Asurion

Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Asurion expert repair teams by providing comprehensive data insights and analytical support. By indirectly supporting field experts through the analysis of work performed by Asurion support teams, we work to optimize processes, improve service quality, and ensure that our experts have the necessary resources to deliver exceptional repairs on insured devices. Our commitment is to drive value and innovation through continuous data-driven improvements.

Manager, Field Support Analytics

As Manager of Quantitative Analytics at Asurion, my primary responsibility was to drive actionable insights through data analysis and visualization. I developed robust dashboards that effectively communicated program health and supporting metrics to key stakeholders while designing reports that pinpointed areas for improvement in systems and channels. Through these reports, the company was able to make data-driven decisions that improved overall performance.

In addition to driving insights through data analysis, I was also valued for my ability to assist with the  training and mentoring of analysts and business end users. I developed training programs that equipped analysts and business end users with the necessary skills to effectively analyze data and provide insights to stakeholders. I also provided ongoing support and coaching to ensure that everyone was able to effectively contribute to the company's success.

Collaboration was a key aspect of my role, as I partnered with various teams to enhance system logging, gather project requirements, and implement the latest text analytics techniques to better understand customers' needs. Through this collaborative approach, I was able to identify and implement solutions that saved Asurion millions of dollars in unnecessary replacements, reduced costly claims, and improved on-time arrival for repair technicians.

My experience with Asurion's AWS big-data platform allowed me to quickly identify performance changes in near real-time, enabling me to make recommendations and implement changes that improved overall program performance. I am actively seeking new opportunities in analytics roles that value data-driven decision-making, strategic thinking, and collaboration, including roles that involve training and mentoring of analysts.

Manager Quantitative Analytics

Murphy USA

I successfully led the team in leveraging my expertise in SQL Server to drive operational insights for retail sales, inventory, labor requirements, and scheduling needs. My team and I developed stored procedures and SQL agent jobs to extract, transform, and load data into customized Power BI/Excel-based reports, which were critical in providing actionable insights for executive leadership.

Trained Team Members in Analytical Tools and Led Successful Implementation of Custom Labor Model and Blue Yonder Workforce Management for Retail SaaS Solution

I also made sure to train team members in the analytical tools they needed to analyze data effectively, so they could contribute to our team's success. In addition, I led the successful implementation of a custom labor model and Blue Yonder Workforce Management for Retail SaaS solution across all retail locations. This implementation resulted in significant improvements in workforce management, employee productivity, and ultimately, customer satisfaction.

I believe in collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive operational efficiency. Throughout my time as the manager of the Operations Analytics Team, I worked closely with other departments, such as sales, marketing, and finance, to identify and address operational inefficiencies. This approach helped us to develop more effective strategies, reduce costs, and increase revenue.

My skills and experience in SQL Server, data analytics, and project management have enabled me to successfully manage my team and deliver exceptional results. I have extensive experience in creating reports and data visualizations, data analysis and modeling, and database management. I am also skilled in identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) and developing metrics to track progress towards operational goals.

Senior Operations Analyst

JPMorgan Chase

I played a crucial role in designing, developing, and maintaining reports to extract and analyze data from multiple sources. Utilizing a range of software and tools, including P/L SQL, Excel, MS Access, and VBScripting, I created insightful analytical reports and presentations for management at all levels.

To ensure the highest level of confidentiality and data privacy, I had a deep understanding of how to handle sensitive information and always adhered to data privacy policies. In addition, I constantly sought out alternative solutions to meet user requests, using established applications and tools to identify new and innovative ways to present data.

As part of my responsibilities, I participated in report testing and meticulously documented any bugs found, assisting in the resolution of any problems. I also validated the accuracy of data and helped prepare reports while interpreting and gathering requirements to efficiently fulfill requests.

With a proven track record of developing, analyzing, and reporting at various levels of expertise, from basic to executive reporting, I proactively suggested applicable metrics and calculations to address topics. My analytical experience allowed me to make informed decisions and provide insightful recommendations to management, improving the overall performance of the organization.

Business Operations Analyst

I am a highly skilled Manager of Quantitative Analytics with expertise across various industries such as finance, retail, and insurance. Throughout my career, I have successfully developed and implemented sophisticated quantitative models, dashboards, and reporting systems that have substantially improved the financial performance of multiple organizations. My exceptional communication skills enable me to effectively present complex findings to senior management and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive successful outcomes. As I continue to progress in my career, my goal is to leverage my extensive experience and expertise to drive innovation and optimize business processes in the dynamic field of quantitative analytics.

Happy Thanksgiving from Jackie, Scar, Mufasa, and me. Work gets loud, life runs fast, and every now and then we need a holiday to remind us that the best things are still the people we share life with. Family, friends, coworkers, even that GAI bot someone out there decided to name Chad.

