Bloom: Leonor Drummond
After studying veterinary medicine in Portugal and kite surfing in the Philippines, Leonor Drummond trained as a Data Scientist in Artificial Intelligence in Belgium. Her story consists mainly of learning a lot, and preferably as fast as possible. Read here how Leonor, after an intensive agile journey, or rather race, found her place at Brainjar. 🔽
"I was always curious about how things worked together. When I was little, I wanted to know why and how my Duracell rabbit's eyes lit up. That's how I later started keeping a saltwater aquarium as a hobby - I found the parameters that created symbiosis particularly fascinating!"
About Duracell rabbit, technology and veterinary medicine
Leonor has experimented with technology and science since childhood: "I was always curious about how things worked together. When I was little, I wanted to know why and how my Duracell rabbit's eyes lit up. That's how I later started keeping a saltwater aquarium as a hobby - I found the parameters that created symbiosis particularly fascinating!' Her love of how different things affect each other scientifically led her, among other things, to four years of veterinary studies in her home country of Portugal. In between, she worked as an independent tour guide in a touristy Lisbon and undertook lucrative renovation projects. After a long trip to the Philippines where she learned to kite surf like a pro, she ended up in Belgium thanks to love. In search of stability and room for growth and innovation, she first worked her way through the various modules of intensive Dutch to obtain the ITNA level (Interuniversity Language Test Dutch for Non-Speakers) in just six months. In almost flawless Dutch, Leonor takes us along in her story of agility, entrepreneurship, growth, successful completion and iteration. Watch her words.
From Portugal to Belgium in steep learning curves
Leonor, you are from Madeira and you moved to Lisbon after four years of veterinary studies?
Indeed, I lived in Madeira until I was 17, then I went to Evora, in the centre of Portugal, to study. Due to circumstances, I stopped my studies after four years. Then my best friend, also a Leonor (laughs) said that I should start as a travel guide because I like studying languages and I am very social. I did that for four years. Lisbon was trendy and Airbnb became popular. I bought an old flat, managed the renovations and sold it for a profit, and did the same in Funchal. But I knew I wanted something different, to build a career where I could feel there was room for growth and innovation, where I could use my analytical skills.'
Then you came to Belgium?
No, we are not there yet," she laughs. Before I came to Belgium, I travelled to the Philippines for six months with my boyfriend. He was there for his work and for me it was a real holiday! It was also a period of reflection. I had renovated and sold three houses, it was time to find out what I really want to do. Then came corona so we went to Belgium, his home country.'
Data science and machine learning
How did you end up with data science?
The intensive Dutch course taught me to study again. All the courses were online, it was not easy. I had to be disciplined and study every day. Only then could I think about other courses.'
"When I was younger, I loved playing with computers and wanted to know how the different components worked together."
So, you activated your study mode to be able to learn again? So that you could take other courses?
Indeed, but I had to estimate how long the process would take and how many resources I had left to invest in myself. For personal reasons, I could not finish my last year of veterinary medicine. Picking up the study again here was too long, at least two to three years. In addition, I was always interested in technology. When I was younger, I loved playing with computers and wanted to know how the different components worked together. It was the right time for me to build a solid foundation towards a path where I could grow. To get more clarity in what I could do, I followed career coaching. The conclusion was: "Leonor, you are super, inquisitive and challenge is important to you. You should definitely work in IT." I attended three sessions on different areas in IT and found it very fascinating! And the interesting thing is that the career coach put me in contact with Gerrit, who works at The Cronos Group works. That was my first contact to get advice on what I could do.'
"The conclusion was: 'Leonor, you are super curious, curious and challenge is important for you. You should definitely work in IT."
Where did that conversation lead?
'I then spoke to several people. IT is interesting, but I found that data science was the closest thing to my interests. Shortly after, I came across the organisation BeCode that gives shortened courses in different branches of technology. After a few conversations, I took some exams and then followed the course in Ghent.'
So you took an eight-month course?
Yes, first a piece of Python to learn the basics of programming, but that was not enough. It was not easy because my experience with coding was limited. I did notice that my learning curve was rising quickly; it remained a challenge, but my favourite part was Machine Learning. So I delved into that in the second part of the course. There I had the feeling that I understood everything and that I was very good at it! At the end of the course, I had the basics of coding.
"I did notice that my learning curve was growing rapidly, it remained a challenge, but my favourite part was Machine Learning. There I felt like I understood everything and that I was really good at it!"
