By Meta Careers
Introducing Barr, a data scientist on Internet.org in our Tel Aviv office in Israel. The Internet.org team focuses on building products to bring people online around the world – there are 4 billion people without internet connectivity today. We spoke to Barr about what it's like being a data scientist, some of the challenges at Facebook, her move to Tel Aviv and her work to get more young women into technology.
What made you choose data science?
I have always been drawn to creative and quantitative problem solving. I studied math, computer science, and economics, and love cracking complex problems in these fields. I am also mission-driven, so I am constantly thinking about how I can best use this quant skill set to make a difference in the world.
I worked and interned in many fields that rely heavily on statistics: economic policy in government, finance, academic research, marketplace design, and even entertainment. While some of these disciplines rely on similar tools, data science in tech is fascinating because of the vast amount of information and the fast, iterative, pace of change.
What does being a data scientist at Facebook mean?
What I love about Facebook is that decisions do not come from the top down. They come from understanding our data.
Being a data scientist at Facebook means empowering my team to make the smartest decisions possible in order to give our users wonderful experiences. The data scientist role is broad and involves setting team goals, finding opportunities in the data to shift our product focus, modeling predictions, and setting a culture of rigorous experimental testing. Beyond the analytical rigor, the role also requires making strategic decisions and influencing others.
Since data touches everything we do, data science is inherently cross-functional. It’s rewarding to touch everything from questions with engineering like, “how do we give people the best recommendations?” to higher-level questions with the partnerships team like, “how do we roll out features around the world?”.
What has been a stand out moment for you while working at Facebook?
Internet.org focuses on markets with people who are very different from me. One stand out moment was attending my first research trip in the Philippines. It was eye-opening to interact with people in person and see how they interface with our product. So many of my assumptions, even about how people share their phones and use data, were shattered. There is no substitute for meeting people and building user empathy – it is humbling to experience the product with device and connectivity constraints and it is incredibly motivating to hear how your product can help others.
Barr on a research trip in Manila and meeting Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and founder of Leanin.org. Barr met Sheryl at her graduation at Harvard University, before she joined the company.
What is a challenge working at Facebook?
At Facebook, there are seemingly infinite things to do. A lot of succeeding here comes down to ruthless prioritization and focusing on the most impactful work. This means being very attuned to project needs, feeling comfortable pushing back on stakeholders, and carving out time to reduce bottlenecks.
Outside of Facebook, tell us a little about how you’ve settled into Tel Aviv after moving here from the U.S.?
I've always wanted to live in Israel, my parents’ birthplace, and Facebook gave me that opportunity. I jumped right in. I am so lucky to have my extended family and some childhood friends here, who helped make my transition from San Francisco smooth. What I did not expect was to quickly have a work family here, too. I was immediately and warmly welcomed by my team: my engineering lead sent me apartment listings, my manager offered to help lug furniture, and my teammate helped me find the best local dance studios. It is not lost on me how much they went above and beyond to make me feel at home. Even though Facebook is a big company, the small office and emphasis on impact makes it feel more like a startup.
It’s hard to ask for more from a city like Tel Aviv. It has a vibrant technology ecosystem, beautiful beaches, dangerously good hummus, and passionate people. It doesn’t hurt that our office is right in the middle of the action!
Are you involved in any programs to encourage the next generation of young women into tech?
I'm passionate about getting more young women into tech, and am involved in myriad programs at Facebook, everything from teaching a beginner data science course, to helping organize conferences, to speaking with student tours about my work.
When I arrived in Israel, I met so many remarkable women – engineers, data scientists, entrepreneurs – who thrive on challenges. I founded Women of Startup Nation to celebrate them! Each week, I interview a different Israeli female technologist and feature her on the page. While the audience is not exclusively young women, one of the goals is to create a community of female tech role models for girls interested in pursuing these jobs in the future. Conducting these interviews with incredible women all over Israel, from all different backgrounds, is undoubtedly one of the highlights of my week.
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