Committee member Nestor Delgado
“It is not always the most sophisticated model that makes the biggest contribution to a project.”
Pronouns He/him
Roles Quantitative Analyst in electronic Foreign Exchange at State Street Bank and Trust | I have volunteered for DataDives as an event Diver and as a Data Ambassador. I'm also part of the Community Committee and as such I have hosted some events for DataKind UK. I've also worked on DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) topics and on our Linked group, which you need to check out if you haven't yet!
Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/nestor-leon-delgado
How did you first get into data?
As a kid I wanted to be a TV quiz presenter. I always loved quiz questions that were numeric, or about finding patterns. You could say those were early signs of a love for data.
What advice would you give to someone getting started with data?
My advice is: get your hands dirty! It is important to know data techniques and stay on top of new trends and advances. But the most important thing is to play with data. No textbook or instruction video can top hands-on experience.
What was your first volunteering experience with DataKind UK like?
My first experience with DataKind UK was during COVID at an online DataDive event. I volunteered for Christians Against Poverty. I found it very challenging as I wasn't sure if I was doing enough, but I am very happy I stuck around. The post-pandemic experiences have been amazing, spending time with wonderful people.
What are the most important things you learned from volunteering?
A big moment of realisation for me was when some clearly labeled but simple graphs made the charity representatives understand a potential area of future focus for them.
It is not always the most sophisticated model that makes the biggest contribution to a project: it could be a simple, well thought-through, and well-presented piece of analysis.
What is a data project that inspires you?
The Royal Society put up an enormous effort to coordinate modelling efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic (RAMP).
Is there a resource you'd recommend?
3Blue1Brown is always putting great content on his YouTube channel. I'd recommend his latest series on LLMs.
Tell us something completely non-data-related about yourself!
I am part of a community drama group in the Isle of Dogs called SpaceWorks. We put on a couple of plays a year - if you are in East London come and check it out!
