Data Career Academy

Send us Fan Mail Vicky Torres sent over 1,000 job applications in 12 months. She got four interviews—every one through referrals. Zero came from job boards. This wasn’t about weak credentials. Torres holds a B.S. in IT and an M.S. in Data Analytics, founded a women-in-tech org, and built real projects. What changed everything: she stopped playing by the old rules. Here's what actually got her...

Send us Fan Mail Matt Brattin, former CFO and 20-year corporate veteran, shares insider perspectives on data analytics hiring from the decision-maker's side. He reveals what truly sets candidates apart, common misconceptions about the interview process, and actionable strategies for standing out in today's competitive job market. Key Insights The interview isn't adversarial - Hiring...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 08: From Math Classroom to Healthcare Analytics with Megan McKay What happens when a math instructor asks, “Where can I take the math?” For Megan McKay, the answer was analytics, intentional networking, and a referral that led to Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina. In this episode, Megan unpacks her pivot from teaching undergrad math to landing a newly minted analyst...

Send us Fan Mail Cleared Intel Recruiting with Navy Veteran Marisol Maloney Navy veteran and former Nurse Corps officer turned intel professional and recruiter, Marisol Maloney joins Albert to pull back the curtain on cleared hiring. From must have requirements to ATS myths, she explains exactly how veterans and career changers can position themselves for success. Marisol also runs Secret Squirrel...

Send us Fan Mail Breaking into analytics isn’t easy—especially fresh out of school. In this episode of the Data Career Academy Podcast, I sit down with Aidan Karmazinski, now a Financial Analyst with NAVFAC (Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command), to hear how he went from applying everywhere with little success to landing a role with the U.S. Navy. Aidan walks us through his journey: growin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Data Career Academy Podcast , Albert Bellamy sits down with Samantha Fitzsimmons , a former speech-language pathologist who successfully transitioned into the world of data analytics. Samantha spent 14 years helping patients improve communication and cognitive function before making the bold decision to pivot her career. Today, she’s a job seeker in the anal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Data Career Academy Podcast , I sit down with Jennifer Jaurequi , a newly hired staff accountant with a data edge . Jennifer’s path to her current role at Coast Hills Credit Union is anything but linear. With a background in math, a season of teaching, and multiple data bootcamps under her belt, she’s proof that you don’t need the title “analyst” to leverage...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Data Career Academy Podcast, we sit down with Taqi Patrick—a public sector professional with 22 years of experience, decades of technical know-how, and a big goal: transitioning into a data analytics (and possibly data engineering) career before retirement. Taqi’s story is proof that you don’t need to be in a “data analyst” role to develop serious data skill...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Albert Bellamy interviews Claudia Amador , a former software engineer and educator who is now transitioning into a full-time data and reporting analyst role. Claudia shares her unique journey from building SQL features for a database company, to teaching high school math and computer science, and finally to educational data analysis—where she improved data quality...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Data Career Academy Podcast , host Albert Bellamy welcomes Stephanie Holman: technical recruiter, content creator, and podcast host at MetroStar, for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the hiring process in the tech and cleared spaces. Stephanie shares her journey from school guidance counselor to technical recruiter and offers sharp insights on how candida...