Hannah Pham (pictured), head of data science and product analytics, consumers, at Pinterest Inc., loved math early in life. Data science became an attractive field to her given its focus of using data and math to solve problems and make things better.

There’s so much good that can be done with data, according to Pham. It’s why she said she was drawn to Pinterest.

“The power of what you can do with the implication of the models, of the insights you bring to the table, and how does that feed all of the decisions,” Pham said. “Knowing and being aware of all of that is so important. As a company, we very much care about [it]. It’s just the positive corner of the internet.”

Pham discussed more about her journey into data science with theCUBE host Savannah Peterson at the Women in Data Science Worldwide Conference, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed how to streamline user experiences on social platforms and Pham’s advice to women starting their careers in data science.

Streamlined user experiences and supporting women in data science

With a goal of emphasizing Pinterest’s role as being “the positive corner of the internet,” teams have been working on how to bring forward a positive user experience, according to Pham. If a user is looking at the home feed, the team will consider the search behavior, among other factors.

“Most recently, we’re looking at shopping. How do we make it all [come together] — all of the behaviors, all of the intent?” she asked. “People are here to shop, people are here to dream, to plan, to build a life. How do we put all of those in a very streamlined, seamless way?”

It means that Pinterest shouldn’t push things in front of people that they don’t want to see, Pham explained. On the contrary, it’s more about seeking to optimize the feeds to optimize happiness.

“The home feed one is basically based on people’s previous behavior, to serve people [what] they would like; the most suitable for them, is what we see on the home feed,” she said.

At the WiDS Conference, there were countless empowered women in data science in the room. Years ago, Pham said she would have loved the opportunity to receive advice from women further along in their careers.

“Now, I’m thinking about … talking to all the women, very inspiring women that I meet today, what do I tell them?” Pham noted. “I would say, I know it sounds corny, but follow your dream. It is the only thing I can say.”

Not everything will work out exactly as expected, but it’s important to put in due diligence, work hard and ask for advice and support she added. It’s also important for everyone to step up to the plate.

“Years ago, when I started thinking about empowering women, I focused so much on what should women do. I think equally a part of it is how should we educate allies,” Pham said. “[We] shouldn’t put all of the responsibility on the women to put themselves out there to ask for help. I think it’s allies. There’s so much we can do.”

That might mean a conversation or an effort to put oneself into someone else’s shoes, according to Pham. It’s about understanding someone else’s struggle.

“Talk to the women in your life. Understand what [they] need. Ask how you can help,” she said.

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE Research’s coverage of the Women in Data Science Worldwide Conference:

Photo: SiliconANGLE