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.

Harinadh Jakka

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

•	Managed the administration of SCCM for a user base of over 50,000 and managing the deployment and packaging of over 1000 applications across various platforms.
•	Performed SCCM/MECM installations and managed upgrades/migrations from Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager Current branch various versions, most recently SCCM 2309 to 2403.
•	Utilized Symantec Ghost for disk imaging and cloning to streamline system deployments, ensuring efficient backup and restoration processes, which reduced deployment time by 25% across multiple workstations.
•	Implemented boundaries and boundary groups within SCCM/MECM, optimizing client communication and resource allocation across diverse network environments.
•	Designed Operating System Deployment (OSD) Task Sequences in SCCM for Windows 10 and Windows 11, achieving a 30% reduction in deployment time.
•	Managed mobile device administration for over 10,000 enterprise users using Office 365, Intune Standalone, Hybrid (SCCM integration with Intune), and Azure Active Directory environments.
•	Implemented Windows Autopilot for over 3000 pre-provisioned deployments, streamlining device setup and reducing manual configuration efforts by 40%.
•	Managed the deployment of applications from the Windows Business Store, LOB applications, Win32 applications, Android Play Store, and iOS App Store, ensuring secure and efficient distribution.
•	Implemented BitLocker Drive Encryption with Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM), securing data on enterprise devices and ensuring recovery keys are securely stored in Azure Active Directory and Active Directory.
•	Leveraged App-V to virtualize applications dependent on multiple versions of various software packages.
•	Designed complex query-based user and computer collections and automated Reports for Asset management, Software inventory including integration with Power BI.

SCCM/Intune Engineer

Inedge Technologies

•	Supported application packaging efforts by creating and modifying MSI and MST files using InstallShield Admin Studio improving software development accuracy
•	Contributed to zero-touch and lite-touch deployments, helping automate the OS deployment process and reducing manual intervention in imaging tasks.
•	Assisted in monitoring and troubleshooting MECM Distribution Points, ensuring successful content distribution and availability during deployments.
•	Utilized Windows Internals and Sysinternals tools (including Process Monitor, Autoruns) to troubleshoot and automate various tasks for server operating systems, improving system performance and reducing manual intervention by 20%.
•	Assisted clients in planning operating system and service pack upgrades, and performed hardware, OS, and application installations.
•	Deployed and configured new sites, servers, and roles for optimal performance and functionality.
•	Extensively involved in L3 troubleshooting for SCCM/Intune-related issues including deployment failures, software distribution errors, and network related concerns, resolving 95% of escalated incidents.
•	Provided support to clients in administering the deployment of policies (configuration and compliance) to company-owned and user-owned mobile devices.

SCCM Engineer

Geokno India Private Limited

•	Designed and implemented custom SCCM/MECM reports, enabling the management to track software deployments, compliance status, and system performance, reducing reporting time by 30%
•	Developed Group Policy Objects (GPOs) for over 500 workstations, standardizing security settings, application deployments, and user configurations, resulting in improved compliance with organizational policies.
•	Managed and maintained Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) within SCCM, ensuring timely distribution of critical security updates and patches, achieving a compliance rate of 95%.
•	Implemented and managed Microsoft Intune Mobile Device management (MDM) policies for more than 300 corporate and BYOD devices, enhancing security controls and reducing unauthorized accidents significantly.
•	Configured and managed primary and secondary SCCM sites and branch distribution points to optimize software delivery and content distribution across geographically dispersed locations, resulting in a 40% improvement in deployment speed and reducing network bandwidth usage by 30%.
•	Created and tested software packages using tools like InstallShield, ORCA, and Flexera Admin Studio ensuring successful deployment and patches for Windows desktops, which reduced installation errors by 20%.
•	Created and optimized Wise Script packages for software deployment, ensuring seamless installation processes, and reducing deployment failures by 30%, which increased overall system reliability and user productivity.
•	Utilized SCCM log files such as smsexec.log, distmgr.log and client.msi.log to resolve deployment issues, which reduced 25% in troubleshooting time.
•	Leveraged Process Monitor and Beyond Compare for deeper troubleshooting of software and system issues.

•	Assisted in creating and managing SCCM task sequences for system imaging and deployment of Windows operating systems, leading to a 20% reduction in deployment time.
•	Resolved Level 1 and 2 support for SCCM related tickets, addressing user issues related to software installations and systems configurations.
•	Efficiently monitored the health of SCCM infrastructure, including distribution points and site servers, ensuring 98% uptime and consistent system performance across 500+ endpoints
•	Documented and maintained procedures for routine SCCM tasks, including deployments, updates, and troubleshooting steps, improving team efficiency.
•	Assisted in the configuration and rollout of monthly Windows security updates, achieving an 85% compliance rate across managed devices.
•	Assisted in developing VBScripts to automate routine administrative tasks such as software installations, user profile management and system cleanups, reducing manual workload by 30%.
•	Conducted frequent software and hardware inventory scans with SCCM.

With over 5 years of experience in SCCM/MECM and Intune, I specialize in deploying and managing enterprise systems that enhance IT infrastructure reliability and optimize user experiences. My expertise spans SCCM (System Centre Configuration Manager), System Centre Endpoint Protection (SCEP), Microsoft Intune, Azure Active Directory, VMware Horizon Hyper-V, Autopilot, MDT, Install Shield, Auto Patch, and Azure AD connector

💼During my career, I’ve successfully led initiatives that reduced deployment times by 25% and streamlined patching processes to ensure compliance across diverse organizational structures. By automating repetitive activities with PowerShell, I reduced manual effort by 40%, allowing for faster and more reliable application rollouts. Additionally, I successfully supported the move to Intune, which enables remote device management for a globally distributed workforce. My passion lies in identifying challenges and designing solutions that increase efficiency and scalability.

☁️ Currently, I am expanding my skill set in cloud-based endpoint management by leveraging Microsoft Intune and Azure Active Directory to design secure and scalable solutions. My work involves implementing Conditional Access policies and integrating Zero Trust security principles to protect enterprise resources. I am actively interested in pursuing additional certifications in cloud technologies to stay ahead of industry trends.

🗺️🚀When I’m not working in a professional setting, you can find me reading a good fiction novel, going on road trips, or trying out a variety of foods from various cultures. I can connect to the amount of creativity this brings to my professional life, as well as the value of working in an organization where I can engage with people across the world.

🤝I appreciate your interest in my LinkedIn profile, recruiters, hiring managers, and professionals globally. I'd like to speak with you about potential positions that match my skills, where I can use my knowledge to make a significant effect. Let's start a conversation about how I can be a valuable asset to your team.
 
🕵🏼 Feel free to reach out to me here on LinkedIn or at 📧 harinadhjakka4@gmail.com. I'm always eager to discuss ideas, projects, and industry trends.

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Tiffany Teasley

Harinadh Jakka

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The Battle

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Harinadh Jakka

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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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