason is — it matters.

Now here’s where it gets fun 👇

💥 Everyone who comments:
✔️ Take a few minutes to connect with others in the comments
✔️ Follow each other
✔️ Start real conversations

This is how you grow a network that actually works for you.

Not by scrolling…
But by showing up.

Let’s help each other win. 🤝

Drop your reason below 👇

#SocialSaturday #ConnectAndGrow #LinkedInGrowth #Networking #GrowTogether #BestWeekEver

Switching to a new field or industry can feel daunting, especially when you don’t have an established network. However, with the right approach, you can build meaningful connections and position yourself as a valuable professional in your target field. 

In this newsletter, we’ll explore actionable strategies for building a network from scratch and how my LinkedIn optimization course can help you expand your professional reach.

Why Networking is Crucial in a New Field

1. Unlocks Hidden Opportunities
An estimated 80% of jobs are found through networking, making it an essential part of your career strategy.

2. Helps You Learn the Industry
Connecting with professionals in your target field provides insights into industry trends, challenges, and best practices.

Switching to a new field or industry can feel daunting, especially when you don’t have an established network. However, with the right approach, you c

Open article: Networking Strategies and Actionable Advice: Building a Network from Scratch in a New Field by David Alto • 3 min read

Networking Strategies and Actionable Advice: Building a Network from Scratch in a New Field

Behind the scenes, this is what my work really looks like.

Every day, my clients are up against ATS systems that filter, scan, and reject resumes before a human ever sees them. Keywords, formatting, structure, and alignment to the job description all matter — and one wrong move can mean a great candidate never gets a chance.


So, I go to battle for them.

➡️ I translate experience into ATS-friendly language.

➡️ I optimize for search, ranking, and relevance.

➡️ I make sure their story isn’t lost to a robot before it reaches a recruiter.

Because talent deserves a fair shot — and the right resume is the key that gets you in the door.

Are you confident your resume would survive the first round with an ATS?

Ever notice how some of the best things don’t happen at full speed?

Careers.
Growth.
Confidence.
Clarity.

They don’t always come from rushing or reacting — they come from knowing when to slow down, look around, and move with intention.

So if your job search, career pivot, or next big decision feels “slow” right now… that doesn’t mean you’re stuck.

It might mean you’re doing it right.

Sometimes slowing down is how you avoid burnout, make better choices, and actually enjoy the process.

👉 Are you moving too fast… or finally moving on purpose?

Your resume might look great… but can it beat the ATS bots? 🤖

Most resumes never make it to human eyes because they aren’t built for how systems actually scan, rank, and filter candidates. That’s why my Advanced Resume Package focuses on more than just writing — it’s about strategy.

You get an editable, ATS-optimized resume, a cover letter, and 3 Beat-the-Bots scans so your resume is positioned to pass the software and reach real recruiters.

Because a resume should open doors, not get buried in a database.

Is your resume built to be found or just formatted?

taplio

The Battle

Tiffany Teasley

David Alto

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taplio

The Battle

Tiffany Teasley

David Alto

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Tiffany Teasley's LinkedIn Performance

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