I am thankful for the folks who show up, the teams that grind with heart, and the small wins that do not always make noise but still move us forward. I am grateful for the messages, the ideas traded back and forth, the encouragement, and the connections we build here. I realized not long ago that I dont have to know everything, I just have to be curious enough to learn. So I depend on you to tell me what you are excited about? What am I missing?

If you are traveling, resting, cooking, or trying to keep the kitchen from setting off a smoke alarm, I hope this week treats you right. May your plate be full, your home be calm enough, and your heart be light.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Enjoy it. You earned it.

Ryan Simmons

AI Innovation in Field Analytics | Turning Data into Impact | Manager, Quantitative Analytics | MBA

A analyst pulled me aside yesterday and shared her fear about being replaced by GAI. I told her not to stress. These tools have limits and someone still needs to understand how to troubleshoot their queries and the models behind them. You cant be an analyst without learning new things all the time. The field never stops moving.

When I started out, most reporting lived in Excel. Some reports had external data connections, and when we needed to transform data we would spin up an Access database. Later we ran our own SQL Server and built reports in SSRS and Crystal Reports. After that the work shifted into Power BI and Tableau, with full data models layered over messy source systems.

Now the next step is putting those same governed models behind natural language tools and LLM powered assistance. Im actually hopeful about this because natural language will help us unlock deeper insights from the data we already have. It will also give us a better view into how people use our data products, something that was always harder to measure in Power BI and Tableau.

My job will evolve, but thats nothing new. It has always evolved. Its wild to look back at the path we took to get here, and even wilder to think about where this will go next.

#DataAnalytics #GenerativeAI #BusinessIntelligence

Im on the bus heading toward the office, easing back into the rhythm after a little time away. The inbox is waiting. The projects are waiting. Even the awkward elevator conversations are probably waiting. Breaks are great, but you hit that point where your brain flips back into go mode and you know its time. Pretty sure I also watched one too many holiday movies because now every problem looks like it needs a heartwarming montage and a cheerful soundtrack.

Theres something kind of motivating about it though. Theres a weird comfort in the routine. You pick up the pieces, you pull on the jacket, and you get moving again. My peeps need me and theres a lot to wrap up before the end of the year. Guess its time to trade the remote for real work again.

I appreciate the folks who were on call while I was fully unplugged. This is the stuff no one sees. The prep, the planning, the quiet moments of panic when something breaks. Whether youre running analytics or running a sleigh route, the backstage matters way more than most people realize.

Coming back from a break always feels like walking into a room where everything is already dressed and ready to go. Coats lined up. Boots ready. Tasks staring at you like hey buddy, welcome back. But hey, thats the job and honestly its part of what makes the work feel real.

So heres to everyone showing up, shaking off the break dust, and stepping back into the suit. Holidays are coming fast, the year is almost done, and theres still plenty worth doing. Lets get to it.

#Leadership #Motivation #WorkLife

Yesterday I got pulled into a chat about how a team could get more out of AI. I jumped in right away and brought my own crew with me. It just felt right. We learn together or we fail together. We didnt have to do this. Everyone is slammed and we are rolling into a holiday week. The person asking for help was super respectful of our time, but I knew we should jump on it now because when someone reaches out, thats usually the moment they are most open to new ideas.

When we started I could feel the curiosity and a little bit of nervous energy in the room. Thats the sweet spot because it means people actually care. You can tell when a group is ready to learn. We went through the tool and some of the settings that people sometimes miss. I also offered some of the limitations of our current environment. There are a few pain points to consider. I invited my team members to share their experiences. It was a good session.

The best part was watching folks realize they dont need to be prompt engineers to get value out of this. They just need to stay curious and work in partnership with AI instead of expecting the tool to do everything with limited context. 

It felt good helping people get over that first hump. And honestly it makes our company a little sharper every time we do it.

If your team is trying to figure out where to start with AI, start with each other. That part still matters more than the tech.

#AIAtWork
#GenerativeAI
#Upskilling

Sometimes you are better off all by yourself. I hit a point where the nonstop noise from social media was messing with my head, so I cut it all off. The only place I check in now is LinkedIn and even that stays on my iPad. My phone is clean and way calmer because of it. My family hasnt taken this ride with me though. My sons and my wife still show me the wild AI videos they find and I just laugh and go along with it.

I used to blame the apps for being toxic, and honestly some of them kinda are, but the truth is the whole online culture can get loud and messy. LinkedIn has its moments too. You get a mix of real people, performance posts, and the usual look at me energy. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it drains you. Meanwhile I put on the news and folks around me are deep in TikTok or following some influencer saga like its the playoffs.

The bigger thing that pushed me away was the noise. Everyone talking all at once, trying to be right, trying to go viral. It gets distracting fast. Once you step back you notice how much time and attention you gave to stuff that doesnt matter at all. You start to feel lighter, like you got some brain space back.

