Polina, Data Scientist AI Forge

Hi! I’m a Data Scientist at CHECK24, where I’ve been part of the team for almost three years. I have a background in economics and finance, which I studied in Moscow. Before joining CHECK24, I worked in the insurance industry trying to integrate machine learning into actuarial computations and making financial modeling.

I’m part of the ranking team, which means we are responsible for making sure that numerous offers listed on CHECK24 are sorted in the most convenient and relevant way for every user. My role involves building machine learning models that use tons of data to decide how insurance tariffs, smartphones or mobile phone contracts are ranked to help customers find the right thing faster. And it's not just about creating these models – I also handle their deployment and maintenance, making sure we can react fast to any changes in the market. I cover ranking for various verticals, so I engage regularly with product managers from different teams. There is always room for development and improvement for products’ specific needs and greater personalization, so things stay interesting.

I’m involved in all stages of implementation of a data science project, from data collection and model tuning to its deployment and monitoring, so the range of technologies is quite broad. Our tech stack, of course, includes the best friends of a data scientist – Python libraries like NumPy, Pandas, Dask, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, LightGBM and others. Besides this, I work with Metaflow to manage workflows, use MySQL, create interactive interfaces with Streamlit, build APIs with FastAPI and deploy them with Docker on AWS or local servers. And when a project needs something new, I’m quick to pick it up if it makes things faster or smarter.

The fast-paced environment of data science and the variety of products we work with make it unique. AI Forge is the central data science department supporting multiple verticals, which means we are not just experts in machine learning, but we also need to understand the products we are working on. For example, now I never miss any smartphone release because I do ranking for mobile phones with a contract and know dozens of dog breeds due to working with dog liability insurances.

Not at all! When I finished school, data science or computer science were not on my radar at all. I went into economics and finance and graduated in 2017, starting my career in trade marketing with barely any programming knowledge. It was only after working in that field that I realized I wanted something more analytical and technical. I had always enjoyed math and studied a lot of statistics, so I decided to pursue another master’s degree in Data Science and moved to Germany. Quite some radical changes at once! It was rather a long journey of self-discovery, but I really like what I’m doing now.

My advice would be to believe in yourself and your skills. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if you’re worried that they might seem basic. Everyone starts somewhere, and asking questions is key to learning and growing. Women might sometimes be more hesitant and self-critical during interviews or in the workplace, but it’s okay not to know everything right away. Surround yourself with experienced professionals you can learn from, and always look for opportunities to grow!