With machine learning, did you have an aha experience?
Yes, I was most interested in the mathematics and logic behind it. To make something work, you need a combination of different steps. You hear a lot about artificial intelligence, but I had no idea what it really was. In the course, data science was linked to AI. So I am really glad I did that!
The flying start at Brainjar
Meanwhile you are working at Brainjar, how did that go?
I started applying in September and had around 35 different interviews, which was really hardcore applying (laughs). By the middle of the process, I knew exactly what to say. You have a top three of your favourite companies and you have to make sure that you speak to them last. In the meantime, you can practice and learn a lot. For example, I was able to improve my programming skills greatly by doing many test projects for different companies during the application process. If they didn't hire me, I asked why and that way I could improve my skills each time.'
Another learning curve, a super-agile approach?
Yes absolutely! At the beginning of the interviews, I had decided that I wanted a job in AI. There are not so many companies working in that field. I had the choice between three companies, but Brainjar ticked all the boxes. AI was the main focus, but I also found it important to work in a friendly, pleasant and Dutch-speaking environment. In addition, I also wanted to do consultancy so that I could work in different projects. In the beginning, it is important to be able to work with different types of AI such as Computer Vision or NLP, so that I can improve and learn new things. I am still in a phase where I have to adapt a lot. I sometimes experience stress because I have to work and learn at the same time. I cannot compare myself with other colleagues. I made a career change in one year, with no previous experience in IT. So there are many technologies, processes, pipelines that I don't know yet. But I believe I will really see results within two or three years. But when people ask me what I do, I answer super enthusiastically that I am a Data Scientist! I'm looking forward to what's to come.'
"I sometimes experience stress because I have to work and learn at the same time. (...) I did a career change in one year, with no previous experience in IT. But when people ask me what I do, I answer super enthusiastically that I am a Data Scientist!"
When you look back at your course, what are you particularly proud of?
In recent years, I have had many moments when I was proud of myself. I have always done many sports, including horse riding and water sports. Kitesurfing is what I learned the other day. It was quite difficult; normally it takes 10 lessons, for me it was 30. Suddenly I was much better! It went so well that other girls came to me to ask how I was doing. It's just a question of keeping doing it, you go into the water and you keep trying until you succeed. Then one of them came with a present to thank me because she had succeeded. I was very proud of that and it was good for my self-confidence, of course! Learning Dutch and passing level 5 at Linguapolis (nvdr ITNA) was also a big challenge. And of course when I signed my contract with BrainjarI was so happy!
You are now going back on a learning curve, is there still a challenge to your final goal?
At the moment, I realise that the next few years will be a challenge. I can still grow a lot within AI, which makes me comfortable that I am on a good path. I am now focusing mainly on the shorter term and am not yet thinking too far into the future. Outside of work, I take on other challenges, I run, cycle, cook, I hope to run the 10 miles next year. I have a dog, maybe I will get a second dog. I am still busy building up my circle of friends, learning Dutch and creating more stability.
Brainjar is expanding rapidly and I think you can grow nicely with them. Do you want to deepen your base? Take more courses?
Yes indeed! Within my working hours, I get the chance to follow courses and to obtain certificates; I have learned Tensorflow and Python, for example. At Brainjar we are encouraged to keep learning and to get certificates. I get room to grow, and I really like that!
Do you already have projects that you are working on? What does that look like in practice?
I have done two so far. The first project was jewellery recognition based on an image. I worked with a colleague on the machine learning part which made me super happy! That was exactly what I wanted. I have to process all the images, for example based on size and correct colour, then I have to choose the right algorithm, a framework, there are several like TensorFlow, PyTorch or Scikit-Learn.'
"I look mainly to the future, my comfort zone is a space of growth and innovation."
Do you have a team in which everyone does a part?
Yes, that is true. I am currently working on a Klassif.ai project for a large customer. The idea is to process documents. I am responsible for the machine learning pipeline, some people are working on putting data in the right place, email integration or the front and back end. I receive documents from the company that go through my model, the model then recognises them, for example, as pro forma invoices or other types of documents.'
Are there things you say 'I should have known sooner', such as studying data science?
You can always question yourself, but that makes it harder and then you have a feeling of guilt. I don't really look back. The only thing I would do differently is not to try to do so many things at once. That's stressful. I mainly look to the future, my comfort zone is a space of growth and innovation.'
Want to know more about Leonor? Connect with her on LinkedIn!