And then theres the culture war stuff. Politics turned into a sport. Outrage updates every five minutes. Everyone yelling at shadows. Its wild how quickly it spills into every space. Im not trying to live inside that storm. Cutting back helped me breathe a bit and focus again and that feels pretty damn good. I’ll share moments of this journey here because honestly I won’t be able to share it anywhere else.

#mentalhealth #focus #mindfulness #personaldevelopment

I’ve been testing the new OpenAI 5.1 model on iOS and it’s a big jump. It follows my personalization settings way better than older versions. The tone stays steady, the personality stays on track, and it actually seems to understand what I’m aiming for instead of twisting my instructions around. Even the AI art is coming out stronger because 5.1 translates my prompts to the image generation model a lot better.

Im seeing better reasoning, tighter instruction-following, and a warmer feel in normal conversation. Simple stuff feels smoother and the model switches between quick replies and deeper thinking on its own. I get this is also a cost move for OpenAI. But it makes sense. Not every prompt needs max power so having something that checks how much effort is needed before firing up the engine is a good idea.

Since it follows instructions so cleanly now, I’m starting to notice all the little hacks I built into my settings to control older models aren’t needed anymore. I’ll probably rewrite everything this weekend and cut out a bunch of rules. Always nice when things get simpler instead of more complicated.

Curious to see where this goes, but 5.1 is off to a very strong start.

#AI #OpenAI #ChatGPT

Once a leader told me that a person was leaving me in the lurch as I had to work on a strategy to quickly replace them. The comment took me off guard as I was the one who suggested that the employee take the opportunity in front of them. I knew by getting this opportunity they would be one step closer to their goal.

“This is not about me.” I told the leader immediately. “This is about what is best for them.”

I always work to understand what each person on my team is chasing. Some are deep in a degree program. Some are building a family. Some are facing one end of a health challenge. Some are planning their next move at work. I know nobody is staying with me forever. I get a short window to help them get closer to whatever they want, and I take that window serious.

A lot of that comes from what I dealt with in the past. I have worked under folks who were full of entitlement, low on empathy, and needed all the attention. I try to lead in the complete opposite way. I focus on what each person wants for their life, not on what makes me look good.

So I make sure they understand the benefits that can help them. I give time when they need it. I stay available. I cheer for their wins. I listen. And I accept that their long term path might take them somewhere else. Thats not a loss. Thats the whole point. If they leave better than they arrived, thats impact.

#ServantLeadership
#TeamCulture
#Leadership

My neighbors and I have a sup relationship. I see one of them. I kick my head up and say sup. They do the same and we are good for like six months. Zero maintenance. Its beautiful. Im sure if my house was on fire one of them would come over and say more than one syllable but until then we keep things cordial. Thats fine because we are all busy.

So I figured hey lets try this at work. Big mistake. I say good morning and folks hit me with the eyes forward power walk like theyre late for a NASA launch. I could be holding a winning lottery ticket and they still aint breaking stride. It got worse after the pandemic too. I can usually get one syllable out of them if I corner them in the elevator before they retreat into their phones. I get it. I do it too.

We get so locked into our own heads that even the simple stuff like hey how you doing feels like a full commitment. But honestly most of the good ideas Ive seen this year came from tiny moments when someone stopped for two seconds and actually talked. Not a meeting. Not a call. Just a quick human moment.

It happens on Slack too. Try starting a convo in there and watch the silence hit. But the second an SVP says something they get fifty Steve Ballmer emojis like its a pep rally. I wish I was kidding. I know you see it too. All of this just reminds me that people arent avoiding us. They are just tired and juggling too much. A tiny bit of real connection goes a long way right now. Even one extra sentence can change the whole tone of a day. So Im gonna keep trying and maybe someone else will look up and try too.

Happy Sunday.

#sundayfunday #communication #suprelationships

Doomsayers on here love to say we are living in a AI bubble and its all about to burst. Their evidence is usually something like AI wrote them a weird poem or gave a bad travel plan. AI pictures of Thanksgiving tamales. Then in the comments someone proudly says they never use AI and never will. Everyone cheers each other on like they all discovered fire by avoiding it.

Feels like a bubble of its own if you ask me.

I don’t get the hate. It’s a tool and it has its uses but it’s also limited. It gets things wrong but it can also enhance employee performance. There are 800M weekly users of ChatGPT now. That’s pretty crazy. The internet is forever changed. We are never going back.

Truth is I do think we are in a valuation bubble and someone is going to be left holding the bag when the dust settles. Some company or two will overshoot. Some investors will get burned. Happens in every gold rush.

But AI isnt going anywhere. It will be in everything we touch online. You wont escape it. You may claim to not use it while it silently runs in the background of your favorite apps. It may even be serving you content on LinkedIn. 

We can hate the hype and still see where things are headed. The tools are only going to get sharper. It continues to improve at a rapid pace and we want to be the leaders who guide its application instead of those trying to bury it. The question is not if you use AI but how fast you adapt when everyone else already has.

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalTransformation

Source: Washington Post

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