Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in data science consulting but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Piyanka Jain, CEO of Aryng, located in Sunnyvale, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a management consulting firm focused on analytics and building a data science culture based in Silicon Valley. We take the role of a strategic and execution partner in data for startups in the fintech, e-commerce, and consumer apps space with a validated business model and scalability.
Tell us about yourself
I have always loved numbers and math—having derived the Pythagorean theorem in my own fashion four years too early for my grade. But on the other hand, I'm not too fond of statistics. I love that Math is always black and white; 1+1 will always equal 2. And Statistics is all about estimation. I prefer to get my hands on the results right away. I worked in different roles like coding, localized marketing, etc. I landed a senior analyst job, using both my creative side of the brain and my numerical one. I learned applied data science and analysis and quickly advanced through my career as I found my passion. I ensured that my play with data was translated to action and positive consequences for the business.
Over the years, as I spoke at conferences, I heard firsthand experiences about data from compatriots in other organizations. They were overwhelmed—with data, Big Data, analytics, predictive analytics—and while many had jumped on the bandwagon, their investment in analytics wasn't delivering much return on investment (ROI). The whole scene was vague and complex. There was a need we could fill.
In 2011, I started Aryng; a management consulting firm focused on analytics. BADIR, which stands for Business question, Analysis plan, Data collection, Insights, and Recommendations, is a simple five-step framework for turning data into smarter decisions, it was born years before this, and now we use this framework for business impact for all the organizations that became our clients. And the key success factor for me was that I always kept our stakeholders satisfied and happy. Talking about what keeps me motivated is the satisfaction I find in solving problems and seeing organizations, people, and myself transform through those solutions.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is that at Aryng, we could build a combination of a highly functioning team with impact and dedication and also believe in having fun as we work towards common goals. This has helped us form the company's culture that runs deep in our organization, where we scale daily. The core value contributing to such an accomplishment is my love for people in my organization, clients, and everyone that is part and parcel of my company.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Ironically, what contributed to my accomplishment also contributed to the hardest part of being in my position. The personal connection I form with people and how much I treasure them greatly impacts my being when I see them leave. Be it the employees or clients; the loss also takes a bit of a toll on me.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I would like to say, firstly, be true to yourself. You cannot help anyone if you don't love what you do, so find that passion that drives you, and success will follow, or the means to make a living will present itself sooner or later.
Secondly, as an entrepreneur, it is important to be willing to learn new things every day. The challenges that this environment can throw at you are tremendous, so if you are rigid and try to limit your knowledge in any way as you climb the ladder of success, you will stagnate at a point that will have a negative impact on the business one way or another.
And lastly, have perseverance as it is easy to jump on the bandwagon, such as data science but very hard to keep moving forward as the road can get tough and narrow. Hence, passion, willingness to learn, and perseverance will help you start, run, and grow a business for a very long time.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Be human first. It is important to have a balance in life where the profession takes a prominent position, and so do your other parts of life. Work-life balance is promoted worldwide in all companies these days, and I am a strong believer in the value of such a balance. And more than ever, as social media dictates many things in people's lives these days, remembering that you are human first will take you a long way.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://aryng.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AryngConsulting/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/analyticsqueen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piyanka/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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