Meet 7 Top Big Data and Analytics Influencers

Today, data is at the heart of so much of our lives, both personally and professionally. Data is everywhere in our lives, from Netflix suggesting your next movie to airplane makers forecasting needed maintenance. It's often unnoticed and behind the scenes. Despite this, it is driving much of what is happening in the world around us, both physically and metaphorically. Teachers can make data-driven judgments about specific student requirements using a digital curriculum, while Uber uses data to improve efficiency inside the ride-sharing service.

But who are the movers and shakers in the industry of data and analytics that are driving developments, keeping the rest of us up-to-date on changes, and using Big Data for the greater good?

Here's the list of 7 top influencers in Big Data and Analytics, people who are highly recognized experts, prolific authors, and evangelists for the field. Some have tens of thousands of followers on Twitter, while others have helped well-known brands harness the power of data and analytics. Meet them below.

1. Ronald van Loon

Ronald van Loon has been recognized among the top 10 global influencers in Big Data, analytics, IoT, BI, and data science. With 119,000 followers on Twitter, Ronald has a huge following, and he is a highly sought-after speaker. As the director of Advertisement, he works to help data-driven businesses be more successful. He also writes compelling articles about Big Data and related topics for publications such as Data Science Central, DataFloq, and Dataconomy. He is an advisory board member for the Big Data training category at Simplilearn and an online education provider. He also manages the LinkedIn group Awesome Ways Big Data Is Used to Improve Our World.

2. Merv Adrian

Merv Adrian is a Vice-President and an Analyst at Gartner with over 30 years of experience in IT. Adrian specializes in mapping the Database Management System (DBMS), Big Data and NoSQL product landscapes and opportunities. He also serves as Gartner's lead analyst for Microsoft, coordinating Gartner's research activities. Adrian blogs at Gartner.

3. Marcus Borba

Marcus Borba is a Big Data, analytics, and data science consultant and advisor. Borba has been named a top Big Data and data science influencer and expert several times. He has also been named a top influencer in machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), business intelligence (BI), and digital transformation.

4. Kirk Borne

Kirk Borne is a Principal Data Scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton. As an astrophysicist formerly working at NASA, Borne was the expert called upon to brief the President of the United States on data mining post 9/11, as the government explored how to use data mining to detect and prevent another terrorist attack. Since then, Borne has risen to prominence throughout the industry. With 185,000 followers on Twitter, Borne’s influence in data and analytics is widespread.

5. Carla Gentry

Self-professed data nerd Carla Gentry is the owner of Analytical Solution. Gentry, a mathematician, and economists have helped brands as big as Kellogg’s, Hershey, Discover Financial Services, Firestone, and Kraft. She acts as a liaison between IT and business, to make complex data make sense and drive profits. With 296,000 tweets to her credit, she is also extremely active on social media.

6. Vincent Granville

Vincent Granville is the Co-founder and the Executive Data Scientist at Data Science Central, one of the most popular online resources for both professionals and enthusiasts in Big Data, analytics, and data science. Granville is also extremely knowledgeable about machine learning applied to Internet search technology, predictive modeling, keyword and BI, fraud detection, and data mining.

7. Cindi Howson

Cindi Howson is the Vice-President of Research at Gartner and the founder of BI Scorecard, an in-depth BI product reviews resource based on hands-on testing. Howson has advised clients on BI tool selections and strategies for over 20 years. She is also the author of Successful Business Intelligence: Unlock the Value of BI and Big Data and SAP Business Objects BI 4.0: The Complete Reference, as well as a faculty member of The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI) and a contributing expert to Information Week.


Data analytics is a highly rewarding career choice and there are many different pathways into the field. We hope this article has helped shed some light on the many learning options available to you. If you’d like to discuss your future in data with a real person, schedule a call with Syntax Technologies.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A TYPICAL JOB DESCRIPTION FOR A DATA ANALYST

Understanding The Differences Between Data Analytics, Big Data, And Data Science

Examples of Big Data's Advantages in Different Fields