Developing a Future-Ready Workforce

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Merav Yuravlivker, CEO and Co-Founder of Data Society, located in Washington, DC, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Data Society delivers industry-tailored data science training programs and technology solutions for government and commercial clients. We partner with organizations to educate, equip, and empower their workforce with the skills to achieve their goals, expand their impact, and transform how industries run. Our typical customers are large companies and federal agencies that are focused on developing a culture of continuous learning and a data-driven workforce.

Tell us about yourself

I started my career as a public elementary school teacher in New York City, where I witnessed first-hand the ability to change lives through education. From there, I broadened my impact through educational non-profits, where I learned more about instructional design, assessments, online learning, and more.

When we started Data Society in 2014, we saw an opportunity to help professionals use data better to solve tough challenges and drive their organizations forward. Almost nine years later, we still see that impact every day through the programs that we teach and the projects that students present. What I'm most excited about is the powerful potential that we have to shift the way that industries run. When enough people have a shared data vocabulary and feel empowered to explore data, they create a foundation that fosters innovation and collaboration, and that leads to some amazing breakthroughs in technology, product, and services.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The team that we've built at Data Society is phenomenal. They are innovative, passionate, intelligent, and compassionate. Especially through Covid and other challenging times, I've seen them come together and support me and each other. All the impact that we have comes down to the work that our team does, and I'm very grateful for that.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

There is a high level of responsibility and accountability - not just to our clients but to our students and our team. That pressure is not something that ever goes away, but it is a good motivator to hold myself to a high standard and continue to listen to their feedback so that I can be the best leader that I can be.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Have a financial plan: whether you're raising capital or bootstrapping (as we did), know your runway and your limits. There is a lot of pressure inherent to building a business, so make sure that you have the income or savings that you need to alleviate the financial stress that you may face.
Build your network: I'm so grateful to the amazing tech and women in tech networks that exist in Washington, DC. Not only were they a great source of information and recommendations when we started, but we got some of our first clients through those relationships. Look for folks in the industry or field that you are entering and go to Meetups or other events to hear about their experiences and feedback.
Be helpful: when we first started the company, our conversations centered around how we could help people use data better and develop that culture internally. It felt good to support others, and it also helped us understand how to hone our products and services to be as effective as possible. It also helped us develop a high level of trust and goodwill within the community and brought us joy to see others around us maximize their own impact.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://datasociety.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/datasocietyco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datasociety/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/datasocietyco
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/data-society/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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