A Journey from Geology to Data Analytics “The Beginning”
If Covid -19 Pandemic has anything to teach us, it would be our unfeasibility to live inside our own ivory tower. Covid-19 has pushed us to explore new fields of expertise.
“considering covid-19 as a complex problem, It cuts across disciplinary boundaries; requires integrating knowledge, skills, and insights from different domains. Disciplinary mastery is still necessary, but it will not be sufficient. ” — Tan Eng Chye, President of NUS
This quotation kicks me in the heart. Because reflecting on this saying, I see our lives — at least mine — is shaped in a similar structure.
The Background of my Study Field Choice
I have always been interested in political figures and issues since a very young age and have somewhat been moved by their words and actions. Yet back then, it did not compel me enough to drive my aim for an office in politics. I did not take a political-related major as my Bachelor’s degree. Rather, my interest in science and outdoor activities dictated my choice of Geological Engineering as a Bachelor’s degree, a stable and perfect combination of natural science and field activities.
Many things did I learn during my years of studying geology, but one discovery I found particularly fascinating: as an archipelagic country, Indonesia has numerous islands, and interestingly, is also located at the confluence of 3 large tectonic plates, supporting the formation of mountains and volcanoes, locating most areas in Indonesia within the Ring of Fire. This results in Indonesia being an ideal tourist destination for its beautiful natural sceneries. I was in college when I learned all these interesting facts.
If Geology is so interesting, why then did I shift my career?
All these started from one national event that shook the nation, coinciding with my college entrance: the election of Jokowi-Ahok as The Governor and The Vice Governor of Jakarta for the Period of 2012–2017. They were showing goodwill, good attitudes, and high competence in their field; and more importantly, they made tangible changes for the citizens of Jakarta despite their rather peculiar backgrounds. Not only did their divergent backgrounds not hinder their political aspirations, but their diverse knowledge in other fields has also contributed to their political success. These two candidates have rejuvenated my interest in the government and the public sectors; arising my ardor to contribute directly to the government should there be an opportunity.
My determination then escalates further along with the hype in the world of Big Data & Analytics these past 10–15 years, leading me to further follow my interest in the field.
The government has also begun acknowledging the importance of data analytics — data collection, utilization, and visualization, which data can be used to provide insights to organizations, including the government, as the government tries to create data-based policies. One clear evidence is the initiation of the establishment of the Jakarta Smart City. This government acknowledgment of the importance of data analytics opened an opportunity for me to contribute in the governmental offices; and here I am today, a data guy in the government.
The Challenges Along the Way
Was the shift from a geologist to a data guy a light process?
What are the challenges of transitioning from Geology to Data Analytics?
I have been dealing with policy-making activities in the Jakarta Governmental Body for the past 3 years, whilst learning and deep-diving the world of data analysis in the context of the Jakarta Provincial Government.
Humbly speaking, I struggled in learning the required technical skills as well as the supporting soft skills, as it was a challenge to learn new things, whilst having to complete the office’s daily tasks at the same time. To overcome this challenge, I often allocate my weekend for self-development every now and then.
Learning the necessary skills for Data Analytics
Since high school, I have realized that computer skills might not be my thing. I still remember when I had to learn Turbo Pascal for some time, invested so much time on it, but all to no avail. Back then I had tried to write some codes, but because of the frequent punctuation misses, rarely did my codes work.
When joining JSC as a Business Analyst, you had to learn all the technical skills (including Structured Query Language (SQL), programming languages, and analytical tools) from scratch bit-by-bit — of course with the help of friends and colleagues. All these were not easy but essential.
Thankfully, the struggles lead up to the production of dashboard and data visualization on the official website of corona.jakarta.go.id that should benefit anyone who wants to get the latest information about COVID-19 in Jakarta. In addition to the website, two academic papers on Data-Based Policy and Evidence-Based Culture related to the pandemic have also been published in International and National-scale conference and journal.
Learning how the government bureaucratic works
When we talk about government institutions, many people would immediately think of the complicated bureaucracy. Bureaucracy in a formal organization has its place as its manner of operation is bound by certain regulations. Yet, I admit it is sometimes too much.
Being a rather reserved person entering such a working environment, I realized more clearly than ever that strong communication skills are critical in the governmental day-to-day context. We work across divisions and agencies in our project’s engagement. It is not merely technical skills that help you through all the circumstances, but also how you interact and communicate with others. In which case, collaboration is our key factor.
Jakarta Smart City, as a Regional Business Service Entity under the Provincial Government of Jakarta, is naturally a hub of innovation that allows many parties to work together. And having the chance to participate in creating digital ecosystems in Jakarta (such as the cooperation with government agencies, academic institutions, startups, and companies) has exposed me to various social interactions.
These massive-scale social interactions have shaped me in such a way that this reserved person can now actively engage in discussions even to the extent of representing Jakarta Smart City as a speaker. In addition, there have been some opportunities where I share data analytics and smart city-related issues with university students in academic institutions to widen their perspectives.
Final Thoughts
Through learning multiple fields, I have now acquired the eyes that see people beyond their defined title, major, or interests. I believe that anyone who comes from any diverging background — like myself in comparison to data analytics and government policy making — has the capacity to explore even the most peculiar fields they could think of.
As we come to a close, I am reminded of another saying an old man once told me,
“A man is not what he thinks, a man is not what he says nor what he does, but a man is how he reacts to what is given him.”
I hope my story would strengthen those who fear change and are unsure of making a shift in their path.
This is my story, what’s yours?
About the Author
I am a Business Analyst (Data & Analytics Division) in Jakarta Smart City, Provincial Government of Jakarta.
I love performing analysis and providing insights and recommendations to help policy makers generate better decisions.
In my free time, I love playing piano, running, and cycling.
Please reach out to Hansen via LinkedIn
